Principal Engineer

We are looking for people who are passionate about Engineering to join our community led team in Shared Applications Service (SAS). You will work alongside hundreds of engineers in a modern cloud environment using the latest technologies, creating and maintaining some of the most critical public services in the United Kingdom and transforming how we use data and technology to improve these. We are responsible for designing, building and supporting solutions to help people prove their identity or apply for visas. You could also be working on critical IT systems that support policing and counter terrorism and protect UK borders.

Job description

As a Principal Engineer - Enablement & Assurance your work will be focussed on enabling, assuring and aligning engineering across assigned business areas, often working with a range of engineering teams on practices, standards and quality. You will be forming, facilitating and be a key member of governance boards for both engineering and architecture.

Along with the other Senior, Lead and Principal engineers in your area, you will be responsible for ensuring that all technical approaches being used are appropriate and endorsed and will advise senior stakeholders to make sure that product delivery and maintenance is on a firm basis. Your remit will be across the engineering function and will involve working closely with Architects and other professions.

This link opens a short video from members of the team talking about the projects they work on and their experience of working here: Working for Home Office Digital

Tools and Technologies we use:

We are keen for Engineers to continue learning new technologies, we have a large range in the Home Office including:

• Backend: Java, , C#, Python, PHP, Scala, Power Platform
• Frontend: React, JavaScript, Typescript, Angular
• Data: PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Mongodb, Apache Cassandra
• DevOps/Platforms: Azure, AWS, Kubernetes, Azure, Jenkins, Docker, Ansible, Terraform
• AI: Azure ML Studio, Python, GitHub Copilot, OpenAI

What You'll Do:

• Surveying, analysing and improving technical practices across multiple engineering teams, both supplier and internal teams to guide engineering practices towards standards and best practices.
• Providing technical leadership and guidance to non-technical stakeholders to support high-quality engineering, cost-effective and timely delivery.
• Facilitating and participating in engineering boards to provide technical governance and contribute to Technical Design Authority meetings to ensure that designs are practical, scalable and deliverable.
• Fostering collaboration across teams and external suppliers to promote alignment on shared technical solutions, best practices and standards and driving consistency across business areas.
• Developing and facilitating technical developer communities.

Like many organisations we need to maintain our services 24/7, therefore, on occasions there may be a requirement to work out of hours, for which you will be paid an additional allowance.

Essential skills:

You'll have a demonstrable passion for engineering with the following skills or proven experience in:

• Facilitating and aligning multiple engineering teams and products to drive standards – achieving driven, high-quality, efficient and effective software engineering and support.
• Working with a wide range of technical and non-technical stakeholders to maximise positive engineering outcomes in complex, critical, and time-sensitive situations.
• Working with senior engineers, peers, management and team leads to develop, test and improve internal standards, strategy, processes or communications.
• Interpreting and validating complex system design and technical approaches and articulate these to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ensuring that measurable engineering standards are championed across multiple teams and that an agreed level of engineering quality is achieved.
• Mentoring colleagues to developing skills and capabilities in line with strategy, team, and personal goals.

Why join us:

At the Home Office, your work has real-world impact, shaping the safety and security of millions. We offer:

• Meaningful Work
  : Contribute to critical national security and public service initiatives.
• Career Growth
  : Benefit from tailored development frameworks and professional communities.
• Flexible Working
  : Balance your professional and personal life with hybrid work options.
• Diversity and Inclusion
  : Join a workplace where your unique background and talents are celebrated.

Benefits include:

• Exceptional pension
  : Employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Generous leave
  : 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 with service), 8 public holidays, and 1 day for the King's Birthday.
• Flexible working
  : Options include full-time, part-time, compressed hours, job sharing, and a hybrid model (minimum 60% on-site).
• Learning and development
  : Access to training, technical accreditations, and funded qualifications (subject to approval).
• Recognition and inclusion
  : A culture that champions diversity, enhanced parental leave schemes, annual bonuses, and recognition awards.
• Learn more about our benefits
  : Benefits - Home Office Careers

Additional Information:

• This role requires SC clearance
  . To meet national security vetting requirements, you must typically have been resident in the UK for at least five years. Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor visas.