Outside IR35 Contract
Software Engineer (React & AWS)
Leading Media Organisation
Digital Platform (UI & UX‑Led)
Location: Hybrid (London or Manchester)
Day Rate: Competitive
Contract Length: 6 Months +
Overview
We are working with a leading UK media organisation to engage an experienced Contract Software Engineer to support the development of a large‑scale, user‑centric digital platform. The platform is UI and UX‑heavy, highly visible, and used by millions, sitting at the intersection of content, information, and media.
This role goes beyond pure delivery. You will work in close partnership with Product and UX, playing a key role in discovery, defining technical direction, and taking clear ownership of outcomes across complex, multi‑dependency environments.
Key Responsibilities
* Work collaboratively with Product Managers and UX Designers during discovery to translate user needs into feasible, high‑quality technical solutions.
* Actively participate in user research, contributing engineering insight to inform product and design decisions.
* Design and build modern, scalable full‑stack web experiences using React, Node, and TypeScript.
* Develop and support backend-for-frontend (BFF) services and APIs using AWS (Lambda, API Gateway, SNS/SQS, DynamoDB, S3).
* Contribute to and evolve a shared components and design system model, balancing reuse with product‑specific needs.
* Operate confidently in a large, multi‑team delivery environment, managing dependencies and navigating organisational complexity.
* Provide technical leadership, influencing stakeholders, advocating best practice, and helping teams move at pace without compromising quality.
* Own delivery outcomes end‑to‑end, from early discovery through to live operation and iteration.
Essential Skills & Experience
* Strong experience as a Software Engineer working on React, Node, and TypeScript at scale.
* Hands‑on experience building cloud‑native solutions on AWS, including infrastructure, deployment pipelines, and event‑driven architectures.
* Proven experience working closely with Product and UX teams in discovery‑led delivery environments.
* Experience contributing to or leading user research activities from an engineering perspective.
* Ability to quickly assess buy vs build decisions and identify pragmatic, high‑value technical solutions.
* Experience working in large organisations with complex stakeholder groups and cross‑team dependencies.
* Clear communication style, strong collaboration skills, and confidence engaging senior, sometimes challenging, stakeholders.
* Demonstrable ownership mindset, taking responsibility for delivery outcomes rather than isolated technical tasks.
Leadership & Ways of Working
* Comfortable leading by influence rather than hierarchy.
* Experience supporting, mentoring, or leading other engineers within a broader delivery team.
* Experience operating within trios or similar cross‑functional models (Product, Design, Engineering).
* Confident working through ambiguity and shaping solutions during discovery as well as live delivery.
Nice to Have
* Experience working within education, learning platforms, EdTech, or product‑led environments.
* Understanding of education systems, learning behaviours, or accessibility considerations for younger audiences.
* Experience integrating into or collaborating with large‑scale technology organisations.
* Familiarity with CMS‑driven or headless content platforms and shared content models.
Why This Role
* Work on a high‑impact digital platform with real public reach.
* Influence product direction and technical decisions during discovery, not just delivery.
* Engage in a contract that is genuinely Outside IR35, outcome‑focused, and delivery‑led.
* Join an experienced, multidisciplinary team operating at scale within a respected media organisation.