Overview

Join to apply for the Innovation Developer role at UK Home Office.

The Developer works on software components that form part of Digital Innovation Lab experimentation work. You will be involved in designing, running and improving software leveraging emerging technology, including artificial intelligence and machine learning. You will typically work under the guidance of senior colleagues in your team. You will work to our technical standards writing clean, secure code following a test-driven approach, ensuring the code is open as far as possible and can be re-used.

Join Our Team

Join us to help pioneer new approaches and tackle diverse challenges that rarely exist in one organisation, to:

• Prototype, design and develop solutions that improve lives.
• Work with an exceptional range of AI and automation technologies.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and technical experts.
• Develop your skills at the forefront of public sector innovation.

If you're passionate about using technology to create tangible change at an unparalleled scale and pace, we want you on our team. Join us and use cutting-edge technology to help build a Home Office fit for the future - where innovation delivers real-world impact every single day.

What will you be doing?

Your main day to day responsibilities will be:

• Applying a continuous learning approach to develop knowledge on emerging technology, staying up-to-date and relevant to the demands of the organisation.
• Delivering secure, reliable and scalable software for prototypes and proof-of-concepts; undertaking a breadth of development tasks.
• Designing new software using appropriate tools and in line with standards, proving designs through prototyping.
• Capturing your approach, reporting on progress and outcomes; keeping documentation up to date.
• Providing advice and guidance as your solutions progress through into delivery, balancing your work with your leadership.
• Working with other engineers to assess and evaluate new technologies or approaches.

Your skills for this role

You’ll be a self-starter with a demonstrable passion for innovating with new technology, with the following skills or some previous experience in:

• Evaluating emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) and highlighting risks and trade-offs.
• Researching emerging technologies to ensure that any risks or trade-offs, e.g. security or privacy concerns, are factored into all Innovation Lab activities and form part of handovers into delivery.
• Applying agreed standards and tools to produce clear, well-documented code for hand-over to delivery teams, providing support throughout the lifecycle.
• Designing test approach for prototypes, ensuring test data used is representative, especially for use of AI/ML solutions, creating synthetic test data where appropriate.
• Assessing the quality and integrity of all data sources, demonstrating application of ethical principles when proposing use of artificial intelligence.
• Rapidly develop functional AI prototypes by integrating LLMs, APIs, and data sources, using lightweight CI/CD pipelines to automate demos and enable secure cloud-based experimentation.

Why Join Us?

• Exceptional pension: Employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Generous leave: 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 with service), 8 public holidays, and 1 day for the King’s Birthday.
• Flexible working: Options include full-time, part-time, compressed hours, job sharing, and a hybrid model (minimum 60% on-site).
• Learning and development: Access to training, technical accreditations, and funded qualifications (subject to approval).
• Recognition and inclusion: A culture that champions diversity, enhanced parental leave schemes, annual bonuses, and recognition awards.

Learn more about our benefits: Benefits - Home Office Careers

Additional Information

This role requires SC clearance. To meet national security vetting requirements, you typically need to have been resident in the UK for at least three years. Unfortunately we cannot offer sponsorship.

Ready to lead, innovate, and make an impact? Click "Apply" to explore the full job description and salary details.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Engineering, Information Technology, and General Business
• Industries
• Robotics Engineering, IT Services and IT Consulting, and Software Development

Additional roles and locations listed on the page are not part of this description.