Lead Software DeveloperNHS

Job summary

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.

Main duties of the job

Lead design & development of user-centred products, turning data, analytics & data science into intuitive digital tools. Develop applications, building robust backend services, APIs & accessible front end experiences making complex data & analytical easier. Work with data scientists, analysts, engineers & op teams to take ideas & analytical capabilities from concept to production, create user-facing products bring data & insight into everyday. Champion prototyping & iterative development, get ideas in front of users early, test assumptions & learn quickly before committing significant time & resources to full scale develop. Establish & maintain effective CI/CD, automated testing & deployment practices, enabling products to be developed, released & improved frequently, safely & consistently. Design & maintain APIs, application services & integrations that connect data platforms, analytical capabilities & user-facing products. Lead products through the full software development lifecycle, including discovery, technical design, development, testing, deployment, monitoring, maintenance & continuous improvement. Explore& appropriately adopt AI-assisted development tools & other emerging technologies where they can improve developer productivity, quality or speed of delivery, while maintaining appropriate technical oversight & governance.

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.

About us

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.