Senior Software Engineer
Civica builds software that runs essential public services. Our systems support local government, the NHS, housing associations, and financial institutions - services that millions of people depend on every day. When our software works well, caseworkers make better decisions, clinicians access the right information, and councils deliver services that communities rely on.
We're not a startup chasing the next hype cycle. We're a company with deep roots in the public sector, working on problems that matter - and we're investing seriously in how we build software to make sure we can keep doing that for the next decade.
Why you will love this opportunity as Senior Software Engineer at Civica
We're hiring Senior Software Engineers to work on business-critical products across our portfolio. You'll be embedded in a product team, working across legacy and greenfield environments, translating ambiguous business problems into production-grade solutions.
We care about engineering judgement - the ability to decompose hard problems, design systems that last, and ship software that works in production. We expect you to use modern tooling, including AI-assisted development, as part of how you work. But the signal we're hiring on is your thinking, not your toolset.
You'll work on systems with real users, real constraints, and real consequences. Some of that work will be modernising legacy codebases that have served public services for years. Some will be building new capabilities from scratch. All of it requires someone who thinks in systems, not just code.
Responsibilities:
- Decompose ambiguous problems into clear system designs, making architectural decisions that balance immediate needs with long-term maintainability
- Design, build, and ship production-ready software across the full lifecycle. From specification through to deployment and operability
- Work across mixed environments - legacy modernisation alongside greenfield development, often within the same product
- Own technical decisions for complex system components, articulating trade-offs in terms your product manager and your principal engineer both understand
- Define what "good" looks like for your area of the codebase - testing strategy, code quality, observability, and documentation
- Collaborate with product, design, and other engineers to understand the real problem before building anything
Requirements
- A track record of building and shipping complex, real-world software systems - not just contributing to large codebases, but owning meaningful pieces end-to-end
- System design and architectural reasoning - you think about how components interact, where the failure modes are, and what happens at boundaries
- Problem decomposition under ambiguity - you ask 'why' before 'how' and can translate a vague business need into a structured technical approach
- Production-quality discipline - you care about testing, observability, error handling, and operational readiness, not just making things work locally
- Communication that reaches beyond engineers - you can explain a technical trade-off to a product manager, write a clear specification, and build consensus on contentious decisions
- Learning agility - you pick up new stacks, tools, and domains quickly. You've worked across more than one language or framework and you're comfortable in unfamiliar territory
- Ownership and initiative - you identify problems before they're assigned to you and follow through until they're resolved in production
Nice to have
- Experience using AI-assisted development tools (Claude Code, Copilot, Cursor, or similar) as part of your daily workflow
- Comfort evaluating and validating AI-generated code to the same standard as human-written code
- Experience in the public sector, health, housing, or local government domains
- Familiarity with .NET, Go, React/TypeScript, or similar modern stacks - we're polyglot, so language-specific depth matters less than the ability to learn
- Experience with legacy modernisation - understanding the constraints, risks, and stakeholder dynamics of replacing systems that are still in production
- Exposure to platform or product-led engineering environments
Benefits
Why You'll Love Working with Us
As a company, we're passionate about what we do and the citizens we serve. If you, too, want to champion the use of technology in public services to improve outcomes for citizens and public sector organizations, then Civica is the right place for you. We will help you unlock the best version of yourself, achieve career growth, and make a real difference to people and communities.
We know that when our people are happy, they work better and have greater job satisfaction. Here's what you can expect:
Time Off & Work-Life Balance
25 Days Annual Leave + bank holidays - plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days!
Days of Difference - Up to 3 extra days off for volunteering.
Financial Well-being & Security
Pension Contributions - 5% employer match to support your future.
Income Protection - Up to 75% salary cover for long-term illness.
Life Assurance - 4x salary tax-free lump sum.
Critical Illness Cover - £25,000 lump sum (extendable to dependents).
Health & Perks
Private Medical Insurance - Fast access to private healthcare.
Health Cash Plan - Claim back physio, therapies & more.
Dental Insurance - Cover for routine & emergency care.
Affinity Groups - Join employee-led communities.
Bounty Bonus - Refer a friend & get rewarded.
At Civica, we are committed to building an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We believe that a variety of perspectives drives innovation and excellence, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.
We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristic. Our recruitment process is designed to ensure fairness and transparency, so every candidate has an equal chance to contribute to our mission.
If you need any adjustments or accommodations to participate in our recruitment process, please let us know. We are here to support you.