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# Tech Lead - Software Engineering

- **Company:** Chroma
- **Location:** Alderley Edge, UK
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Contract:** Temporary contract
- **Skills:** Java (Programming Language), JavaScript (Programming Language), Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Artificial Intelligence, Amazon Web Services, Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Code Review, Cursor (Graphical User Interface Elements), DevOps, Middleware, Python (Programming Language), Key Management, PostgreSQL, Node.Js, Open Source Technology, Redis, Akamai, Next.js, Software Engineering, Systems Integration, TypeScript, Software Vulnerability Management, Cloud Platform System, GitHub Copilot, ReactJS, Boomi, HybridCloud, Magento, Git, Git Flow, Kubernetes, Free and Open-Source Software, Codebase, Graphql, Front End Software Development, Restful APIs, Terraform, Software Version Control, Docker, Mulesoft
- **Published:** July 29, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.totaljobs.com/job/lead-engineering/chroma-recruitment-ltd-job107763685

## About the Role

* Proven experience as a Technical Lead, Lead Engineer or Principal Engineer in a modern software-engineering environment
 * Demonstrable record of owning and improving production platforms - including availability, performance and incident management
 * Experience leading engineers through technical mentoring, code reviews, architecture decisions and delivery
 * Experience providing technical governance, direction and challenge to external development partners
 * Active, hands-on experience working in Java codebases at production scale
 * Expert-level TypeScript, JavaScript and Node.js; experience building scalable, production-grade applications
 * Strong GraphQL, REST API and PostgreSQL skills; Git-based source control and branching strategies
 * Strong AWS experience: designing, securing, deploying and operating production cloud environments
 * Docker, CI/CD pipelines, Infrastructure as Code (Terraform exposure useful) and modern DevOps practices
 * Experience designing and supporting enterprise integrations, APIs and middleware platforms; Boomi or MuleSoft experience useful
 * Sound understanding of security-by-design, secrets management, access control and vulnerability management
 * Excellent written and verbal communication: able to explain complex technical topics to non-technical stakeholders
 * Comfortable explaining and owning AI-assisted code output, not just using it

Desirable

 * Experience with Vendure or a comparable open-source commerce platform (e.g. Magento)
 * Experience with a modern React-based frontend framework, ideally Next.js
 * Experience with Python, Redis, Payload CMS, Kubernetes or Terraform
 * Experience with Akamai, Linode or hybrid-cloud environments
 * Experience with product-catalogue platforms, PIM, search services or ERP integrations
 * Experience contributing to or maintaining open-source software
 * AWS certification (Solutions Architect - Associate or above) or equivalent
 * Experience within B2B commerce, manufacturing or industrial distribution
 * Familiarity with DORA metrics and engineering effectiveness frameworks
 * Experience with AI-assisted development tooling (GitHub Copilot, Cursor or equivalent)

## Description

Our client is bringing ecommerce and DevOps capability in-house and needs a hands-on Technical Lead to take the technical reins. This is a solo contractor engagement with no formal line management, but you'll be the working technical authority for a team of four (1 infrastructure engineer, 3 Java software engineers) and the key point of governance as external delivery support transitions in-house.

You'll be:

 * Hands-on across a TypeScript/Node.js commerce platform and a production-scale Java codebase
 * Owning AWS cloud infrastructure (EC2/Node-based; Azure also fine)
 * Directing and coordinating a small team without formal line management
 * Supporting DevOps and integration capability moving in-house
 * Second-line technical escalation during a defined cover period


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