Senior Software Engineer - Web Development

Join Social Security Scotland's Chief Digital Office as a Senior Software Developer in Web Development. You will collaborate in a multidisciplinary team to deliver software components that support our vital social security systems. 

Our software developers are deployed in Agile teams focusing on product development, live service, and continuous improvement. We believe in supporting our team members' growth and development and you will have access to formal training courses and team learning projects. This ensures that you can continuously learn and enhance your skills.

You will sit within Social Security Scotland’s Chief Digital Office (CDO), which has a remit to provide infrastructure and systems to support both the wider social security programme and Social Security Scotland.

We aim to develop within Social Security Scotland, a positive and inclusive culture, which supports our people to flourish, by embedding a working environment where we all treat each other with dignity and respect and recognise each other’s contributions.

Social Security Scotland, an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government, is undertaking the largest and most complex IT and digital change programme since devolution. With a lifetime budget of over £300m, Social Security Scotland is delivering a social security system that will support the people of Scotland for decades to come. 

A Senior Developer delivers and integrates software to form a complete service.

At this role level, you will:

• plan and lead development on sets of related stories.
• have an understanding of the whole system and take responsibility for teaching this to others.
• work with other disciplines to understand what needs to be built.
• coach and mentor more junior colleagues.
• operate the production services you build.
• find ways to improve system robustness, resilience and stability.

Responsibilities

• Manage web applications to ensure they meet business needs and performance targets. 
• Identify process optimisation opportunities with guidance and contribute to the implementation of proposed solutions.
• Participate in the information security process.
• Design and implement embedded security controls in solutions and services.
• Competently apply a modern standards approach and guide others to do so.
• Collaborate with others when necessary to review specifications.
• Use the agreed specifications to design, code, test and document programs or scripts of medium-to-high complexity, using the right standards and tools.
• Participate in team prototyping.
• Advocate for the use of prototypes and testing with others.
• Establish design patterns and iterate them.
• Use a variety of prototyping methods and choose the most appropriate.
• Identify, locate and fix faults.
• Design systems characterised by medium levels of risk, impact, and business or technical complexity.
• Select appropriate design standards, methods and tools, and ensure they are applied effectively.
• Review the systems designs of others to ensure the selection of appropriate technology, efficient use of resources and integration of multiple systems and technology.
• Co-ordinate build activities across systems.
• Understand how to undertake and support integration testing activities.
• Collaborate with user researchers and represent users internally.
• Champion user research to focus on all users.
• Prioritise and define approaches to understand the user story, guiding others in doing so.
• Offer recommendations on the best tools and methods to use.

Success Profiles 
We use an assessment framework called ‘Success Profiles’ which lists the elements we test and provides detailed descriptions of each. Find out more about how we assess the Success Profile elements. 

Essential Experience
1. Demonstrate experience in solving complex problems by building solutions with JavaScript libraries like React and frameworks such as Next.js. Capable of independently designing, coding, testing, and documenting high-complexity programs or scripts, while following agreed specifications, standards and using appropriate tools.
2. Demonstrate expertise in maintaining and deploying applications using JavaScript libraries such as React and frameworks like Next.js. Capable of defining and implementing operational procedures ensuring reliable fault detection, diagnosis, and resolution throughout the development lifecycle.

Behaviours 
• Leadership (Level 3)
• Developing self and others (Level 3)

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here.  

Technical skills
This role is aligned to Senior developer - Non Management within the Digital, Data and Technology Profession. 

These skills will be tested during the Technical Assessment if you are successful at sift stage. They will be not be assessed at application stage.  Please review the following to understand the skill expectations: Software developer - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework

How to apply 
Apply online, you must provide a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profiles above. Be sure to provide specific examples of work that you’ve done that showcase your relevant experience.   

In the event that we receive a high volume of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the CV and Supporting Statement based on the first Experience criteria. Candidates who successfully pass this initial sift will have their applications fully assessed. 

Candidates who are successful at sift stage will be invited to attend an Interview and Technical Assessment. The interview will further assess the Experience and Behaviours listed in the job advert and the technical assessment will evaluate the technical skills relevant to the role. 

Candidates who pass the sift and are invited to the Interview and Technical Assessment stage will receive a Technical Assessment Candidate Pack, which will outline the skills to be assessed and the assessment methods to be used.

Following the application sift, there may be a telephone interview as part of the assessment process before the main interview.

We aim to provide feedback on request. However, if we receive a large number of applications it may not be possible for us to provide specific feedback on your application. We will provide feedback on request to candidates who attend an interview/assessment. 

Expected Timeline (subject to change) 
Sift - w/c 13th October 
Interview – w/c 3rd November
Location - In Person in either Dundee or Glasgow

Reserve List
In the event that there are more successful candidates than posts available, a reserve list will be kept for up to 12 months.

About us  
Social Security Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. Our benefits help people from all walks of life in Scotland. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve.  Find more about us here.  

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.   

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.    

DDaT Pay Supplement 
This post is part of the Scottish Government Digital, Data and Technology (DDAT) profession and as a member of the profession you will join the professional development system. This post currently attracts a £5,000 annual DDAT pay supplement, applicable after a 3 months competency qualifying period. The payment will be backdated to your start date in the role. Pay supplements are reviewed regularly and there is one currently underway. Changes will be communicated when the review is concluded. 

Working pattern
Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options, depending on the needs of the role. We embrace a hybrid working style where all colleagues will spend time in either our Glasgow or Dundee offices. There is an expectation of a minimum 2 days per week in your assigned location, which will be either Glasgow or Dundee.  If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.  
 
Equality Statement  
Social Security Scotland are committed to equality and inclusion, and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.    

Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at Recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot. 

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.  

Further information  
Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.  

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.  

The successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 3 years unless successful in gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.   
 
Social Security Scotland’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition - Recruitment - Civil Service Commission (independent.gov.uk)   

If you feel at any time your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you can make a complaint, by contacting Social Security Scotland at recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioner. 

If you experience any difficulties accessing our website or completing the online application form, please contact the Resourcing Team via recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot

Apply before: Wednesday 8th October 2025 at 23:55

Contact Name - Resourcing Team  
Contact email – Recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot