Job Description

On behalf of the Bank of England, we are looking for a Senior Software Engineer (Inside IR35) for a 12 Month contract based Hybrid in London.



The Bank of England is the UK's central bank. Our mission is to deliver monetary and financial stability for the British people.



The Bank of England is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) division. This is a rare opportunity to help shape how money might work in the UK in the future.



You'll be part of a small, dynamic team working on greenfield, experimental technology -- building prototypes and proof-of-concept systems for the Digital Pound. The work is ideal for engineers who enjoy learning, solving novel problems, and taking pride in their craft.



We're looking for creative individuals who are adaptable, collaborative, and passionate about software engineering. If you enjoy building things and care about the quality of your code, we'd love to hear from you.



As a Senior Software Engineer, your main responsibilities will be to:

Design and develop prototypes and proof-of-concept systems for the Digital Pound. Collaborate with a small, agile team to explore new technologies and approaches. Write clean, maintainable code in modern programming languages such as Python or Java aligned with best practices. Participate in design discussions and contribute to technical decision-making. Work across the full software development lifecycle, including testing, deployment, and operations. Engage with DevOps practices such as containerisation and infrastructure-as-code (e.g., Terraform, Kubernetes). Adapt quickly to new tools and technologies in a greenfield, experimental environment.

Essential:

Minimum five years of professional software development experience. Proficient in at least one mainstream programming language such as Java, Python, C, C++, Go or Rust. Knowledge of frontend web technologies (HTML, CSS, Javascript). Familiarity working with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure). Understanding of the Software Development lifecycle: testing, version control, code standards, build processes, deployment and operations. Degree in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience.

Desirable:

Experience with DevOps tools, especially Terraform and Kubernetes (highly desirable). Containerisation experience (Docker). API development experience. Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and TDD. Comfortable working in greenfield environments and learning new technologies.

SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role, as a minimum you must be willing & eligible to undergo checks. Please note, due to the exceptional requirements of this position (short-term nature of this role and speed at which we require a postholder in situ) preference may be given to candidates who meet all of the essential criteria and hold active security clearance.



Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.



Our Approach to Inclusion



The Bank values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We play a key role in maintaining monetary and financial stability, and to do that effectively, we believe we need a workforce that reflects the society we serve.



At the Bank of England, we want all colleagues to feel valued and respected, so we're working hard to build an inclusive culture which supports people from all backgrounds and communities to be at their best at work. We celebrate all forms of diversity, including (but not limited to) age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. We believe that it's by drawing on different perspectives and experiences that we'll continue to make the best decisions for the public.



Disability Confident



As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, the Bank of England guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.



Armed Forces Covenant



The Bank of England guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.



In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".