Lead Scala Developer
Contract | Initial 3-Month Engagement | Inside IR35 | UK Government Programme
RedRock Consulting is working in partnership with a leading technology consultancy delivering services into a major UK Government organisation. We are seeking an experienced Lead Scala Developer to join a high-performing engineering team responsible for designing, building, and enhancing critical digital services.
This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on technical leader who can combine strong Scala development expertise with the ability to mentor teams, influence architecture, and drive delivery within a large-scale Agile environment.
The Role
As Lead Scala Developer, you will play a key role in the design, development and delivery of modern, scalable applications. Working closely with architects, engineers, DevOps and QA teams, you will help shape technical solutions while providing leadership and guidance to developers across the programme.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the design and implementation of full-stack solutions using Scala
- Drive architectural discussions and contribute to technical decision-making
- Provide technical leadership, mentoring and support to development teams
- Develop and maintain scalable microservices-based applications
- Conduct code reviews and champion engineering best practices
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including DevOps, QA and delivery stakeholders
- Translate technical concepts into clear business-facing communication
- Support the delivery of robust, secure and highly available digital services
- Contribute to continuous improvement across engineering and delivery practices
Essential Skills & Experience
- Strong commercial experience developing applications with Scala
- Previous experience in a Lead Developer or Technical Leadership role
- Strong understanding of functional programming principles
- Hands-on experience building microservices using the Play Framework
- Experience with source control tools such as Git
- Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and modern development tooling
- Experience with tools such as IntelliJ, VS Code and SBT
- Strong knowledge of Agile delivery methodologies
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
- Ability to influence technical direction across complex programmes
- Experience working within Linux or MacOS environments
Desirable Experience
- Experience delivering projects within central government or wider public sector environments
- Exposure to large-scale digital transformation programmes
- Experience working within highly regulated or security-conscious environments
- Knowledge of modern cloud-native engineering practices
Contract Details
- Role: Lead Scala Developer
- Contract Length: Initial 3-month contract
- Location: Primarily remote with occasional travel to either Leeds or Newcastle (typically around once per month, including overnight stay if required)
- Working Pattern: Agile delivery environment
- Clearance: BPSS required or eligibility to obtain clearance
