Lead Full Stack Developer – Tech Lead
£70,000 – £120,000 + Bonus | Central Manchester | Immediate Start
Exciting opportunity for a Lead Full Stack Developer to join a growing startup group
We’re looking for an exceptional Lead Full Stack Developer to join a well-established, founder-led startup currently generating around £5m in annual turnover.
This is a leadership role — ideal for someone who enjoys variety, ownership, and making a real impact. You’ll be heading up technology, defining product roadmaps, overseeing outsourced delivery partners, and embedding technical best practices into the heart of the business.
About You:
You’re a tech generalist with proven leadership experience. You enjoy being hands-on but can also think strategically, helping founders turn ideas into product, balancing short-term delivery with long-term vision. You’ll love working in fast-paced environments, shaping workflows, and making sure systems are secure, documented, and scalable for future growth.
The Environment:
* Full-time, fully office-based role in central Manchester
* Join a tight-knit, ambitious team of 15+ people
* Work directly with founders to launch a significant new product
* Real potential to extend across multiple future products
Key Skills & Experience:
* Extensive back-end development experience with PHP (Laravel)
* Fully capable with front-end development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
* Able to manage end-to-end product builds, from major architecture decisions to minor tweaks
* Experienced in balancing outsourced contractors alongside internal responsibilities
* Track record of senior positions in startups, scaleups, or entrepreneurial tech businesses
Tech Stack:
* Laravel 10/11
* MySQL (managed via Digital Ocean)
* Digital Ocean droplets (via Forge)
* Digital Ocean Spaces
* Livewire v3
* Tailwind v3
* Filament v3
* Deployed via Envoyer
What’s on Offer:
* £70,000 – £120,000 salary depending on experience
* Performance-related bonus structure
* Leadership, influence, and real ownership of products and technology
* A chance to grow with the business and shape the future of its tech offering