Lead Software Developer (SPM) in Glasgow, United Kingdom

The role sits within the Digital, Delivery & Change (DD&C) Engineering team, which builds and maintains technical services for Social Security Scotland. This includes an enterprise case management system and a range of supporting technical services, used by Clients to submit benefit applications and our internal teams to manage benefit payments.

Our technical staff are largely deployed in Agile teams focusing on new benefits development, live service support and continuous improvement. We believe in supporting our team members' growth and development through their work – the successful candidate will have access to formal training courses and team learning projects to enhance their technical and non-technical skills.

We also aim to develop a positive and inclusive culture within Social Security Scotland by embedding a working environment where we all treat each other with dignity, fairness and respect, and recognise each other’s contributions.

A lead software developer (SPM) leads development on one or a small number of related project teams.

At this role level, you will:

• guide the ways in which the team works
• be involved in identifying appropriate technology and approaches, deciding when software should be written
• contribute to the developer community
• provide technical leadership, coaching and mentoring your team
• promote knowledge sharing and adoption of good practice

Responsibilities

• You manage service components to ensure they meet business needs and performance targets.
• You identify process optimisation opportunities with guidance and contribute to the implementation of proposed solutions.
• You participate in the information security process.
• You design and implement embedded security controls in solutions and services.
• You apply the most appropriate modern standards and practices, and coach and guide others in these standards.
• You advise on the right way to apply standards and methods to ensure compliance.
• You maintain technical responsibility for all the stages and iterations of a software development project.
• You provide technical advice to stakeholders and set the team-based standards for programming tools and techniques.
• You participate in team prototyping.
• You advocate for the use of prototypes and testing with others.
• You use a variety of prototyping methods and choose the most appropriate.
• You provide technical direction to others to identify, locate and fix faults.
• You select appropriate methods and tools, and ensure they are applied effectively.
• You review the systems designs of others to ensure the selection of appropriate technology, efficient use of resources and integration of multiple systems and technology.
• You co-ordinate build activities across systems.
• You prioritise and define approaches to understand the user story, guiding others in doing so.
• You offer recommendations on the best tools and methods to use.

Success Profiles 
We use an assessment framework called ‘Success Profiles’ which lists the elements we test and provides detailed descriptions of each. Find out more about the framework here .

For this post, the following Success Profile elements will be assessed:

Experience:

1. Your experience writing high complexity programs using Curam Social Program Management (SPM) allows you to provide technical advice to stakeholders and set the team-based standards for programming tools and techniques.
   
    
2. Your extensive software engineering experience means that the team around you becomes measurably better through your leadership, with them relying on you as a go-to person.

Behaviours:

• Seeing the Big Picture - Level 4 
• Leadership - Level 4
  
   

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here . 

Technical skills:
This role is aligned to Lead Developer within the Government Digital and Data Profession.

These skills will be tested during the Technical Assessment if you are successful at sift stage. They will not be assessed at application stage. Please review the following to understand the skill expectations: Software developer - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework

How to Apply
Apply online, you must provide a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 words ) which provides evidence of how you meet the Experience and Behaviours outlined in the Success Profiles above.

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. 

Should a large number of appplications be received, an initial sift may be completed using the CV and Supporting Statement against the first Experience criteria. Candidates who pass the initial sift will have their applications fully assessed.

Candidiates who are successful at sift will be invited to an interview which will assess the Experience and Behaviours, and a Technical Assessment comprising a 10 minute presentation which will assess the Technical Skills.

There may be a telephone interview prior to the final interview stage.

Full details of the interview and assessment process will be shared with shortlisted candidates once the sift has been completed.

We aim to provide feedback on request. However, where a large number of applications are received, it may not be possible to give feedback to candidates who are not invited to interview or assessment. Feedback will be available on request to all candidates who attend an interview or assessment.

Expected Timeline (subject to change) 
Sift - week commencing 23rd November 2026
Interview – week commencing 7th December 2026
Location - In Person in either Dundee or Glasgow

Reserve List
In the event that there are more successful candidates than posts available, a reserve list will be kept for up to 12 months.

About Us
Social Security Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. Our benefits help people from all walks of life in Scotland. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve. Find more about us here.   

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.   

As part of the UK Civil Service , we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules .

GDD Pay Supplement
This post is part of the Government Digital and Data (GDD) profession and currently attracts a £6000 annual GDD pay supplement, which is paid monthly - pay supplements are reviewed regularly.

Working Pattern
Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options, depending on the needs of the role. We embrace a hybrid working style where all colleagues will spend time in either our Glasgow or Dundee offices. There is an expectation of a minimum 2 days per week in your assigned location, which will be either Glasgow or Dundee. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

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

Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected]

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer support and recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Right to Work in the UK
Social Security Scotland is an approved sponsor under the UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Please note that UK immigration guidance, including skill and salary thresholds and eligible occupations, is reviewed regularly and subject to change. If you require visa sponsorship, you should check the latest criteria to confirm whether this role meets current requirements before applying. You can find further advice on https://jobeax.com/link/zI9BA7CrmJBy8Qwd - Skilled Worker visa: Overview - https://jobeax.com/link/zI9BA7CrmJBy8Qwd

Further Information  
Social Security Scotland’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition - Recruitment - Civil Service Commission

If you feel at any time your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you can make a complaint, by contacting Social Security Scotland at [email protected] in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioner.

The successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 3 years unless successful in gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.

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.

If you experience any difficulties accessing our website or completing the online application form, please contact the Resourcing Team via [email protected]  

Apply before 23:55 on 18th November 2026

Contact Name - Resourcing Team
Contact Email - [email protected]