Developer (AI/RPA) (18 Months FTC)

Barnet
3 days ago
Create job alert

Directorate: Strategy & Innovation
Contract Type: 18 Months Fixed Term Contract
Hours: 36
Salary: £56,376 - £61,653
Location: Colindale
Closing Date: Midnight March 9th 2026

About Barnet Council
Barnet is a borough with much to be proud of. Our excellent schools, vibrant town centres, vast green spaces and diverse communities all help make it a great place to live and work. As a council we want to build on these strengths as we move into the future. We are growing and developing as an organisation to meet the challenges facing our borough and we are committed to working with partner organisations and residents to make Barnet even better. As an organisation, our staff are committed to Our Values: Learning to Improve, Caring, Inclusive, Collaborative - which drive everything we do.

About the role
This is an exciting time to join Barnet as we grow our Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) capabilities and accelerate our digital transformation journey. We're investing in smarter services, better use of data, modern technology, and you'll play a key part in shaping this future.

We're looking for a talented Developer to help us build modern, usercentred, scalable digital solutions across Barnet.

Working within the Insight & Intelligence Hub, you'll design, build and implement cuttingedge automation and AI solutions that improve productivity, enable preventive interventions, and create better outcomes for residents. You'll work across services to streamline processes, reduce manual effort, and deploy tools that support smarter decisionmaking.
This is a handson development role with a focus on AI, and robotic process automation. You'll collaborate closely with data scientists, data engineers, product teams and service leads to turn realworld problems into effective, scalable solutions.
This is a hybrid role. You will be expected to attend monthly in-person team days in our Colindale office.
We also come into the office to meet service stakeholders, work together on collaboration, discovery and user testing sessions and department days.
Please click here to download the Job description for this role.

About you
You're an experienced automation or AI developer who enjoys solving complex problems and experimenting with new technologies. You can translate business needs into intelligent solutions and have a strong understanding of how automation, data and AI can transform services.
You will bring:

  • Experience designing and configuring RPA workflows, bots and automation solutions
  • Experience developing and maintaining automated pipelines for AI tools
  • Ability to integrate multiple systems and applications using APIs, JSON, XML, CSV, or other data interchange methods.
  • Knowledge of database environments (e.g., MS SQL, Dataverse, OneLake).
  • Experience working with or supporting machine learning models, including data preparation, feature engineering and testing.
  • Understanding of cloud services such as Azure Functions, Logic Apps, Azure AI Foundry or similar.
  • Strong coding skills, ideally in JavaScript, PowerShell, Python, C# or VB.NET.
  • Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
  • A proactive mindset, with a commitment to continuous learning, experimentation and emerging AI/automation technologies.
  • You're someone who enjoys designing solutions that are scalable, secure, accessible and aligned with modern development practices.
    In this role, you will:
  • Develop and implement AI and RPA driven solutions to automate processes, support decisionmaking and enhance the user experience across the council.
  • Maintain and improve deployed automation and AI tools, ensuring reliability, performance and business continuity.
  • Contribute to the development of Barnet's AI and automation architecture, including horizonscanning for new technologies.
  • Work with data scientists and engineers to support model training, testing and deployment for predictive analytics and advanced automation.
  • Ensure secure, compliant and wellstructured use of data, particularly through effective SharePoint design, metadata use, permissions and governance.
  • Produce clear and comprehensive documentation, including architecture diagrams, user guides and troubleshooting resources.
  • Share knowledge through peer reviews, workshops and training, helping build capability across the organisation.
  • Implement rigorous testing approaches including unit, integration and performance testing.
  • Monitor automated solutions, proactively resolving issues and optimising performance.
  • Design solutions that integrate with legacy systems and external APIs to ensure interoperability and a smooth user experience.
  • Work in an agile, multidisciplinary environment, contributing to DevOps practices, version control and deployment pipelines.
  • Ensure all AI/RPA solutions follow best practice in security, GDPR compliance, and ethical AI principles.
    You'll help shape Barnet's growing automation and AI ecosystem-building tools that save time, reduce cost, and create meaningful impact for both staff and residents.

