Frontend Lead Developer - React / Next.js
Location: Leeds (Hybrid – 2 days per week onsite, Monday & Thursday)
Salary: Up to £70,000 (DOE)
The opportunity:
We’re looking for a Frontend Lead Developer to join a growing engineering team building modern digital platforms that support a globally recognised education-focused organisation.
This is a leadership role with a strong hands-on engineering focus, suited to someone who enjoys balancing technical delivery with mentoring and team leadership. The split is approximately 60% hands-on development and 40% leadership responsibilities, with two frontend developers reporting into the role.
You’ll take ownership of frontend architecture, technical direction, and delivery across a suite of modern web applications and platforms, helping shape scalable, performant, and accessible user experiences used by audiences worldwide.
You’ll join a collaborative engineering team where culture, teamwork, and continuous improvement are genuinely valued. The business has an ambitious digital roadmap and is investing heavily in platform capability, user experience, and long-term technical scalability.
What you’ll be doing:
As Frontend Lead Developer, you’ll lead frontend development across modern React / Next.js applications while mentoring developers and helping shape engineering standards and delivery practices.
Key responsibilities include:
* Leading frontend development across web platforms and applications
* Owning frontend architecture and technical direction
* Building scalable, performant, and maintainable React / Next.js applications
* Collaborating closely with backend developers, UX, QA, and stakeholders
* Leading the delivery of new features and platform improvements
* Driving improvements around code quality, testing, accessibility, and performance
* Mentoring and supporting frontend developers through regular coaching and guidance
* Participating in sprint planning, technical discussions, and Agile ceremonies
* Supporting technical decision-making and long-term roadmap planning
* Contributing hands-on to development work on a daily basis
* Helping reduce technical debt and improve engineering processes
Core technology stack:
* React
* Next.js
* TypeScript
* Tailwind CSS
* Storybook
* Cypress
* Docker
* AWS
* Symfony / API Platform backend environment
* CI/CD pipelines
* Jira, Bitbucket, Slack
What we’re looking for:
Essential experience:
* Strong commercial experience with React and Next.js
* Experience leading or mentoring developers within a team environment
* Experience building and maintaining complex frontend applications
* Strong understanding of modern frontend architecture and best practices
* Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams including UX and backend engineering
* Strong knowledge of performance optimisation, accessibility, and scalable frontend development
* Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
Desirable / bonus experience:
* Experience working with AWS and cloud-based environments
* Exposure to Docker and modern development tooling
* Experience with automated testing frameworks and E2E testing
* Experience contributing to design systems or component libraries
* Background working within fast-paced product or platform environments
About you:
* You’re a hands-on technical leader who enjoys building high-quality products
* You’re passionate about frontend engineering and modern web technologies
* You enjoy mentoring and helping developers grow
* You care about clean code, maintainability, and user experience
* You thrive in collaborative, close-knit team environments
* You’re proactive, adaptable, and comfortable balancing leadership with delivery
* You enjoy contributing ideas and helping shape technical direction within a growing engineering function