Senior Software Engineer

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United Kingdom.

📋 Description

• Break down ambiguous challenges into well-defined system designs, making architectural choices that balance immediate requirements with long-term sustainability.

• Design, develop, and launch production-ready software throughout the entire lifecycle—from specifications to deployment and ongoing operability.

• Operate in diverse environments—modernizing legacy systems while also engaging in greenfield development, often within the same product.

• Take ownership of technical decisions for intricate system components, clearly articulating trade-offs in a manner understandable to both your product manager and principal engineer.

• Establish standards for what "good" looks like within your segment of the codebase, encompassing testing strategies, code quality, observability, and documentation.

• Collaborate with product teams, designers, and fellow engineers to fully grasp the core issue before initiating any development.

⛳️ Requirements

• Proven experience in building and delivering complex, real-world software systems—not merely contributing to extensive codebases, but taking ownership of significant components from start to finish.

• Expertise in system design and architectural reasoning—you consider how components interact, identify potential failure points, and understand boundary conditions.

• Ability to decompose problems amidst ambiguity—you inquire 'why' before 'how' and can translate vague business requirements into a structured technical plan.

• Commitment to production-quality standards—you value testing, observability, error management, and operational readiness, beyond just getting things to function locally.

• Strong communication skills that extend beyond technical teams—you can explain a technical trade-off to a product manager, draft a clear specification, and foster agreement on challenging decisions.

• Quick learning agility—you rapidly adapt to new stacks, tools, and domains. You’ve engaged with multiple languages or frameworks and are comfortable exploring unfamiliar areas.

• Demonstrated ownership and initiative—you proactively identify challenges before they are assigned to you and ensure they are resolved in production.

• Nice to have:

• Experience with AI-assisted development tools (Claude Code, Copilot, Cursor, or similar) integrated into your daily workflow.

• Ability to assess and validate AI-generated code with the same rigor as human-written code.

• Background in the public sector, health, housing, or local government sectors.

• Familiarity with .NET, Go, React/TypeScript, or similar modern technology stacks—specific language expertise is less critical than the ability to learn.

• Experience with legacy modernization—understanding the limitations, risks, and stakeholder dynamics involved in replacing active systems.

• Exposure to platform or product-led engineering environments.

🏝️ Benefits

• **Why You'll Love Working with Us:** As a company, we are passionate about our mission and the citizens we serve. If you are also eager to advocate for the use of technology in public services to enhance outcomes for citizens and public sector organizations, Civica is the ideal place for you. We will help you unlock your full potential, achieve career advancement, and make a significant impact on individuals and communities.

• **Time Off & Work-Life Balance:** ✔ 25 Days Annual Leave + bank holidays – with the option to purchase up to 10 additional days! ✔ Days of Difference – Up to 3 extra days off for volunteering.

• **Financial Well-being & Security:** ✔ Pension Contributions – 5% employer match to support your future. ✔ Income Protection – Up to 75% salary coverage for long-term illness. ✔ Life Assurance – 4x salary tax-free lump sum. ✔ Critical Illness Cover – £25,000 lump sum (extendable to dependents).

• **Health & Perks:** ✔ Private Medical Insurance – Quick access to private healthcare. ✔ Health Cash Plan – Reimbursements for physiotherapy, therapies & more. ✔ Dental Insurance – Coverage for routine & emergency care. ✔ Affinity Groups – Join employee-led communities. ✔ Bounty Bonus – Refer a friend & receive rewards.

• At Civica, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We believe that a variety of perspectives drives innovation and excellence, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.

• We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristic. Our recruitment process is designed to ensure fairness and transparency, giving every candidate an equal opportunity to contribute to our mission.

• If you require any adjustments or accommodations to participate in our recruitment process, please inform us. We are here to support you.