Technical Lead (Portal & Applications)

• Lead architecture for our next-generation platform across backend, web, and mobile
• Shape the migration from our existing PHP/MySQL estate, sequencing changes without attempting to replace everything at once
• Define engineering standards and patterns for the new platform
• Own the testing strategy, including what to test, where to automate, and how to build quality into delivery
• Lead the adoption of agentic software development as a repeatable team capability
• Build security and observability into the platform from the start
• Develop the teams technical capability through design reviews, mentoring, and hands-on leadership
• Line-manage the team and remain accountable for delivery
• Stay technically involved by reviewing designs, challenging assumptions, prototyping patterns, contributing to difficult implementations, and helping solve complex problems

Technologies:

• AWS
• Backend
• Docker
• FastAPI
• Hardware
• JavaScript
• Mobile
• MySQL
• PHP
• Python
• React
• React Native
• Security
• Serverless
• TypeScript
• Web
• Cloud
• API, We build connected-vehicle technology, including in-cab driver coaching, vehicle safety products, and fleet telematics. Our software supports real hardware in real vehicles, and our customers include Tesco, Asda, Ocado, Virgin Media, and Iceland. We have established products and engineering teams, while remaining small enough for strong technical decisions to influence our direction. This permanent, full-time role is remote, with attendance at our Exeter, Devon office roughly every two or three weeks, usually including an overnight stay. We are rebuilding our customer portal, APIs, and mobile app using Python/FastAPI, React/TypeScript, React Native, and AWS, with managed and serverless services where appropriate. Our broad technology direction is agreed, but key architectural decisions remain open. Our database is shared across several engineering teams and is mission-critical beyond Applications, so significant schema changes must be negotiated. We are already using agentic development on production engineering work. The role offers the opportunity to shape our next platform and build software connected to vehicles operating across the UK.

• Has technically led engineers, not only managed them
• Has designed and evolved substantial production systems
• Can make architectural decisions and explain the trade-offs
• Has strong backend engineering experience, ideally in Python
• Has production experience with AWS and Docker
• Has modernised or re-platformed a live system
• Understands automated testing well enough to define a strategy
• Treats security as an engineering responsibility
• Can investigate unfamiliar or long-lived codebases
• Communicates technical trade-offs clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Stays calm when systems, customers, or priorities become challenging
• Experience with PHP and older JavaScript is useful