Senior Software Developer - Contract

Senior Software Developer - Contract

Duration: September 2026 to February 2027

Location: Belfast Salary: £36,122 (+ £7,542 salary supplement p.a.)
Grade: Assembly Grade 7
Directorate: Parliamentary Services Business
Area/Office: Information Systems (IS) Office Reports to: Lead Software Developer
Line Management Responsibility: Software Developers

Job Purpose

As a Senior Software Developer, you will be responsible for planning, developing and integrating related software components using an Agile approach and utilising Microsoft Visual Studio and Azure DevOps.You will work on a range of systems, from simple workflow database applications to highly complex business-critical systems that interface with cloud technology. You will have an understanding of the whole system and take responsibility for teaching this to others. You will work with other disciplines to understand what needs to be built. You will coach and mentor junior colleagues to ensure that software meets users' needs, taking responsibility for writing clean, secure and effective code, following best practice guidelines and quality assurance processes.Job DescriptionThe main duties and responsibilities of the post are to:

• Plan and lead the analysis and development of sets of related user stories using Agile processes, including liaison with users throughout the organisation to create work item technical specifications.
• Contribute to the system design and have an understanding of the whole system, and take responsibility for teaching this to others.
• Contribute to systems integration design and build, including awareness of cross-system dependencies.
• Design solutions and services with security controls embedded, specifically engineered as mitigation against security threats.
• Design, code, test, review and document software components of medium to high complexity to agreed technical specifications.
• Develop software using the latest Microsoft technologies such as ASP.Net Core MVC, C#.Net, Azure functions, Entity Framework Core and SQL Server.
• Support and maintain legacy systems developed using VB.Net, WinForm and WebForms.
• Write clean, secure and effective code by adhering to software development policies, standards, and best practice guidelines.
• Develop, support and provide technical advice on cloud-based technologies such as Microsoft Azure, Office 365, Microsoft Teams and SharePoint Online.
• Develop and support software solutions that integrate 3rd party software such as EPiServer CMS and Umbraco CMS.
• Provide technical support for bespoke systems, including support for business critical procedural systems to ensure the smooth running of Plenary and Committee business.
• Line management of Software Developers and Junior Developers, including monitoring of performance, quality assurance, coaching and mentoring.
• Advice and training to Assembly Members and their staff in the use of ICT systems, including system demonstrations and the preparation of user documentation.
• Assist in the development and implementation of relevant IT policy, strategy and standards.
• Co-operation with other ICT staff in maintaining effective computing services.
• Project management duties.
• Assist in the development, implementation and monitoring of IT security measures.
• Undertaking other duties in line with the needs and level of this post.
• Comply with all of the Assembly Commission's staff policies and procedures including Equal Opportunities and Dignity at Work policies and procedures.
• Carry out other duties that the Assembly Commission reasonably requires of you.

Essential CriteriaApplicants for the post must, by the closing date for applications, have:Option 1a) Be in possession of a Bachelor's (or higher) Degree in either Computing, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or other discipline relevant to Information Systems / Information Technology.ANDb) Have a minimum of two years' relevant experience in each of the areas described below at (i), (ii), (iii).OROption 2a) Be in possession of an HND or Foundation Degree in Computing or other discipline relevant to Information Systems / Information Technology*.ANDb) Have a minimum of three years' relevant experience in each of the areas described below at (i), (ii), (iii).(i) Application Development

• Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 or later
• C#.NET and ASP.NET programming skills
• Web programming using HTML, JavaScript, CSS
• MVC Architecture
• Entity Framework
• Azure Functions
• Team Foundation Server or similar

(ii) Azure DevOps or Similar

• Agile Development Processes
• Azure Boards or similar

(iii) Database Design

• Database design including logical and physical data modelling
• Microsoft SQL Server 2012 or later
• Use of Structured Query Language (SQL)

Important Information

• NB Only those courses with a computing content of 50% or more will be considered relevant and the onus is on the applicant to clearly illustrate that their qualification meets the 50% criteria. Candidates must provide full details of their qualifications in their application. Applicants should list all of the modules studied (including those with no computing content), and also briefly set out details of each of the relevant core modules detailed above and show that they add up to at least 50% of the total number of modules studied

Apply NowThis is an opportunity to join the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission as a Senior Software Developer, playing a key role in the development, integration and support of business-critical systems while working with modern Microsoft technologies and cloud platforms.If you meet the essential criteria and are looking for a challenging and rewarding role within a highly respected organisation, we encourage you to submit your application before the closing date.Apply today to be considered for this opportunity.

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