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- Tasks: Build high-traffic, content-heavy sites using headless WordPress and modern development practices.
- Company: Join a leading digital media group focused on innovative web platforms.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working with occasional office visits and a collaborative team environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a forward-thinking team prioritising engineering excellence and impactful projects.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in headless WordPress, PHP, REST APIs, and custom plugin development required.
- Other info: Opportunity to collaborate with engineers across the UK and Europe.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Location: Manchester (Hybrid, occasional office visits, once a month)
Full-time, Permanent
I'm working with a leading digital media group investing heavily in their web platform. They’re seeking a Senior WordPress Engineer with strong backend skills, especially in headless WordPress at scale. This role involves building high-traffic, content-heavy sites using modern, scalable architecture and development practices. Expect API-first, JAMstack, CI/CD pipelines, and containerized environments.
You will join a forward-thinking team prioritizing high engineering standards, DevOps, performance, and security. Your experience with custom plugins, GraphQL, REST APIs, and advanced PHP will be crucial for developing robust, reusable services across multiple sites and teams. Collaborating closely with engineers across the UK and Europe, you'll help roll out the next generation of their platform.
Requirements:
- Extensive experience in headless WordPress development (enterprise experience preferred)
- Deep knowledge of PHP (7/8) and WordPress core
- Experience creating and integrating with REST APIs and WPGraphQL
- Custom theme/plugin development for headless use
- Experience with ACF, CPTs, taxonomies
- Secure API handling (OAuth, JWT) and authentication best practices
- Performance optimization skills including query tuning, caching, CDN strategies
- Familiarity with Docker, Git, and modern CI/CD pipelines
- Ability to deliver clean, frontend-ready APIs (React, Next.js or similar)
- Knowledge of JAMstack and scalable, API-first design
Location & Working Setup:
The team is based in London, Peterborough, or Manchester. The role offers hybrid/remote working with office visits approximately once every 4–6 weeks.
If you're passionate about headless WordPress, modern architecture, and writing clean, reliable code, this could be a great fit.
Senior WordPress Engineer – Headless employer: JR United Kingdom
Contact Detail:
JR United Kingdom Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior WordPress Engineer – Headless
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in headless WordPress development. Join online communities or forums where professionals discuss their experiences and share insights about building high-traffic sites using modern architectures.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise in PHP and REST APIs by contributing to open-source projects or creating your own GitHub repositories. This not only demonstrates your skills but also gives you practical experience that can impress potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Network with other developers in the industry, especially those who work with headless WordPress. Attend meetups, webinars, or conferences to connect with like-minded professionals and learn about job opportunities directly from them.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for technical interviews by practising coding challenges related to PHP, API integration, and performance optimisation. Use platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to sharpen your problem-solving skills and get comfortable with common interview questions.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior WordPress Engineer – Headless
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your extensive experience in headless WordPress development, especially focusing on your backend skills. Include specific projects where you've built high-traffic sites and mention any relevant technologies like REST APIs, GraphQL, and PHP.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for headless WordPress and modern architecture. Discuss how your skills align with the company's needs, particularly in areas like API-first design and performance optimisation. Use examples from your past work to illustrate your points.
Showcase Relevant Projects: If possible, include links to your portfolio or GitHub showcasing projects that demonstrate your expertise in custom theme/plugin development, secure API handling, and CI/CD pipelines. This will give the hiring team tangible evidence of your capabilities.
Highlight Collaboration Skills: Since the role involves collaborating with engineers across the UK and Europe, emphasise your teamwork and communication skills. Mention any previous experiences where you successfully worked in a distributed team environment, especially in delivering complex projects.
How to prepare for a job interview at JR United Kingdom
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience with headless WordPress development in detail. Highlight specific projects where you've implemented REST APIs, GraphQL, and custom plugins. This is your chance to demonstrate your deep knowledge of PHP and how you've used it to build scalable solutions.
✨Understand the Company’s Tech Stack
Research the technologies and tools the company uses, such as Docker, Git, and CI/CD pipelines. Familiarise yourself with JAMstack principles and be ready to discuss how you can leverage these in your role. Showing that you understand their tech stack will impress the interviewers.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Questions
Expect technical questions that assess your problem-solving abilities. You might be asked to optimise a query or discuss caching strategies. Practising common scenarios related to performance optimisation and secure API handling will help you respond confidently.
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Communication
Since the role involves working closely with engineers across the UK and Europe, highlight your experience in collaborative environments. Share examples of how you've effectively communicated with team members and contributed to successful projects, especially in remote settings.
