Lead Software Developer - FDS Squad

Lead Software Developer: Strong back-end focus.

12-month Fixed Term Contract (with a view to go permanent)

Hybrid: one visit per week onsite in Manchester.

SC Clearance: SC Clearance preferred, however, SC Eligibility accepted.

Experience within UK public sector and or central government department(s)

The Company

At Amber Labs, we are a cutting‑edge UK and European technology consultancy that prioritises empowering autonomy, promoting experimentation, and facilitating rapid learning to provide exceptional value to our clients. Our teams consist of highly skilled engineers, designers, analysts, and consultants dedicated to building world‑class digital services for government and enterprise clients.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Lead Software Developer to play a key role within a large, cross-functional delivery squad. This is a hands-on leadership role that combines technical excellence with strong collaboration and alignment across engineering, QA, DevOps and product disciplines.

The role is primarily backend-focused, leveraging Java and microservices architecture, with some awareness of frontend templating to support full-stack delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of scalable backend services
• Act as a technical authority within the squad, guiding design decisions
• Contribute hands-on to development while mentoring other engineers
• Collaborate closely with: Product managers / QA engineers/ Analysts
• Ensure alignment with shared engineering standards and practices
• Strong experience with: Microservices and distributed systems design
• Support delivery in fluid and evolving requirement environments
• Drive continuous improvement in:
• Code quality/ Development practices / Team collaboration

Essential Skills

Backend Development (Primary)

• Strong expertise in Java (modern versions)
• Deep experience with Spring Boot for building RESTful services
• Proven track record in designing and developing microservices architectures
• Strong understanding of:
• API design and integration
• Service-to-service communication
• Resilience and fault tolerance

Front-End Awareness (Secondary)

• Basic to working knowledge of frontend templating, particularly: Nunjucks
• Exposure to JavaScript or TypeScript
• Ability to: Contribute to UI templating where required / Collaborate effectively with frontend specialists

Note: This is not a frontend role, but awareness is important for full-stack collaboration.

Cloud & DevOps

• Strong working knowledge of AWS, including: Compute, storage, and managed services.
• Understanding of: Docker and containerisation strategies and CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitLab).
• Ability to: Guide cloud-native design decisions / Align teams on deployment and operational practices.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a dynamic and innovative team, with opportunities for professional growth and development
• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Opportunity to shape and influence asset management strategy in a fast‑paced environment

Benefits

• Join a rapidly expanding start‑up where personal growth is a part of our DNA
• Benefit from a flexible work environment focused on deliverable outcomes
• Receive private medical insurance
• 25 days of annual leave plus UK bank holidays

Diversity & Inclusion

Here at Amber Labs, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace for all. We celebrate individuality and believe that different perspectives drive innovation. Every colleague is valued, respected, and supported to thrive.

What Happens Next?

Our Talent Acquisition Team will be in touch to advise you on the next steps. We have a two‑stage interview process for most of our consultants. In certain cases, we may include a third and final stage: a conversation with the end client. This will only be considered if deemed necessary.

Apply Now and help shape the future of UK digital services with Amber Labs.