At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead front-end development for impactful government digital services and ensure high-quality user experiences.
- Company: Amber Labs, a cutting-edge tech consultancy with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, hybrid work, private medical insurance, and 25 days annual leave.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team focused on continuous improvement and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in government services while working with innovative technologies.
- Qualifications: Proven front-end development experience and strong skills in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Location: Hybrid – 2 days per week in the MOD offices in London and/or Bristol
Contract: Salaried 12-month FTC with full company benefits (NOT day rate)
Clearance: Must hold active SC clearance and have UK government/public sector experience. We are unable to consider candidates who don’t have SC.
The Company: At Amber Labs, we’re a cutting-edge UK and European technology consultancy that empowers autonomy, promotes experimentation, and drives rapid learning to deliver exceptional value to our clients. Collaboration sits at the heart of our culture — every team member, regardless of role, works together to minimise risk and accelerate delivery. Our teams consist of highly skilled engineers, designers, analysts, and consultants dedicated to building world-class digital services for government and enterprise clients.
About the Role: We’re seeking an experienced Senior Front-End Engineer to lead the development, modification, and maintenance of the front-end elements that users interact with across our government service platforms. You’ll work in multidisciplinary teams, collaborating with designers, developers, and user researchers to deliver accessible, performant, and standards-compliant services that meet the needs of real users and align with government digital standards. This role is about setting the bar for front-end quality, defining best practices, ensuring accessibility and performance, and applying modern development techniques. You’ll champion progressive enhancement, responsive design, and usability across multiple browsers and devices.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead front-end development across multiple digital service projects.
- Build accessible, responsive user interfaces that meet GDS accessibility and usability standards.
- Ensure products are built with modern web development techniques and principles.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including UX designers, back-end developers, and testers.
- Maintain high code quality through code reviews, testing, and documentation.
- Optimise web performance and maintain browser/device compatibility.
- Mentor junior developers and promote a culture of continuous improvement.
- Contribute to design system evolution and reusable component libraries.
Key Skills & Experience:
- Proven experience as a front-end developer in production and prototype environments.
- Strong proficiency in HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript (including Node.js, ReactJS, ExpressJS, Mongoose).
- Experience with templating and UI frameworks such as Nunjucks, Freemarker, Bootstrap, LESS, and SASS.
- Working knowledge of CI/CD tooling such as Git, GitLab CI, Jenkins, SonarQube, Nexus, and Artifactory.
- Deep understanding of accessibility, progressive enhancement, and performance optimisation.
- Experience building services that perform efficiently across multiple devices and browsers.
- Strong understanding of UX principles and user-centred design.
- Experience working in Agile delivery teams.
Clearance Requirement:
Must hold active SC clearance. We are unable to consider candidates requiring visa sponsorship at this time.
Benefits:
- Competitive salary and performance-based bonus structure.
- Opportunity to work on impactful government digital services.
- Hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
- Private medical insurance (Aviva).
- Company pension plan (Nest).
- 25 days annual leave plus UK bank holidays.
- Access to Perkbox – employee discounts, perks, and wellbeing resources.
- Inclusive and collaborative company culture that values experimentation and innovation.
- Choice of device – PC or Mac.
Senior Front-End Engineer || Must be SC cleared in Bristol employer: Amber Labs
Amber Labs is an exceptional employer that champions a culture of collaboration and innovation, making it an ideal place for a Lead Software Developer to thrive. With a focus on personal growth, flexible working arrangements, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, employees are empowered to take ownership of their projects while benefiting from competitive salaries, performance bonuses, and comprehensive health coverage. The opportunity to work on high-impact government programmes in a supportive environment ensures that your contributions are both meaningful and rewarding.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Front-End Engineer || Must be SC cleared in Bristol
✨Join the IT Consultancy Buzz
Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what Amber Labs values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges Amber Labs might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.
✨Leverage LinkedIn for Connections
Follow and engage with the relevant thought leaders and influencers in IT consultancy on LinkedIn. Share insightful content and join discussions to gain visibility. A well-placed comment or shared article could catch the attention of someone at Amber Labs!
✨Direct Apply to Amber Labs
Let's not forget to apply directly through the Amber Labs website! Tailor your application to showcase our understanding of their consulting style and how we can contribute to their projects. A personalised approach can make a huge difference in landing that full-time position!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Front-End Engineer || Must be SC cleared in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at Amber Labs.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at Amber Labs. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at Amber Labs
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.
