Lead Developer

We have an exciting opportunity to join our growing team as a full stack Lead Software Developer where you will be developing innovative SaaS applications, delivered via the cloud, working on a combination of new projects, maintenance and support across the entire lifecycle from concept and system design through to live deployment.

You will be leading a squad of developers in a wider a growing team developing products for the insurance industry, working with insurance companies, suppliers, police forces and all supporting industries - both within the UK and Worldwide.

The ideal candidates will be able to hit the ground running with a variety of projects, working both alone and as part of the team.

We are currently driving cutting-edge technical change making use of the latest cloud technologies, serverless and micro services architecture to meet our client and business requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design & Development

• Design, build, and support robust, scalable, and maintainable web, mobile, and component-based applications.

• Deliver new features and enhancements for existing systems using current and emerging technologies.

• Translate business requirements into technical solutions, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.

• Scope, implement, test, and deploy new application versions, databases, and utilities.

• Technical Leadership & Mentorship

• Take ownership of the squad's technical vision and architecture, ensuring best practices and maintainable solutions.

• Mentor junior developers, conduct code reviews, and promote knowledge sharing and continuous learning.

• Lead by example in writing clean, efficient, and high-quality code while enforcing coding standards across the team.

• Agile & Cross-functional Collaboration

• Participate in Agile ceremonies including Three Amigos sessions, sprint planning, and retrospectives.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, UX, QA, and other stakeholders to define user stories, estimate effort, and deliver high-value solutions.

• Raise development issues early and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across the team.

• Documentation & Support

• Produce technical documentation, and operational guides for software maintenance and support.

• Provide third-line support as required, assisting in issue resolution and root cause analysis.

• Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Stay informed on industry trends, tools, and frameworks, and advocate for relevant adoption within the squad.

• Identify opportunities to improve development processes, tools, and team practices through retrospectives and proactive engagement.

• Team Culture & Delivery Excellence

• Promote a positive, inclusive team environment that values collaboration, respect, and open communication.

• Track time accurately and complete special projects or additional duties as needed.

Technical Expertise & Leadership Competencies

As a Lead Developer, you will bring a breadth of hands-on technical experience, alongside a passion for best practices, modern architecture, and mentoring others. The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

Core Development Skills

• Proven commercial experience in server-side Java (v8-11 and beyond), ideally gained over 10+ years in a professional environment; Java certification is advantageous.
• Strong proficiency in SQL, with a preference for Microsoft SQL Server or PostgreSQL.
• Experience with NoSQL databases, particularly DynamoDB.
• Solid understanding of design patterns and Clean Code principles.

Architecture & Modern Engineering Practices

• Good working knowledge of microservices architecture and serverless technologies (e.g., AWS Lambda, Step Functions).
• Experience deploying and developing applications within AWS environments.
• Familiarity with Spring and Hibernate frameworks.
• Comfortable working with both traditional and low code/no code platforms.

Frontend & Integration Technologies

• Proficiency in modern frontend technologies such as Vue.js, HTML5, CSS, jQuery, and Bootstrap (or similar).
• Experience with industry-standard API integrations (RESTful/JSON; SOAP experience is a plus).
• Awareness of automation toolsets and Test-Driven Development methodologies.

Tooling & Workflow

• Skilled in using source control systems, preferably Azure DevOps (ADO), Jenkins knowledge advantageous too.
• Working knowledge of containerisation technologies such as Docker
• Practical experience working within Agile/Scrum delivery environments.
• Familiarity with AI-enhanced development tools such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or similar.

Leadership & Domain Knowledge

• Demonstrated experience in line management and mentoring technical teams.
• A proactive approach to continuous learning and a passion for exploring new technologies.
• Experience in the insurance industry, particularly within motor claims, is advantageous.