We are partnered with a high-growth digital product agency to appoint a Lead Developer to join their Edinburgh-based team. This is a permanent, full-time position operating on a hybrid basis. Our client delivers AI-enabled, human-centred digital products for ambitious organisations across the UK and internationally.
The Role
This is a senior, hands-on leadership position combining technical ownership with people leadership. You will shape engineering standards, influence architectural direction, and remain actively engaged in production-level code. Expect an approximate 70/30 split between hands-on development and leadership responsibilities, flexing according to project phase and delivery requirements.
You will work across:
* Bespoke web platforms and business-critical applications
* Mobile applications built with React Native
* API integrations and backend systems
* A combination of greenfield builds and scalable legacy platforms
This is a dynamic agency environment. Projects vary in scope and sector, and context switching is part of the role. Delivery methodologies include Scrum and Kanban, with two-week sprints typical. Engagements range from fixed-price to time-and-materials models.
Core Responsibilities
* Delivery Ownership
* Technical Leadership
* Mentorship & Team Development
* Commercial Contribution
Technology Stack
Frontend
* React
* Inertia.js
* React Native
* Tailwind CSS
Backend
* Laravel
* PHP
* Node.js
Essential Experience
* 5+ years’ commercial software development experience
* Minimum 2 years operating at Senior or Lead level with people responsibility
* Experience within an agency or consultancy environment
* Full lifecycle delivery exposure (scoping through to live support)
* Demonstrated experience mentoring and developing engineers
* Strong commercial experience with Laravel or Symfony
* Solid React experience
* Strong SQL capability (MySQL or PostgreSQL)
* Proficient with Git workflows and pull request processes
* Experience implementing and maintaining CI/CD pipelines
* Comfortable owning cloud deployment and hosting decisions
Desirable Experience
* Production integration of LLMs or AI services
* React Native applications delivered to production
* Node.js API development
* Inertia.js and Tailwind
* Docker and containerisation
* AWS infrastructure
* MongoDB
Role Expectations
This role is for people who want ownership and responsibility in a fast-paced agency environment. This isn't a single-product environment, and it isn't a role for developers seeking purely hands-on coding without leadership accountability. Variety, pace, and ambiguity are inherent in the role. You will lead a cross-functional delivery squad consisting of: 1 Product Owner, 2/ 4 Mid-Level Developers, & You as Lead Developer.
Benefits
* Competitive salary aligned with experience
* Company pension scheme
* Private healthcare
* Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
* Hybrid working model
* Regular team events
* Supportive, collaborative working environment
* Ongoing professional development and training
* 30 days annual leave plus birthday leave
If you are interested in leading delivery within a high-growth digital agency environment and shaping technical standards across diverse client engagements, we welcome your application.