    What we offer
  • 31 days annual leave, plus public and bank holidays
  • Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, which provides a valuable guaranteed income in your retirement together with security for your dependents
  • Work-life balance options may include hybrid working, flexitime, job share, home working, part-time
  • A vast range of lifestyle discounts from major retailers, supermarkets, energy suppliers and more
  • Broad range of payroll benefits including cycle to work, eye care vouchers, travel and gym membership
  • Excellent training and development opportunities
  • Employee well- being training programs including confidential employee assistance

    How to apply
    Read the job description and person specification before clicking 'Apply' to commence the online application form. If you would like any further information about the role before applying, please contact James Rapkin, Head of Organisational Insight & Intelligence,

    Barnet Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Barnet operates stringent safer recruitment procedures, this may include AI Detection Screening, Biometric ID/Right to Work Checks, Qualification and Registration Checks, Up to 6 years of Employment Data and Insights to Accelerate Screening (Konfir), Up to 5 years of Employment History References, DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) Checks, Credit Checks and Social Media, Sanctions and Occupational Health Screening.

    To deliver Barnet Council's commitment to equality of opportunity in the provision of services, all staff are expected to promote equality in the workplace and in the services the Council delivers. As such we value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds.
    Barnet Council embraces all forms of flexible working (including part-time, compressed hours, and hybrid working) and is committed to offering employees a healthy work-life balance. Candidates are encouraged to talk about relevant requirements and preferences at interview. We can't promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise not to judge you for asking.

    Barnet Council is a Disability Confident Committed Employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at (url removed)

    All posts with the council are subject to a probationary period of six months, during which time you will be required to demonstrate to the council satisfaction your suitability for the position in which you will be employed.

    Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close vacancies before the stated closing date if sufficient number of applications are received. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible.

    Please ensure you regularly check the email account (including JUNK MAIL folders) that you use to submit your application, as any further communication regarding your application will be sent electronically. Should you not hear from us within four working weeks of the closing date for this post, then regretfully in this instance, you have not been shortlisted

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Developer (MS) (18 Months FTC)

Python Developer

Software Developer

Scala Developer

Senior Developer - AI Operations (Python/Golang)

Mobile Developer

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

How Many Robotics Tools Do You Need to Know to Get a Robotics Job?

If you’re pursuing a career in robotics, it can feel like the list of tools you should learn never ends. One job advert asks for ROS, another mentions Gazebo, another wants experience with Python, Linux, C++, RobotStudio, MATLAB/Simulink, perception stacks, control frameworks, real-time OS, vision libraries — and that’s just scratching the surface. With so many frameworks, languages and platforms, it’s no wonder robotics job seekers feel overwhelmed. But here’s the honest truth most recruiters won’t say explicitly: 👉 They don’t hire you because you know every tool — they hire you because you can apply the right tools to solve real robotics problems reliably and explain your reasoning clearly. Tools matter — but only in service of outcomes. So the real question isn’t how many tools you should know, but which tools you should master and why. For most robotics roles, the answer is significantly fewer — and far more focused — than you might assume. This article breaks down what employers really expect, which tools are core, which are role-specific, and how to focus your learning so you look capable, confident, and ready to contribute from day one.

What Hiring Managers Look for First in Robotics Job Applications (UK Guide)

Robotics is one of the most dynamic, interdisciplinary fields in technology — blending mechanical systems, embedded software, controls, perception (AI/vision), modelling, simulation and systems integration. Hiring managers in this space are highly selective because robotics teams need people who can solve real-world problems under constraints, work across disciplines, and deliver safe, reliable systems. And here’s the reality: hiring managers do not read every word of your CV. Like in many tech domains, they scan quickly — often forming a judgement in the first 10–20 seconds. In robotics, those first signals are especially important because the work is complex and there’s a wide range of candidate backgrounds. This guide unpacks exactly what hiring managers look for first in robotics applications and how to optimise your CV, portfolio and cover letter so you stand out in the UK market.

The Skills Gap in Robotics Jobs: What Universities Aren’t Teaching

Robotics is no longer confined to science fiction or isolated research labs. Today, robots perform critical tasks across manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, agriculture, defence, hospitality and even education. In the UK, businesses are embracing automation to improve productivity, reduce costs and tackle labour shortages. Yet despite strong interest and a growing number of university programmes in robotics, many employers report a persistent problem: graduates are not job-ready for real-world robotics roles. This is not a question of intelligence or dedication. It is a widening skills gap between what universities teach and what employers actually need in robotics jobs. In this article, we’ll explore that gap in depth — what universities do well, where their programmes often fall short, why the disconnect exists, what employers really want, and how you can bridge the divide to build a thriving career in robotics.