At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead UI engineering teams and shape the frontend architecture of our eCommerce platform.
- Company: Join Farnell, a global leader in technology distribution with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive salary, gym access, and generous holiday options.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for continuous learning and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on a high-traffic platform while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Expertise in React.js, Node.js, and experience managing frontend teams required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Farnell, an Avnet company, is a global high‑service distributor of technology products, services and solutions for electronic system design, maintenance and repair.
The UI Engineering Manager is a hands‑on technical leader responsible for the frontend architecture, performance, security, and evolution of the Farnell eCommerce platform. This role combines deep expertise in modern Single Page Applications with people leadership, architectural influence, and cross‑functional collaboration. The successful candidate will act as both a technical authority and engineering manager, guiding the UI engineering teams while shaping the long‑term frontend technology strategy. A key focus will be ensuring the Farnell website remains secure, highly performant, scalable, and aligned with modern SPA architectural best practices.
What's in it for you?
- A supportive team environment where everyone really is working toward the same goal.
- A strong open‑door policy within management.
- An environment where you will be given the tools and opportunities to further your career.
- Pension scheme (Matched up to 8%).
- Simply Health Medical Plan.
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays with option to buy additional holiday.
- FREE Onsite Parking & FREE Onsite Gym.
- Flexible hybrid working.
- Cycle to work Scheme.
- EV Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme.
- Discount and retailer reward schemes.
Technical Leadership & Architecture
- Act as the technical authority for front‑end engineering, with expert knowledge of SPA architectures, React.js, and Node.js.
- Own and evolve the frontend technology stack, setting standards for frameworks, libraries, build pipelines, and tooling.
- Guide architectural decisions to ensure the platform keeps pace with emerging frontend technologies, patterns, and industry best practices.
- Analyse existing UI codebases and architectural solutions, identifying risks, technical debt, and opportunities for improvement.
- Produce clear technical recommendations, designs, and roadmaps to improve platform quality, maintainability, and delivery efficiency.
Performance, Security & Quality
- Ensure the Farnell eCommerce website is secure, resilient, and performant at scale.
- Demonstrate deep expertise in:
- Browser render paths and critical rendering optimisation.
- Core performance metrics including TTFB, TTFP, TTI, and overall page responsiveness.
- Caching strategies and complexities inherent in SPA‑based architectures.
- Drive performance optimisation initiatives across rendering, networking, asset delivery, and runtime behaviour.
- Embed performance and security considerations into development standards, CI/CD pipelines, and code review processes.
Engineering Methods & Delivery
- Define and continuously improve frontend engineering methods, processes, and ways of working.
- Promote best practices in code quality, testability, observability, and maintainability.
- Partner with Product, Platform, and Architecture teams to ensure UI solutions align with wider business and technical strategy.
- Influence delivery planning and prioritisation with a strong focus on technical excellence and long‑term sustainability.
People Management & Team Leadership
- Provide line management for the UI Developer teams, including coaching, mentoring, performance management, and career development.
- Create a culture of engineering ownership, continuous improvement, and technical excellence.
- Support team members in developing modern frontend skills and strong engineering judgement.
- Encourage self‑learning, experimentation, and knowledge sharing across teams.
Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
- Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills, capable of clearly articulating complex technical concepts to varied audiences.
- Work closely with Global Architects and senior technical stakeholders, contributing to cross‑domain architectural discussions.
- Produce concise, high‑quality architectural documentation, proposals, and technical decision records.
What about you?
Essential
- Significant hands‑on experience building and evolving large‑scale SPAs in production environments.
- Expert knowledge of React.js and Node.js, including modern patterns, tooling, and ecosystem best practices.
- Deep understanding of browser internals, render pipelines, and performance tuning.
- Proven experience optimising SPA performance metrics such as TTFB, TTFP, and TTI.
- Strong grasp of SPA caching strategies, including trade‑offs across client, edge, and server layers.
- Demonstrable experience analysing existing systems and successfully driving architectural and process improvements.
