Junior Software Engineer
Office for National Statistics
Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 26th September 2024
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Information Technology
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Location
As part of the hybrid working arrangement there is 40% a minimum office attendance requirement. Attendance is typically at your contractual office, with occasional travel to alternative locations. Due to estates constraints, there are currently temporary exceptions to this for colleagues based at London who are required to attend the office for a minimum of 20% of their work time.
About the job
Job summary
Calling all Junior Software Engineers…
Would you like to progress your software career in an organisation that invests in the development of every colleague?
We are looking for Junior Software Engineers to come and join our expanding community here at The Office for National Statistics .
Now is the time to come onboard and join our forward-thinking teams, during this period of expansion we are continuing to develop and invest in all of our software engineering teams and are recruiting a number of engineers to join our existing innovative teams across the business.
Job description
We have 5 opportunities across the ONS in the following teams:
Vacancy 1- Statistical Production Platform (SPP)
The Statistical Production Platform (SPP) is building new technology capabilities to migrate a wide range of surveys of national importance from legacy platforms. Our multi-disciplinary teams cover software engineering, system design, requirement analysis, user research, delivery management and product management, allowing us to both evolve the SPP as a product whilst meeting organisational goals through new development. We interface with both change programmes at the ONS and the wider Digital Services & Technology directorate we are part of.
As a cloud based platform, we want to work with people who have interest or experience of working in the cloud (we use AWS), and we use Python as our main language.
Programming Languages and Tools- Terraform, Concourse, Javascript, CSS, Dock/Containers, Python, Pyspark, Flask
Vacancy 2- Collection and Dissemination
We are looking for Junior Software Engineer with a experience in Python and/or Javascript in a cloud environment. You will be working in the recently combined eQ Author & eQ Runner team, focusing initially on the Author product, and will play a pivotal role in ensuring operational needs are met and existing service standards are maintained. Working in the Survey Data Collection service, within Collection and Dissemination, you will thrive using agile methods and enjoy working openly and collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams.
Programming Languages and Tools- Python, Javascript, React/Apollo, GraphQL, Cloud Platform (eg, GCP, AWS, Azure), Docker/Kubernetes , CI/CD, Terraform, Github, Automation and testing, Monitoring tools
Vacancy 3 Survey Data Collection Service
The Common ONS Repository for Data (CORD) team provides BAU DevOps support. It is a Timeseries processing system used to produce the governments national accounts/ Economical stats for England and Wales/ Critical factors/ GDP/ inflation and Trade. You will work alongside a large team of junior and senior engineers: the team works in an agile environment and is incredibly supportive to help develop your skills.
Programme Languages and Tools: Python, R, Oracle, Java, C#, React, Go, Flask, Cucumber, Jinja, Jquery, HTML, CSS and Javascript
Vacancy 4 Integrated Data Service
We are looking for Junior Software Engineer with experience in a cloud environment using one or more of these languages; CRAFT, Python and JavaScript.
Our team are responsible for the building of the user interfaces for the Integrated Data Service. We are building user interfaces for the external users and the internal customer support team. The service is made up of several products, designed and built from scratch, that will allow us to move into the future of collaborative research and support a UK wide approach to accessing and analysing data.
Programming Languages and Tools: Craft, Python, Nunjucks, Jinja, Google Cloud, Flask, CI/CD, Terraform, Github
Vacancy 5 Innovation Team
Our team operates across various work streams, with a particular emphasis on enhancing the Software Development Practices through initiatives such as the Software Developer Portal and GitHub API-based Dashboards for compliance and policy implementation. We are passionate about creating templates and promoting automation in software development, streamlining processes, and fostering efficiency. Additionally, we are at the forefront of exploring new technologies, including GenerativeAI Agent Builder, where we develop proofs of concept to demonstrate the potential and applicability of these advancements. Join us to be part of a team that not only embraces change but drives it, shaping the future of technology within ONS.
Programming Languages and Tools: Python, GitHub, and GitHub APIs, as well as Python Flask, StreamLit, Docker, and AWS. Backstage (Internal Developers Portal), Terraform, CI/CD (Concourse), Node.js, and PostgreSQL.
Responsibilities
As a junior developer you will learn on the job by delivering discrete simple software components. Your responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
- Develop skills whilst working under supervision to deliver software solutions for stories in a multidisciplinary team
- Understand and are proficient in different types of testing
- Aware of but not responsible for security
- Run and manage appropriate tests
- Able to work independently
We expect that you will have experience of using some of these technologies and be keen to learn others. You would be given full support and development with technologies you are unfamiliar with.
