Principal Software Engineer 

Our world-leading Time & Frequency department are seeking an experienced and practicing Principal Software Engineer.

You will be oining our team at an exciting time - we maintain the UK’s National Time Scale, UTC (NPL), and are currently developing the National TimingCentre that will under pin our Critical National Infrastructure. This will address the risks associated with our dependency on global navigation satellite systems (such asGPS) that are vulnerable to both natural and intentional interference.

As the Principal Software Engineer, you will enjoy collaborating with prominent Scientists, Engineers and specialists in Cyber Security, to design and implement a Software Solution to time, quality and cost.

Key Responsibilities:

• Working as part of a multi-discipline team take leadership accountability for all Software Development required to support NPL’s delivery of its scale, mission critical programmes.
   
• Build and maintain a Software Development team within NPL. Scope the requirements of this team and resources needed to support the strategic growth plans for the business.
   
• Act as a hands-on leader of this team in order to a) deliver what is needed whilst the team grows over time and b) provide coaching and mentoring to more junior members of the team.
  
  
• Build and maintain an understanding of NPL’s own capabilities and strategic intent. Drive its Software development strategy to match this ambition.
   
• Lead on the development/implementation of an industry leading/best practice Software Governance regime, ensure it is in place, understood and adopted across the team.
  
  
• Ensure that the overall Software Designs for all NPL programmes are defined in accordance with the overall Technical Architecture
   
• Ensure that the Software Designs for all NPL programmes are fully documented in accordance with the applicable standards and governance throughout the project life cycle.
   
• Promote understanding across the Software and wider teams to ensure that all are aware of the part the Software Plans play in the overall delivery including its critical path, dependencies, resourcing, risks so that the whole team understands its role and the timescales by which they need to deliver.
  
  
• Monitor the critical path along with risks/opportunities throughout the life of the project. Proactively manage all deliveries to accommodate any emerging risks/opportunities so that timescales for delivery are optimised/maintained.
  
  
• Maintain an accurate picture of spend to date and estimate costs at completion across all deliveries
   
• Work in concert with the Project Management team to monitor progress of the programme as a whole.
   
• Support progress reporting to NPL leadership in particular, in relation to Software aspects of the delivery including risks, opportunities, progress/spend/costs
   
• As required liaise with the end client to ensure that they are fully updated on the overall Software Design and Plan
   
• Lead the selection of and subsequently engage with Software delivery partners to ensure that they are fully aware of their role in delivery of the Software Design and Plan along with the dependencies that rest with them.

We are now working in a hybrid way, with a mix of remote and office working. We strive to offer a great work life balance - if you are looking for part time or flexible options, we will try to make this work where business possible. This will be dependent on the kind of role you do and part of the business you work in.

Essential:

• Strong technical background. Experience in successful delivery of complex mission critical projects at scale.
• Experience as a Senior Software Engineer responsible for development and subsequent implementation of complex, mission critical network infrastructures through the project life cycle.
• Strong technical interest, maintaining currency with exploitable emerging technologies and key players in the field.
• Experienced working across the full project life cycle and within associated standards/governance regimes for delivery of scale mission critical projects into UK Government.
• Proactive and forward thinking, capable of looking into the longer term to identify potential future challenges and determine solutions. For example through capability development/partnering strategy to ensure that the team is adequately resourced to meet the needs to the Software Solution.
• A strong communicator, capable of bridging between business need, solution requirements, system designers and technical delivery. Capable of commanding respect from all stakeholders across multiple communities to enable this bridging.
• Ability to engage and command respect when engaging at senior levels within client and internal stakeholder communities. Can clearly communicate technical aspects of the projects with relevance to the overall delivery ie against business requirements, risk, opportunity, cost, timescale, obsolescence and support ability through life in the context of an ongoing managed service.
  
  

  Please note: Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert therefore we may at any time bring the closing date forward.  We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as practical.

  We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in this specific area means that nationality, residency and security requirements are more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process. To work at NPL, you will need to obtain BPSS security clearance. However, to work in this role, you will need to have an SC clearance with no restrictions, or you must have the ability to obtain an SC clearance

• The National Physical Laboratory (NPL)is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK. Find out more about what it is like working here - The measure of us - Overview

  NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the EqualityAct 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme. 

  At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome. More about this on our Diversity & Inclusion page.

  We are committed to the health and well-being of our employees. Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work-life balance, along with abroad range of rewards, benefits and recognition. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success. To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.