Software Engineer

Scottish Government.com

Office

Galashiels, United Kingdom

Full Time

Can your software development skills make a difference to the lives of public sector workers?The Scottish Public Pension Agency (SPPA) is an Agency of the Scottish Government. Our principal role is to administer the pensions for employees in the National Health Service, Teachers,’ Police and Fire-fighters’ pension schemes in Scotland. The Agency administers these public service pension schemes on behalf of Scottish Ministers with an annual pension spend to over 200,000 pensioners of more than £2.5 billion.
As a Software Engineer at SPPA, you’ll maintain and enhance the agency's Python-based Standalone Pension Calculator which is central to the McCloud Remedy Programme, helping ensure fair pension choices for public sector workers - while building secure, scalable solutions using modern technologies in a collaborative, user-focused environment. This role will form part of the SPPA Development Team, a sub-team of SPPA Information Technology.

Responsibilities

Develop, test, and maintain Python-based software solutions - including the standalone pension calculator- using modern frameworks and tools.
Design secure, scalable systems and components following established architectural patterns and development standards.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure solutions meet user needs and strategic goals.
Contribute to cloud-based deployments and support ongoing maintenance and fault resolution.
Participate in code reviews, prototyping, and knowledge sharing to uphold quality and support team development.
Translate user stories and specifications into detailed technical designs and implementations.
Embed security controls and ensure compliance with information security standards throughout the development lifecycle.
Continuously improve development processes by identifying deficiencies and supporting optimisation initiatives.

Success Profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Experience

Lead Criteria: Experience writing programs and scripts using Python, object-oriented programming (OOP), Python back-end framework such as Flask, SQL, JavaScript (Next.js) for frontend, and version control tools like Git allows you to use agreed specifications to independently design, code, test and document programs or scripts of medium-to-high complexity, using the right standards and tools.
Experience developing and deploying cloud-based services, particularly those built with modern frameworks and databases, using containerisation tools such as Docker, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud infrastructure (Azure, including App Services and Virtual Machines, help identify and fix faults following agreed procedures and carry out agreed maintenance tasks).
Experience of the technologies and patterns used by established architectural patterns and engineering practices, such as SOLID principles, modular design, secure data structures, and cloud-native patterns like microservices and event-driven architectures enables you to produce detailed designs of components and data structures using well understood technology, appropriate patterns, and security controls embedded.
Experience participating in team development processes to identify process deficiencies and support specific activities to improve them.

Experience is assessed at sift, along with a more in-depth assessment at interview.

Technical / Professional Skills

This role is aligned to the DDaT job role of Developer within the Software Development job family.

You can find out more about the skills required, here.

These skills are assessed by technical assessment. Full details of the assessment and skills being assessed will be shared in advance with all candidates invited to this stage. 

Behaviours:

Communicating & Influencing - Level 4
Delivering at Pace - Level 4

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here.

Behaviours are assessed at interview. Full details will be shared in advance with all candidates invited to this stage.
How to Apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 words) which provides evidence of how you meet each of the four Experience criteria listed in the Success Profile above.

If a large number of applications are received an initial sift will be conducted on the Lead Criteria highlighted above. Candidates who pass the initial sift will have their applications fully assessed against the remaining Experience criteria.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and DDaT Technical assessment where the behaviours, experiences and technical skills outlined in the Success Profile will be assessed.

Assessments are scheduled for w/c 3rd November or w/c 10th November, however this may be subject to change.

Interview and assessment are expected to take place in person on site at SPPA, 7 Tweedside Park, Tweedbank, Galashiels, TD1 3TE.

About Us

The Scottish Public Pensions Agency is an Agency of the Scottish Government. Our principal role is to administer the pensions for employees in the National Health Service, Teachers’, Police and Fire-fighters’ pension schemes in Scotland for over 500,000 key workers. The Agency administers these public service pension schemes on behalf of Scottish Ministers with an annual pension spend to over 200,000 pensioners to the value of more than £2.5 billion.

Working Pattern

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options, with two days minimum working on site at SPPA. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

Ddat Pay Supplement

This post is part of the Scottish Government Digital, Data and Technology (DDAT) profession, as a member of the profession you will join the professional development system, currently BCS Role Mode plus. This post currently attracts a £5000 annual DDAT pay supplement, applicable after a 3-month 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.

Security Checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

Equality Statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

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.

Apply Before: 26th October 2025 (23:59)