Software Developer (£42,848 - £57,400)

We're looking for a Software Developer to join our team!

This is a Full Stack Software Developer role embedded within the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Portfolio & Project Delivery Directorate (PPDD). PPDD plays a central role in overseeing how DfT and its partner agencies deliver transport projects.

You will be part of the newly established Digital and Software Hub (DASH) team, which develops open-source software solutions to enhance ways of working across PPDD and DfT. As part of this innovative team, you will:

• Lead, develop, and maintain the codebase and IT infrastructure for the Central Project Register, an online reporting tool central to DfT project management.
• Contribute to other software projects based on demand and PPDD’s strategic priorities.

This role is an opportunity to make a tangible impact by shaping and supporting tools that drive effective project delivery across the Department for Transport.

The duties of this role will include:

• Developing and maintaining the CPR code base, written in Python, using the web framework Django.
• Managing deployment of CPR on the Google Cloud Platform, using app engine.
• Planning and managing your workload using agile methodology.
• Other coding opportunities depending on PPDD strategic requirements.

The role will be responsible for:

• Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to deliver the CPR project. This includes some project management, stakeholder and user engagement, as well as representing the team in meetings and events.
• Maintaining and managing the project codebase using GitHub, with a focus on effective version control through branches, tags, and pull requests. Implementing and encouraging best practices for collaboration within the repository.
• Creating and maintaining thorough and up-to-date documentation, including the API specifications and project Readme files, to ensure ease of understanding and continuity. Documenting new features, workflows, and architectural decisions.
• Developing code using Test Drive Development (TDD). Writing, maintaining, and executing tests to ensure robust and reliable code.
• Ensuring the API is well-maintained, scalable, and secure. Supporting and engaging with users and applications that consume the API data, addressing queries, and implementing enhancements based on feedback.
• Designing, managing, and improving CI/CD pipelines to streamline development and deployment processes. Ensuring smooth and reliable delivery of updates to the production environment.
• Managing and maintaining the PostgreSQL database instance, ensuring its reliability, performance, and security. Optimizing database queries and schemas to improve application efficiency.
• Setting up and overseeing application performance monitoring and logging systems to detect and address issues proactively. Analysing logs and metrics to identify areas for improvement and ensure optimal system health.
• Designing, developing, and maintaining intuitive and accessible front-end interfaces using modern web technologies (HTML and HTMX are used by the team).