Clearance: SC EligibleLocation: Hybrid - 1 day per week in ManchesterContract Length: 6 monthsRate: £570/day (Inside IR35) Role Overview We are seeking an experienced Lead Software Developer (SFIA 5) to join a cross-functional engineering team delivering high-quality, secure digital services. The role is primarily Back End-focused, with some light, straightforward Front End work adhering to Government Digital Service (GDS) standards. The successful candidate will lead development activity, provide technical direction, mentor engineers, and ensure the quality and reliability of services across the stack. Key Responsibilities Lead the design, development, and delivery of Back End services using Java and Spring Boot. Architect and build microservices, deploying them using Docker containers. Provide technical leadership and guidance to a multi-disciplinary engineering team. Contribute to coding standards, best practices, and continuous improvement. Build and maintain simple, standards-compliant web frontends using: Nunjucks JavaScript GDS Design System/GOV.UK Front End conventions Collaborate with architects, product managers, and delivery teams to define solutions and ensure alignment with business goals. Participate in code reviews, pair programming, and mentoring junior developers. Ensure code quality, performance, maintainability, and security requirements are met. Contribute to DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines where required. Essential Skills andamp; ExperienceBacke