Lead Software Engineer

Tech Lead – Manchester (Hybrid)

£85k - £100k

React, TypeScript, Node.js, PHP/Laravel

We’re partnering with a fast growing Manchester business that is rebuilding its technology capability from the ground up and hiring a hands-on Tech Lead to drive one of its core product squads.

This is a genuine engineering leadership role for someone who still loves being in the code.

You’ll lead a cross-functional squad responsible for delivering customer-facing products used by millions of members across retail, rewards, and ecommerce-style digital experiences.

Their PHP monolith is being phased out and carved into React microservices, so this won’t be a need in the role forever, but they do need some confident enough to pick up when there might be spikes of CMS work.

They are investing heavily in product, engineering, AI tooling and internal capability, making this an opportunity to shape both technical direction and engineering culture from an early stage.

The role

This is a highly hands-on position, likely around 70-80% technical contribution alongside technical leadership, mentoring, and squad ownership.

You’ll work closely with Product, UX, QA, and senior leadership to deliver meaningful customer features at pace, while helping establish engineering standards, delivery rhythm, and long-term platform direction.

What you’ll be doing

• Technical contribution of around 80% hands-on development alongside technical leadership and mentoring to raise engineering standards and capability

• Leading architecture, design, and delivery across a modern full-stack environment centred around React, TypeScript and Node.js

• Remaining deeply hands-on in the codebase, solving complex engineering problems and leading by example

• Taking ownership of a critical legacy PHP/Laravel platform, helping modernise it safely while keeping delivery momentum high

• Working closely with Product and UX to deliver customer facing features through fast iteration and experimentation

• Driving best practices across clean architecture, testing, CI/CD, performance, and maintainability

• Helping shape the team’s adoption of AI-assisted and agentic development workflows

• Acting as a senior technical voice within the wider engineering function, contributing to platform and architectural decisions

What they’re looking for

• Strong experience building modern frontend applications with React and TypeScript in production environments

• Production experience of PHP/Laravel (even if you’re not doing it currently)

• The backend estate currently spans Node.js and .NET Core, so experience in either would be valuable

• A hands-on technical leader who enjoys staying close to engineering rather than moving into pure management

• Strong understanding of software craftsmanship, automated testing and CI/CD

• Someone pragmatic, commercially aware, and comfortable balancing modernisation with real-world delivery pressures

• Interest or experience using AI tooling within engineering workflows

Nice to have

• React Native experience

• Exposure to Azure and modern CI/CD tooling

• Background in ecommerce, loyalty, fintech, marketplaces, or consumer-facing digital products

What will you get out of it?

You’ll be joining during a major period of technical and organisational transformation, with the chance to:

• Help shape a modern engineering culture from the ground up - influencing architecture, tooling and delivery practices

• Work directly with senior leadership and have real technical input into business direction

• Join a collaborative, product-led environment that values speed, ownership, and low-ego teamwork

Also, you will be well compensated, with a salary between £85k-£100k depending on experience, in addition to a strong benefits package including private healthcare.

Get in touch for more information