Lead Software Developer

Turning data, analytics & data science into high-quality digital products that make a difference. Design & build intuitive, secure & scalable data products transforming complex data & analytical capabilities into tools that people can easily access & use in their day to day work. Bring together software engineering, data & user-centred design, work closely with data scientists, analysts, BI specialists & operational teams to create the applications & digital experiences to bring data & insight to life. Includes interactive data products, decision-support tools, workflow applications & other digital services. Will lead engineering of products from discovery & prototyping to production, creating modern applications, APIs, services & integrations that connect users with data & analytical capabilities. Will champion modern software engineering & product development practices, helping establish reusable approaches, development standards & platforms that enable new data products to move from concept to production efficiently & safely. Explore & evaluate the responsible use of AI-assisted coding & development tools to improve, code quality & pace of delivery, as well as opportunities to integrate appropriate AI capabilities into digital & data products where they provide clear value to users. Ensure solutions are robust, maintainable & secure by design, meeting governance, cyber security & accessibility standards.

Job description

Please also refer to attached Job Description

The Software Engineer will design, develop, and maintain software applications, automation solutions, and analytics tools that support the Clusters data, intelligence, and operational priorities.

The post holder will work closely with analysts, data scientists, business intelligence teams, and operational stakeholders to translate business and analytical requirements into robust, reliable, and secure software solutions. This includes contributing to the design and delivery of systems that enable efficient data processing, reporting, and operational insight across the organisation.

The role will support the development of automated workflows, application services, and system integrations, ensuring that all software solutions comply with NHS information governance, cyber security, and quality standards.

The post holder will contribute to the full software development lifecycle, including requirements analysis, solution design, development, testing, deployment, documentation, and ongoing maintenance of applications and automation processes.

The Software Engineer will develop and maintain application programming interfaces (APIs), microservices, and system integrations to support interoperability between internal data platforms and external systems.

The role will utilise a range of programming languages and development technologies, which may include Python, R, .NET, JavaScript, SQL, and cloud-based development frameworks.

The post holder will apply user-centred design principles to ensure that solutions are intuitive, accessible, and aligned with user needs across analytical and operational teams.

The role will also support application lifecycle management, including version control, monitoring, troubleshooting, and the ongoing enhancement of existing systems and automation tools.

In addition, the post holder will ensure that secure coding practices are followed and that all developments adhere to NHS cyber security principles and recognised industry standards.

The Software Engineer will contribute to continuous improvement activities within the software development function, supporting the adoption of modern engineering practices, including testing, documentation, and collaborative development approaches.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Please also see attached Person Specification.
• Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area.

Post-graduate degree in Management Studies or equivalent.

Evidence of continued professional development.

Demonstrated experience of co-ordinating projects in complex and challenging environments.

Understanding of the public sector.

Demonstrated experience in a Healthcare environment.

Comprehensive knowledge of project principles, techniques and tools, such as Prince 2 Foundation and Microsoft Project.

Experience

Essential

• Please also see attached Person Specification.
• Significant experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment.
• Experience of creating and giving presentations to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience of setting up and implementing internal processes and procedures.
• Experience of managing a team without direct line management.
• Experience of managing risks and reporting.
• Experience of drafting briefing papers and correspondence at SMT level.
• Experience of monitoring budgets and business planning processes.

Skills, abilities and Knowledge

Essential

• Please also see attached Person Specification.
• Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as required.
• Ability to analyse very complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources.
• Demonstrated capability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making.

Numerate and able to understand complex financial issues combined with deep analytical skills.

Knowledge of Financial Systems e.g. monitoring budget management, processing invoices and procurement.

Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.

Demonstrated capabilities to manage own workload and make informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescales.

About the employer

Under the Model ICB Blueprint and the 10 Year Health Plan, ICBs will adopt a more strategic commissioning role, focusing on population needs, reducing inequalities, and delivering the three shifts as defined in the 10 year health plan, all while operating within strict financial limits.

The new organisation will operate on a larger scale with a revised vision and purpose, managing a commissioning budget of around £8 billion. Our role as a strategic commissioner is to transform our local NHS through exceptional commissioning and build an innovative health system fit for the 21st century that truly meets our communities needs. Informed by high quality data and insights, we will radically re-imagine how we operate, making sure that every pound in our system delivers the best possible value for everyone we serve.

We will encourage and support our people to grow and develop new skills and embrace new agile ways of working. Everyone is encouraged to contribute ideas, seek feedback, and take part in creating a listening and learning culture where insight leads to improvement.

We will work as a team of teams, collaborating across services and professions to deliver the best outcomes for our communities. You will be encouraged, and expected to model inclusive behaviours, valuing diverse perspectives and helping to create a workplace where everyone feels respected, supported, and able to thrive.