Lead Frontend Developer

We're looking for a Frontend Lead Developer to join a growing engineering team building modern digital platforms that support a globally recognised education-focused organisation.

This is a leadership role with a strong hands-on engineering focus, suited to someone who enjoys balancing technical delivery with mentoring and team leadership. The split is approximately 60% hands-on development and 40% leadership responsibilities, with two frontend developers reporting into the role.

You'll take ownership of frontend architecture, technical direction, and delivery across a suite of modern web applications and platforms, helping shape scalable, performant, and accessible user experiences used by audiences worldwide.

You'll join a collaborative engineering team where culture, teamwork, and continuous improvement are genuinely valued. The business has an ambitious digital roadmap and is investing heavily in platform capability, user experience, and long-term technical scalability.

What you'll be doing:

As Frontend Lead Developer, you'll lead frontend development across modern React / Next.js applications while mentoring developers and helping shape engineering standards and delivery practices.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading frontend development across web platforms and applications

• Owning frontend architecture and technical direction

• Building scalable, performant, and maintainable React / Next.js applications

• Collaborating closely with backend developers, UX, QA, and stakeholders

• Leading the delivery of new features and platform improvements

• Driving improvements around code quality, testing, accessibility, and performance

• Mentoring and supporting frontend developers through regular coaching and guidance

• Participating in sprint planning, technical discussions, and Agile ceremonies

• Supporting technical decision-making and long-term roadmap planning

• Contributing hands-on to development work on a daily basis

• Helping reduce technical debt and improve engineering processes

Core technology stack:

• React

• Next.js

• TypeScript

• Tailwind CSS

• Storybook

• Cypress

• Docker

• AWS

• Symfony / API Platform backend environment

• CI/CD pipelines

• Jira, Bitbucket, Slack

Essential experience:

• Strong commercial experience with React and Next.js

• Experience leading or mentoring developers within a team environment

• Experience building and maintaining complex frontend applications

• Strong understanding of modern frontend architecture and best practices

• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams including UX and backend engineering

• Strong knowledge of performance optimisation, accessibility, and scalable frontend development

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

Desirable / bonus experience:

• Experience working with AWS and cloud-based environments

• Exposure to Docker and modern development tooling

• Experience with automated testing frameworks and E2E testing

• Experience contributing to design systems or component libraries

• Background working within fast-paced product or platform environments

About you:

• You're a hands-on technical leader who enjoys building high-quality products

• You're passionate about frontend engineering and modern web technologies

• You enjoy mentoring and helping developers grow

• You care about clean code, maintainability, and user experience

• You thrive in collaborative, close-knit team environments

• You're proactive, adaptable, and comfortable balancing leadership with delivery

• You enjoy contributing ideas and helping shape technical direction within a growing engineering function