Person specification
Essential Skills Criteria
- Understands key principles of modern standards approach and how they apply to the work they are undertaking, and will apply under guidance. Designs, codes, tests, corrects and documents programs of suitable complexity or scripts under the direction of others initially using the right standards and tools.
- Contributes to code reviews Able to help fix faults following agreed procedures. Carries out agreed infrastructure maintenance tasks.
- Able to remedy common, documented issues and to able to process simple service requests.
- Assists as part of a team on design of components of larger systems.
- Aware of how to integrate components into systems and the challenges of designing, building and testing interfaces between systems.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
- Changing and Improving
Benefits
The Office for National Statistics is part of the Civil Service, and as such we share a number of key benefits with other departments, whilst also having our own unique offerings to support our 5400 valued colleagues across the business.
This role is part of the cross-government Government Digital and Data (formerly DDaT) profession framework. As a role within Government Digital and Data (formerly DDaT) at the ONS, we also offer benefits such as:
- Protected Learning Time to spend on your personal development and side-projects.
- A supportive and active Community of Practice which you will be expected to contribute to, helping ensure you and your colleagues get the training, development and opportunities you need to progress your careers.
We are committed to supporting our people’s wellbeing by offering flexible ways of working that support a healthy work life balance. We are happy to explore opportunities with you about working flexibly in line with our hybrid working policies.
Whether you are hearing about us for the first time or already know a bit about our organisation, we hope that the benefits pack attached (bottom of page) will give you a great insight into the benefits and facilities available to our colleagues and our fantastic working culture.
Inclusion & Accessibility
At ONS we are always looking to attract the very best people from the widest possible talent pool, and we are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer. As a member of the Business Disability Forum and a Disability Confident Leader we’re committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process.
As part of our application process, you will be prompted to provide details of any reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process that you need. If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments before applying, please contact the recruitment team in the first instance.
If you would like an accessible version of any of the attachments or recruitment documents below or linked to in this advert, please contact the recruitment team who will be happy to assist.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Security Clearance
The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to applying.
A lack of UK residency in itself is not always a bar to security clearance but the Department will need to consider eligibility by exception on a case-by-case basis. You will be asked to provide information regarding your UK residency during your application, and failure to provide this will result in your application being rejected.
If you are unsure that you meet the eligibility above, please contact the recruitment email on the advert before applying to discuss, as failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected and any offer of employment being withdrawn.
At the point of SC application you will need to provide or give access to the following evidence:
- Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
- UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
- Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
- Security Services records
Applicant support
Applicants may utilise AI resources in their submissions; ensuring all information provided is factually accurate, truthful, and original, avoiding any form of plagiarism to maintain the authenticity and credibility of the application process.
Stage 1 – Application & Sift Assessment
Assessment at application stage will be based on your CV, work history, skill and experience and personal statement. Your application should be tailored to demonstrate any skills, knowledge and experience that are relevant to the content of the role.
Your personal statement should be no longer than 1250 words. You should use this space to provide evidence for each essential and technical criteria within the person specification. As the criteria are scored, we would recommend that you give clear examples for each including the impact of your actions and set them out using the STAR acronym (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Success Profiles Behaviour examples are not required at this stage. (Further information about skill levels are available on Government Digital and Data capability framework)
Sift stage will be based on your work history, skills and experience and evidence given in your personal statement.
In cases where there is a high number of applications the sift pass mark may be adjusted and candidates will be invited to interview in merit order, i.e. those scoring the highest.
Stage 2 – Interview
Should you be invited to interview, you will be assessed using various assessment techniques aligned to the Civil Service Success Profiles, where you'll be assessed against all the behaviours and technical criteria outlined in the advert.
A presentation may be required at interview. Further information will be provided to successful candidates prior to interview.
Interviews will be conducted by Video.
A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. Appointments will be made in merit order for each tech stack.
Important Dates:
Sift date: From 27/09/2024
Interview dates: From 14/10/2024
Dates are subject to change
For the full terms and conditions of the post, please see attachment below.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Government-Digital-and-Data-Recruitment@ons.gov.uk
- Email : Government-Digital-and-Data-Recruitment@ons.gov.uk
- Telephone : Government-Digital-and-Data-Recruitment@ons.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : Government-Digital-and-Data-Recruitment@ons.gov.uk
Further information
