Software Engineer

Executive Officer

B3

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to Apply:

When you click 'Apply now' you will be asked to anonymise and upload your CV and 500 word statement on the shortlist criteria listed below.

Timeline:

• Advert Closes for applications: 20th September 2026
• Shortlisting: week commencing: w/c 28th September 2026
• Interviews: week commencing: w/c 19th October 2026

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

Pre-sift Criteria:

• Are you eligible for a Reserved Post and the level of security clearance required for this post? (Please refer to the link below).

Please note that applications where it is identified that the candidate is not eligible for a Reserved post or security clearance will be withdrawn.

Lead criteria:

We have identified a lead criterion for this role, which we may use to differentiate between applications in the following scenarios:

• To conduct an initial-sift in a high volume of applicants (over 20 applications). This would be conducted after the above pre-sift on the mandatory criteria.
• To establish a merit-order in the event of a tie

The lead criteria for this role are identified below.

Sift/Shortlist Criteria:

All applications are processed anonymously. You will be short-listed against the following criteria:

Experience:

• Experience of working in an agile software delivery team
• Software development skills including knowledge of C# and either Python or JavaScript (lead criteria)
• Experience in the designing, building, testing and maintaining software using a modern standards approach, or experience supporting operationally live systems

We will use both your CV and supporting statement to assess against the above criteria.

Interview Criteria:

You will be interviewed against the following criteria:

Experience:

• Either experience in building, testing, and maintaining software or experience supporting operationally live systems
• Either experience of system design and development best practice or implementing large scale deployments into a production environment
• Understanding of modern agile development practices such as Scrum or Kanban
• Experience of implementing modern tools to support continuous integration/deployment such as unit test frameworks, build pipelines etc.

Technical Skills:

• Software development skills including knowledge of C# and one of either Python or JavaScript (lead criteria) - assessed against the test.

Behaviours (EO level) :

• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others

See here for further information: Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK

Process:

• Single Stage Interview via TEAMS. You will be contacted to book a suitable slot if you are shortlisted (see our Candidate Pack for further information)
• Interview will be with a panel of no more than 4 people and we expect it to last approx.90 mins
• There will also be a test as part of the interview. More details will be given in the invitation to interview.
• The behaviour questions for the interview will be sent out via email, 24 hours before your interview slot.

Onboarding Checks:

In the event you are offered a role with us, you will be required to go through Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which will include Employment and Right to Work Checks. Security Clearance (SC) will need to be obtained prior to the role commencing. You will also need to apply for Developed Vetting (DV) which can be completed while working for us but the offer will remain conditional until DV is gained. Please see our attached Candidate Pack for further details and Terms.

Please note, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.

Nationality requirements:

DV ? reserved
This is a Ministry of Defence reserved post and open to sole UK nationals only. Successful applicants will require Developed Vetting (DV) and therefore need to have resided in the UK for a minimum of 24 consecutive months within the last 10 years.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting .

See our vetting charter .

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Further Information

The Department?s recruitment processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment based on merit, open and fair competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners? Recruitment Principles, details of which can be found at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can further contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk or view more details at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk