At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team of React developers and shape innovative legal tech products.
- Company: Join Definely, a fast-growing LegalTech startup backed by industry giants.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, hybrid work, and generous holiday allowance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the legal field while growing your career.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in React development with strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with ongoing learning and top-tier training opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 Β£ per year.
Location: London
Employment Type: Full time
Location Type: Hybrid
Department: Technology
The role:
Following our recent $30M Series B funding, we are expanding the team to accelerate development of our legal technology products that integrate with Microsoft products through Office.js. We are looking for a React Team Lead to guide 2 mid-senior React developers who will look to you for architectural guidance and technical direction. As the technical side of the product Triad, your technical decisions will directly shape product direction.
Key responsibilities:
- Team Leadership & Mentorship: Lead and inspire a team of React developers, fostering a collaborative environment where knowledge sharing is valued and encouraged. Mentor team members, helping them grow their skills and advance their careers. Promote best practices and maintain high code quality standards across the team.
- Technical Excellence: Architect and develop sophisticated React applications that integrate with Microsoft Word, M365, Word Online, etc. using Office.js. Write clean, efficient, and maintainable code. Drive technical decisions and ensure scalable, performant solutions. Think outside of the box to workaround any OfficeJS limitations.
- Product Development: Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to bring innovative features to life. Create exceptional user interfaces that prioritise user experience and accessibility. Continuously optimise application performance and responsiveness.
- Quality & Documentation: Establish robust testing and debugging processes to ensure high-quality, reliable software. Maintain comprehensive documentation for code, APIs, and system architecture. Implement security best practices to protect user data and ensure system integrity.
- Problem Solving & Innovation: Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical challenges. Contribute to architectural discussions and drive the evolution of our tech stack. Improve developer productivity through tooling, automation, and AI-assisted coding.
About you:
- Minimum 5 years of hands-on, product-focused experience with React development.
- Proven leadership experience in software development teams.
- Expert-level proficiency in React, TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and modern web technologies.
- Strong experience with Microsoft Office integration, particularly Office.js and Word add-ins.
- Experience with agentic coding assistants such as Claude Code.
- Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Demonstrated ability to work autonomously while providing clear direction to others.
- Extensive experience working effectively in remote environments.
- Passion for knowledge sharing and helping team members grow.
- Know how to optimise React apps (prevent useless re-rendering, memoisation, code splitting etc).
- Strong grasp of Git, version control best practices, and CI/CD pipelines.
- Excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, agile environment.
Nice to have:
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office Add-in guidelines and Office Store submission processes.
- Background in LegalTech or professional services software.
- Previous experience working with in-browser text editors, especially if you were part of optimisation efforts to make the experience snappier.
- Experience in product-focused or startup environments.
- Exposure to other AI-powered developer tools and workflows.
About Definely:
At Definely, we are on a mission to simplify the way legal professionals access and understand complex information in legal documents. Trusted by a global community of customers, our LegalTech solutions integrate seamlessly into lawyers' daily workflows, making it easier to draft, review and navigate even the most complex contracts. Our products provide instant access to essential information, enabling legal teams to review clauses and provisions in context, reduce risk and work more efficiently β all without disrupting their flow. At Definely, we are dedicated to solving real challenges faced by legal professionals. Joining Definely means becoming part of a forward-thinking, collaborative team that prioritises innovation and people. We create a supportive environment driven by a shared commitment to connection, growth and success. Recognised in the top 25 of Deloitte's prestigious UK Technology Fast50 in 2023 and backed by Microsoft, Google and Octopus Ventures, we are trusted by leading law firms and in-house legal teams, including A&O Shearman, Dentons, Deloitte, and Barclays, to streamline their workflows and mitigate risks.
What we offer:
- Competitive Salary: We offer a highly competitive salary that reflects your skills, experience, and contributions.
- Impact & Growth: Join a fast-growing startup where your ideas matter; experiment, innovate, and see your work come to life.
- High-Performance Culture: Work in a truly meritocratic environment alongside ambitious, driven professionals who push each other to excel.
- Prestigious Partnerships: Collaborate with some of the worldβs top law firms, financial institutions, and multinational corporations.
- Prime London Location & Hybrid Flexibility: Enjoy a vibrant office in the heart of Aldgate with the option to work in a hybrid environment. We tend to come into the office 2-3 times a week, although you can come in more!
- Ongoing Learning & Development: Access top-tier training, mentorship, and continuous support to advance your career.
- Time Off: Enjoy 25 days of holiday per year, plus UK bank holidays, to recharge and unwind.
- Pension Plan: Secure your future with our competitive pension scheme.
- Private Healthcare: Access to Vitality healthcare, including dental and optical.
- Flexible Working: Work in a way that suits your lifestyle, with the freedom to balance professional and personal priorities.
- Enhanced Parental Leave: We support working parents with generous parental leave policies that go far beyond statutory requirements.
- Cycle to Work Scheme: Save on a new bike and accessories while promoting a healthier, more sustainable commute.
- Workplace Nursery Scheme: Saving working parents lots of money through our salary sacrifice scheme!
- Top-Quality Equipment: Get the tools you need to perform at your best, from cutting-edge tech to ergonomic office setups.
Engineering Lead (React) in City of London employer: Cornerstone VC
Contact Detail:
Cornerstone VC Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice π€«
We think this is how you could land Engineering Lead (React) in City of London
β¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the tech industry, especially those who work with React or in legal tech. A friendly chat can lead to referrals or insider info about job openings.
β¨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your best React projects, especially any that involve Microsoft Office integration. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can do and set you apart from the crowd.
β¨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on common React challenges and architectural decisions. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled complex problems in the past, as this will demonstrate your leadership and technical prowess.
β¨Tip Number 4
Donβt forget to apply through our website! Itβs the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows youβre genuinely interested in joining our awesome team at Definely.
We think you need these skills to ace Engineering Lead (React) in City of London
Some tips for your application π«‘
Show Off Your React Skills: Make sure to highlight your experience with React and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how you've tackled challenges and what innovative solutions you've come up with!
Be a Team Player: Since this role involves leading a team, share examples of how you've mentored others or fostered collaboration in previous positions. We love seeing candidates who can inspire and uplift their teammates!
Tailor Your Application: Take the time to customise your application for us. Mention specific technologies and practices from the job description that youβre familiar with, especially around Microsoft Office integration and coding best practices.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. Itβs the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you donβt miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cornerstone VC
β¨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your React, TypeScript, and Office.js skills. Be ready to discuss how you've used these technologies in past projects, especially in relation to Microsoft integrations. This will show that youβre not just familiar with the tech but can also apply it effectively.
β¨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a potential Engineering Lead, it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership abilities. Prepare examples of how you've mentored team members or led projects. Highlight your approach to fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing within a team, as this aligns with the companyβs values.
β¨Prepare for Problem-Solving Questions
Expect to face technical challenges during the interview. Think about complex problems you've solved in the past, particularly those involving React applications or Office.js limitations. Be ready to walk through your thought process and the solutions you implemented.
β¨Understand the Company Culture
Research Definely's mission and values. Be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with theirs, especially regarding innovation and collaboration. Showing that you understand their culture will help you stand out as a candidate who is not only skilled but also a good fit for the team.