Senior Lead Software Engineer

As the UK’s leading dementia research charity, we’re determined to stop this from becoming a reality. We’re working to revolutionise the way we treat, diagnose and prevent dementia. But we will not stop there. With your support, we will keep going until every person is free from the heartbreak of dementia. We exist for a cure.

In order to make this happen, we need to operate with best in class Digital and Technology tools and platforms. So, join us as we embark on a major journey of transformation across our digital, data, and technology offering! The Lead Software Engineer will play a critical, hands-on role in shaping this future.

We are investing in a new website platform that will provide an improved user experience, be built and operated using modern Tech (e.g. React, headless CMS, CI/CD) and be a foundation for continued future optimisation. The website will unlock the ability to attract more users (via increased visibility on search engines and repeat visits) and increase the number of people donating online for a cure.

This role will be the senior technology team member on the new website project team, ensuring that the solution designed and delivered primarily by our website development partner is using modern approaches and tools. In addition, this person will actively take part in the development and test of the website platform and ultimately be the internal technical owner of the platform for ARUK. The post holder will report into the CIO but work day to day with the Digital Engagement team to deliver the new website platform. This is a 24-month fixed term contract.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as the internal technical owner of the new website platform, providing strong technical leadership, governance, and assurance across its design, build, and operation.
• Provide technical oversight and direction to the appointed Digital / website development partner, ensuring best practice engineering approaches, tooling, and standards are applied throughout delivery.
• Own and make key technical design decisions, ensuring the website platform:
• Uses modern web and cloud‑native technologies (e.g. React, headless architecture).
• Uses modern technical approaches for code management, build and deployment pipelines (CI/CD).
• Aligns with Alzheimer’s Research UK’s broader enterprise architecture, security standards, and technology roadmap.
• Integrates effectively with existing and future Alzheimer’s Research UK’s systems (e.g. CRM, fundraising, analytics, marketing platforms).
• Actively contribute as a hands‑on software engineering individual contributor during the build and test phases, including:
• Reviewing and contributing to code where appropriate.
• Supporting technical problem‑solving and performance optimisation.
• Participating in testing, release, and deployment activities.
• Work closely day‑to‑day with the Digital Engagement team, ensuring technical delivery supports user experience, content, fundraising, and optimisation objectives.
• Establish and embed good engineering practices for the platform, including documentation, environment management, deployment, monitoring, and support handover.
• Take technical ownership of the platform post‑launch, supporting continuous improvement, optimisation, and future enhancements.

Knowledge, skills and experience needed:

• Strong professional experience as a senior software engineer / lead software engineer working on modern website or digital platforms.
• Ideally a full stack engineer with strong front-end skills (our main languages/ frameworks are React and Python/Django).
• Proven experience with modern front‑end and web architectures, including:
• React (or comparable modern JavaScript frameworks).
• Headless CMS and API‑driven architectures.
• CI/CD pipelines and automated testing practices.
• Experience acting as a technical owner or lead for an app or website.
• Experience working with modern code management tools (e.g. GitHub, Bitbucket) and of version control/code branching approaches.
• Experience using AI tools to improve engineering efficiency (e.g. Cursor, Claude code, GitHub Copilot).
• Knowledge of code build and deployment processes.
• Solid understanding of cloud‑hosted, scalable, and secure web platforms, including performance, resilience, and security considerations.
• Experience integrating websites with wider digital ecosystems (e.g. CRM, analytics, marketing automation, donation/payment platforms).
• Ability to operate effectively as both a hands‑on contributor and a senior technical advisor, balancing strategic oversight with practical delivery.
• Experience working in an agile environment using development workflow tools such as JIRA.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly to non‑technical stakeholders.

Additional Information:

Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office. Roles that are classed as part of the Agile ways of working are not able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals.

Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD.

Salary: Circa 63,000 per annum, plus benefits.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, particularly from those in the global majority, those with disabilities, men and those from the LGBTQIA+ community.

Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK. As part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer and ensuring fairness and consistency in our selection process, we will handle your CV and application with the utmost confidentiality. Should you require any adjustments at either the application or interview stage, please contact us via our website.

How to apply:

Please create an online account using our Online Recruitment Platform which can be accessed through our Job Vacancies page. You will be able to attach your CV to your application and track the status of your application.

About Alzheimer’s Research UK: Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure. Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope.