Job Title: Lead Software Developer
Department: Delivery & Integration, Information Technology, Digital Solutions.
Line Manager: Front Office Devlivery Centre Manager
Senior Manager: Head of IT Delivery & Integration
Direct Reports: None
Indirect Reports: None
Summary of Department:
- Change delivery management of in-house and third party software & application supplier deliveries through the entire change development lifecycle including front & back office, integration partners, Infrastructure partners and Management Information provision.
- Integration management of all IT change deliveries from in-house, managed services and third party software and application suppliers to deliver complete functional solutions to user acceptance and IT Operations for deploy to production.
- Functional and quality assurance testing of the entire ARC platform including supporting third party software and application suppliers.
- Performance, security and automatic regression testing.
- Code configuration management of in-house and third party software deliveries through the change development lifecycle.
Summary of Role:
The main purpose of this role is to lead a team of Software Developers, delivering business critical projects whilst maintaining high morale, managing the day to day activities in an efficient and professional manner and ensuring all team targets are met as advised by management.
To provide technical leadership and oversight, in addition to well-developed technical skills, in the design, construction, testing, installation and modification of both externally and internally supplied solutions, to meet the agreed business and IT needs of AUK DS.
To participate in creating and executing the IT Strategy, ensuring that AUK identifies and benefits from emerging technologies and that the IT Development team appropriately supports the subsequent change.
Performs using agreed standards, following an approved development methodology (currently SAFe and Agile), as directed by the Delivery Centre Manager.
To provide expert guidance to IT and business colleagues as required relating to systems and business areas of expertise
To take responsibility for leading and delivering workstream tasks for multiple projects. Oversee third party application and software deliverables ensuring that they meet the overall business and technical architecture of the platform.
Key Tasks:
Analysis
Responsibility for investigative work to seek effective technical solutions. Organises implementation of improvements in information systems, data management, business processes and procedures. Applies and monitors the use of required modelling and analysis tools, methods and standards in an intelligent and effective way. Working autonomously or as part of a team, analyses the underlying issues arising from investigations into requirements and problems, and identifies available options for consideration.
Works with clients and users in specifying information flows, processes/procedures and data objects that will be required to meet the business requirements. Utilises experience and skills to assess to advise on the practicability of alternatives, marrying up technical limitations with operational realities. Consults with IT specialists in areas such as infrastructure, data management, communications, and service delivery, taking account of their recommendations in regards to the implementation of solutions.
Arranges, prepares and conducts meetings, workshops and presentations for a wide variety of audiences, demonstrating consistently high qualities of communication and persuasive skills. Takes responsibility for a mentoring role in relation to less experienced colleagues.
Design
Works autonomously on moderately complex systems and/or with Solution Architect on larger or more complex systems. Oversees technical scope, constraints (such as performance, resources etc.), hardware, network and software environments, main system functions and information flows, data load and implementation strategies, phasing of development, requirements not met, and alternatives considered.
Takes a lead role in systems development projects, both within systems design and in interfaces with other stages of development. Evaluates and undertakes impact analysis on major design options. Provides solution design guidance to less experienced colleagues as required.
Working with project management colleagues where appropriate, reviews and revises cost benefit analyses, risk analyses and development plans to take account of design decisions.
Assists in the assessment and selection of suitable software packages to meet all or parts of specified requirements
Architecture
Develops systems architecture containing logical models of the IT components and interfaces involved. Produces documentation for systems architectures within own area(s) of expertise, making sensible use of both text and graphics.
Maintains a working knowledge of current practice and awareness of current developments within own area(s) of expertise across industry. Assists Solution Architects in defining high level platform architecture.
Technical
High level oversight of in-house and 3rd party developers, reporting on their effectiveness and takes action to remedy any identified deficiencies. Provides advice, guidance and assistance to less experienced colleagues as required. Takes responsibility for oversight and/or consultancy on design, build, testing and documentation of particularly large, complex or mission critical programmes.
Provides expert advice in some or all aspects of programming methods, tools and/or standards. Evaluates and reviews development methods and tools used in Digital Solutions.
Provides advice, both reactively and pro-actively, to those engaged in activities where the technical specialism is applicable. Identifies opportunities to apply and develop their technical specialism. Carries out specific assignments related to the technical specialism, either autonomously or as part of a team.
Develops knowledge of the delivery centre technical specialism by, for example, reading relevant literature, attending conferences and seminars, meeting and maintaining contact with others involved in the technical specialism. Maintains an awareness of current developments in the technical specialism within employing organisation, own industry and outside.
At all times act in accordance to all AEGON UK policies, with the FCA's principles, rules and guidance and other relevant legislation. Deliver processes and systems to ensure that a consistent, acceptable level of service is provided to customers, that complaints are handled fairly and that action is taken to reduce the causes of complaints and in line with AEGON UK Customer Experience and Treating Customers Fairly policy.
Skills
- Leads the design & development of solutions that meet the needs of AUK DS IT business users, and are consistent with the overall Technology Strategy and agreed standards, methodologies & procedures within AUK. Documents all work in accordance with the agreed standards, methodologies & procedures within Front Office Delivery Centre.
- Presents new/revised Strategies and technical options to the IT Leadership team for consideration and approval.
- Defines and maintains the Design Principles and Standards by which developers work for all technologies used in IT Development. Ensures adherence to standards through training and education.
- Helps in the peer review process and ensures that the process is followed and adhered to. Suggests improvements to the process, identifying new areas requiring peer review.
- Participates in maintaining current systems to perform in a reliable, scalable and robust manner as required. Ensures root causes are identified and responded to as they impact current technical practices, Standards and Design Principles. Takes action to deal with exceptions, problems and unforeseen events in a timely manner. Ensures users and senior staff are kept up-to-date with progress & manages expectations.
- Takes responsibility to lead and follow the configuration and release management process as laid by the Service Management group.
- Implements software configuration management procedures to ensure successful implementation and promotion of code.
- Participates in Agile team working as required, delivering Analysis, Development, Testing, etc, tasks as agreed within sprint planning, producing the required documentation and/or Jira records. Acts as a positive, flexible and value-driven member of the Agile team.
- Plans & schedules own work as agreed with the Delivery Centre Manager, regularly reporting progress and issues. Works with limited supervision.
- Responsible for compliance with the regulatory and legislative regime as it impacts your role and for ensuring that risks are identified, reported and managed accordingly.
Knowledge & Experience
- Expert in development and maintainance of opensource and custom frameworks.
- Expert in creating SEO friendly and accessible HTML code.
- Expert in developing Secure services
- Expert in creating reuseable UI components and frameworks.
- Experience of leading a team of Software developers.
- Proficient in performance tuning and optimisation.
- Proficient in configuration and automation of UI component testing.
- Proficient in Digital Solutions applications development tools.
- Basic knowledge of AEGON UK products at a high level.
- In-depth knowledge of the methodology as part of ISO9001 accreditation.
- Awareness / familiarisation with any appropriate legislation,
- Reasonable knowledge of the market place within which AEGON UK operates
- Good working knowledge of the structure of the AEGON UK Group,
- Appreciates the importance of commercial constraints
- Proficient in any business systems development and maintenance function and has gained broad experience of business systems analysis and is proficient in the role of designing solutions to meet business requirements.
Qualifications:
Educated to degree level or equivalent professional qualification. If not a graduate educated to at least GCE A level, SCE Higher grade or equivalent with compensating professional experience.
Additional Job Description
Equal Opportunity Employer:
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age