At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to create user-friendly digital services for the government.
- Company: Join Amber Labs, a forward-thinking digital consultancy focused on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, private medical insurance, and a supportive work culture.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in public sector tech while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in front end engineering and team leadership is essential.
- Other info: Work remotely with occasional travel to Manchester and enjoy career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: Remote (UK-based) with ad hoc travel to Manchester
Type: 12-Month Fixed Term Contract (FTC)
Clearance Requirement: BPSS eligibility essential
Amber Labs is a cutting-edge digital consultancy specialising in data, cloud, and software engineering solutions for high-impact projects. We partner with organisations to deliver secure, modern, and userācentred digital services. Our culture is collaborative, innovative, and focused on technical excellence.
Role Overview
We are seeking a Lead Front End Engineer for a 12-month fixed-term contract. This role is primarily remote, with occasional travel to Manchester as required. This is a handsāon leadership role where you will lead a front end engineering team delivering complex, userācentred digital services within the central government space. You will combine strong technical expertise with the ability to mentor, guide, and influence teams while remaining actively involved in engineering delivery.
The ideal candidate will have solid experience working on central government projects, deep expertise in modern front end engineering practices, and a passion for building accessible, highāquality user interfaces at scale.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, mentor, and support a team of front end engineers, ensuring high-quality delivery and adherence to engineering best practices.
- Own front end architecture, design decisions, and technical standards across projects.
- Collaborate closely with back end engineers, product owners, designers, architects, and central government stakeholders.
- Ensure compliance with GDS (Government Digital Service) standards, including accessibility (WCAG), performance, and security.
- Participate in sprint planning, estimations, and Agile delivery ceremonies.
- Champion user-centred design, performance optimisation, and continuous improvement.
- Foster a culture of technical excellence, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement.
- Strong, handsāon experience with modern front end frameworks (React preferred).
- Demonstrable experience leading or mentoring front end engineering teams.
- Experience building accessible, responsive, and high-performance web applications.
- Eligible for BPSS clearance.
- Comfortable working within Agile, multi-disciplinary teams.
- Experience integrating front end applications with APIs and back-end services.
- Familiarity with the GOV.UK Design System and GDS service standards.
- Experience working in cloud-based environments (AWS preferred).
- Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and modern build tooling.
- Experience working in consultancy or clientāfacing environments.
What We Offer
- Opportunities to work on meaningful public-sector and government digital services.
- A supportive environment that values innovation, collaboration, and professional growth.
- Exposure to modern engineering practices and large-scale digital transformation programmes.
Why Amber Labs
At Amber Labs, we pride ourselves on a culture of learning, innovation, and collaboration. You'll join a diverse, supportive team delivering meaningful outcomes across UK Government digital transformation programmes.
Why Join Us
- Join a fast-growing consultancy delivering high-impact public-sector technology
- Develop skills across modern front end engineering, accessibility, and largeāscale digital platforms
- Private Medical Insurance (Aviva)
- 25 days annual leave + UK bank holidays
- Perkbox ā global employee rewards and wellbeing platform
- Generous employee referral scheme
- Supportive, inclusive environment encouraging innovation and growth
- Choose your preferred working device ā Mac or PC
Diversity & Inclusion at Amber Labs
- Welcome a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives
- Promote equality and inclusion across all teams
- Maintain a workplace free from discrimination, bullying, and harassment
We cannot accept applications from candidates requiring visa sponsorship. BPSS eligibility is required before starting. Applicants must be based in the UK and able to travel occasionally to Manchester.
What Happens Next
After reviewing your application, our Talent Acquisition team will be in touch to outline next steps. The process typically includes two interview stages, with a possible third involving our company Partners if required.
Lead Front End Engineer in London employer: Amber Labs
Contact Detail:
Amber Labs Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice š¤«
We think this is how you could land Lead Front End Engineer in London
āØTip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who work at Amber Labs or similar companies. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to job opportunities that aren't even advertised yet.
āØTip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your best front end projects, especially those that highlight your experience with user-centred design and accessibility. This will give you an edge when discussing your fit for the role.
āØTip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on Agile methodologies and GDS standards. Be ready to discuss how you've led teams and tackled challenges in past projects. We want to see your passion for technical excellence!
āØTip Number 4
Apply through our website! Itās the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at Amber Labs. Donāt miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Front End Engineer in London
Some tips for your application š«”
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Lead Front End Engineer role. Highlight your experience with modern front end frameworks like React and any relevant government projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about user-centred design and how you can lead a team effectively. We love seeing candidates who can communicate their vision clearly.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Donāt forget to mention your hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and cloud environments like AWS. Weāre keen on candidates who can demonstrate their technical expertise and how it can benefit our projects.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. Itās the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you donāt miss out on any important updates. Plus, we love seeing applications come in through our own platform!
How to prepare for a job interview at Amber Labs
āØKnow Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of modern front end frameworks, especially React. Be ready to discuss your experience with building accessible and high-performance web applications, as well as your familiarity with GDS standards. This will show that you're not just a leader but also a hands-on engineer.
āØShowcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've mentored or led teams in the past. Think about specific challenges you faced and how you guided your team to success. This role is all about leadership, so demonstrating your ability to inspire and support others will be key.
āØUnderstand the User-Centred Approach
Since the role focuses on user-centred design, be ready to discuss how you've implemented this in your previous projects. Share your thoughts on accessibility and performance optimisation, and how these elements contribute to creating a better user experience.
āØBe Agile and Collaborative
Familiarise yourself with Agile methodologies and be prepared to discuss your experience in sprint planning and collaboration with cross-functional teams. Highlight any experience you have working with back end engineers and product owners, as this will demonstrate your ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary environment.