- Experience leading and managing frontend engineering teams.
Desirable
- Experience working on high‑traffic, customer‑facing eCommerce platforms.
- Familiarity with micro‑frontend or modular frontend architectures.
- Experience collaborating in globally distributed engineering environments.
Personal Attributes
- Highly self‑motivated, with a strong track record of continuous self‑learning in frontend technologies.
- Pragmatic and analytical, able to balance technical ambition with delivery realities.
- Confident technical leader who can challenge constructively and influence without authority.
- Strong sense of accountability for both technical outcomes and people development.
If you are interested in applying for this role, then APPLY NOW. Our Talent Team will review your application and if shortlisted, you will be contacted with a view to an initial call.
UI Engineering Manager in Leeds employer: Farnell Global
Farnell, an Avnet company, is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and supportive work culture, particularly for the UI Engineering Manager role in Leeds. With a strong emphasis on employee growth through continuous learning opportunities, a flexible hybrid working model, and comprehensive benefits including a pension scheme and health plans, Farnell ensures that its team members are well-equipped to thrive both personally and professionally in a dynamic environment focused on innovation and technical excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land UI Engineering Manager in Leeds
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
In the world of UX/UI design, your portfolio speaks volumes! Make sure it's packed with your best work and showcases your process, not just the final product. We want to see how you tackle design challenges, so consider adding case studies that reflect your thought process and user-centric approach.
✨Get Involved in Design Communities
Jump into local or online design meetups and workshops! Places like UXPA or local design events can be goldmines for networking and learning. Plus, mingling with fellow designers can introduce you to potential job openings that might not be listed elsewhere.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you find a role that excites you, like the one at Farnell Global for a UI Engineering Manager, make your application count! Highlight specific projects and skills that directly relate to the job description. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit into their specific team, so show them you’re the one!
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in finding a UX/UI design job! Follow design leaders on platforms like Twitter or Instagram, share your work, and engage in conversations. It’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters and even catch wind of openings at companies like Farnell Global before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace UI Engineering Manager in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like UI Engineering Manager at Farnell Global, make sure to include examples that clearly highlight your design process. We want to see not just the final product but also the journey that led you there—wireframes, user personas, and iterations demonstrate your thought process and user-centric approach!
Tailor Your Portfolio:A tailor-made portfolio is crucial for a full-time design role! Curate your best projects that align with the kind of work Farnell Global does. We suggest including 3-5 case studies that showcase a variety of skills such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing to really make your application pop.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not just be a summary of your CV. Use it to express why you’re excited about UX/UI Design and what draws you specifically to Farnell Global. Mention any relevant experience, tools you’re proficient in (like Sketch or Figma), and how you can contribute to their projects.
Highlight Collaboration Skills:In the world of UX/UI Design, teamwork is crucial. Make sure to highlight any past experiences where you worked in cross-functional teams. Illustrate how you communicated design decisions and listened to feedback, as this will resonate well with the culture at Farnell Global.
How to prepare for a job interview at Farnell Global
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
When you're gunning for a full-time UX/UI design role, your portfolio is your best friend! Make sure you've got a solid selection of your work, showcasing not just the final designs, but the process behind them—think wireframes, user flows, and any user research you've conducted. During the interview with Farnell Global, be prepared to discuss your design decisions and how they solve specific user problems.
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Expect to face some practical design tasks during your interview. Farnell Global might ask you to tackle a quick design challenge or critique an existing interface. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and try to articulate your thought process as you work through these scenarios. Showing how you approach a design problem is just as important as the final output!
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry—figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch should be second nature to you. Be ready to discuss your preferred tools during the interview and how they've shaped your design process at previous positions. This knowledge could give you an edge at Farnell Global!
✨Show Passion for User Experience
In a full-time UX/UI design role, having a genuine passion for improving user interactions can set you apart. Be prepared to share instances when you went above and beyond to ensure a great user experience in your previous projects. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a designer, but a user advocate, which is exactly what Farnell Global is looking for.
