Digital Platform Principal Developer

Job Description

Location: Croydon / Hybrid

Salary: £55,323 - £57,402

Contract: Permanent

Help us build digital services that make a real difference

We’re looking for an experienced Principal Developer to help lead the design, development and delivery of high-quality digital services that support our residents, businesses and staff.

You’ll play a key role in shaping how we build and run software across the organisation, setting development standards, mentoring colleagues and working across multidisciplinary teams to deliver reliable, user-centred services.

This is a senior technical leadership role for someone who enjoys solving complex problems, improving how teams work, and building modern, maintainable digital platforms using open technologies.

About The Role

As a Principal Developer you will:

• Lead the development of complex digital services from discovery through to live operation and continuous improvement
• Set and champion modern software development standards across the organisation
• Work across multiple multidisciplinary product teams to deliver high-quality, user-centred services
• Build scalable, secure services using open-source, cloud and API-driven technologies
• Encourage modern engineering practices such as test-driven development, continuous delivery, DevOps and pair programming
• Support teams to prototype, build and iterate services quickly based on real user needs
• Review architecture, code and technical approaches to maintain high standards across the organisation
• Help ensure services meet the GDS Service Standard or equivalent best practice
• Mentor and coach developers and support their professional development
• Promote a collaborative, inclusive and learning-focused culture within the technology team
  
  

You’ll also help us work more effectively with other teams across the council, demonstrating how technology can support better outcomes while improving efficiency and reducing costs.

Technology stack

We use a mix of modern development platforms, cloud infrastructure and low-code tools to deliver digital services quickly and effectively.

Our Current Technology Environment Includes

• Netcall Liberty Create low-code platform for building and delivering digital services
• Modern programming languages and frameworks such as Java, JavaScript and HTML
• API-driven and microservices architectures
• Cloud-based infrastructure and containerised deployment approaches
• Open-source technologies wherever possible
• Content and service platforms such as Drupal
• DevOps practices including continuous integration, automated testing and continuous deployment
  
  

Experience with Microsoft Power Apps would be desirable, particularly where these integrate with enterprise systems and wider service platforms.

What We’re Looking For

We’re interested in people who combine strong technical expertise with collaborative leadership.

You Will Likely Have

• Extensive experience designing and building complex digital services
• Strong knowledge of modern software development practices and agile delivery
• Experience working with cloud platforms, APIs and microservices architectures
• Experience implementing DevOps practices such as automated testing and continuous deployment
• Strong programming experience in modern languages and frameworks (for example Java, JavaScript, or similar)
• Experience working with open-source technologies and platforms
• Experience mentoring and supporting other developers
• A commitment to building services that meet the needs of diverse users
  
  

Experience working in government or public sector environments is helpful but not essential.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ FULL JOB DESCRITPTION

About Our Team

Our digital team works in multidisciplinary product teams, bringing together developers, designers, researchers, analysts and delivery specialists to create services that are simple, reliable and accessible.

We follow agile ways of working, favour open technologies and continually improve our services based on user feedback and performance data.

Why join us?

• Work on services that directly improve the lives of residents
• Help shape the organisation’s digital and technology standards
• Collaborate with experienced multidisciplinary teams
• Opportunities for continuous learning and professional development
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Generous local government pension and benefits
  
  

Our commitment to inclusion

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and encourage candidates who may not meet every requirement to apply.

If you’re passionate about building high-quality digital services and want to help transform how local government uses technology, we’d love to hear from you.

This role will close on 31st March 2026

About Us

Croydon Council’s priorities

The Council balances its books, listens to residents, and delivers good sustainable services

• Get a grip on the finances and make the council financially sustainable
• Become a council which listens to, respects and works in partnership with Croydon’s diverse communities and businesses
• Strengthen collaboration and joint working with partner organisations and the voluntary, community and faith sectors

Ensure good governance is embedded and adopt best practice

Develop our workforce to deliver in a manner that respects the diversity of our communities

Key Business Plan Outcomes

• Croydon is a place of opportunity for business, earning and learning
• Children and young people in Croydon have the chance to thrive, learn and fulfil their potential
• Croydon is a cleaner, safer and healthier place, a borough we’re proud to call home
• People can lead healthier and independent lives for longer
• Croydon Council’s new ways of working
  
  

Equal Opportunities Statement

Croydon Council is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Subject to business needs, we will be pleased to consider applications from candidates seeking flexible working arrangements and support hybrid working, whereby staff attend the workplace for part of their working week and work from home, or elsewhere, remotely for the rest of the time.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the advertised role.

Croydon council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.

The Successful candidate will be subject to a DBS check, if the role requires one.