At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a digital engineering team to create innovative guest-facing products using modern tech.
- Company: Join First Line Software, a leader in cutting-edge IT solutions and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, training programs, corporate English classes, and a Workation programme.
- Other info: Exciting projects with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact with your coding skills while mentoring others in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: 4+ years in digital engineering, with strong skills in modern web architectures and leadership.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
About the company
At First Line Software, we drive business success with cutting-edge IT solutions and a relentless focus on innovation. Since 2010, our global team of over 300 professionals has excelled in industries including healthcare, data engineering, and retail digitalization. By leveraging Generative AI, we deliver impactful results and help clients stay ahead of the curve. Join us to be part of a collaborative team that values growth, excellence, and social responsibility. Let's see what we can create together!
The project and your role
You'll join a digital engineering team responsible for a set of guest-facing digital products: a guest portal, a loyalty platform, a public-facing booking website, and an AI concierge and booking assistant, all built on a modern, cloud-native stack. As Digital Tech Lead, you will be the most senior hands-on engineer on the team, setting technical direction while staying embedded in the code and the delivery itself.
Your responsibilities:
- Provide hands-on technical leadership across all digital engineering delivery — setting standards for code quality, testing, CI/CD, and release management
- Lead architecture and solution design for new digital features and products, working with the Integration Architect to keep alignment with the wider architecture
- Conduct code reviews and architecture assessments with nearshore partner teams, ensuring outputs meet the required engineering standards
- Actively contribute to delivery — writing code, building features, and shipping working software alongside the product engineering team
- Own the technical definition of user stories — breaking down business requirements into well-scoped engineering tasks and acceptance criteria
- Introduce and embed modern engineering practices: CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, containerisation, code quality gates
- Act as the technical accountability lead for nearshore digital engineering partner teams — reviewing architectures, assessing quality, and ensuring delivery meets required standards
- Identify and address performance gaps in partner engineering quality and velocity
- Mentor and develop internal Data & Digital Product Engineers in digital engineering best practices
- Contribute to engineering capability build — tooling, practices, and onboarding standards for new engineers
Your skills
- Modern web engineering: ASP.Net, .NET8, C#, React, Next.js, TypeScript, REST and GraphQL APIs
- Cloud: AWS — Lambda, API Gateway, S3, CloudFront, Amazon Connect
- DevOps: CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions or equivalent), containerisation (Docker/Kubernetes)
- CMS and digital experience platforms: Optimizely, Bloomreach, or equivalent
- AI/ML integration: LLM orchestration (LangChain), conversational AI, WhatsApp Business API
- Security and compliance: OWASP standards, PCI-DSS awareness
- 4+ years in digital engineering roles, with at least 2 years in a technical lead or principal engineer capacity
- Proven hands-on experience in modern web architectures (React/.NET or React/Next.js, API-first design)
- Experience leading engineering quality and standards across hybrid engineering models
- A practitioner-first approach — you write code and review code, leading by doing rather than only directing
- Strong communication skills — able to explain technical trade-offs clearly to both engineers and business stakeholders
Nice to have:
- Consumer-facing digital product experience: eCommerce, hospitality, travel, or retail
What we can offer
- Our modern stack projects are the right mix of exciting and challenging
- Gain access to our diverse range of training programs, courses, and certifications
- Choose your work style — this role is hybrid, with 3 days a week in the office
- Enhance your language skills with our corporate English classes
- Work from anywhere and explore the world with our Workation program
Digital Tech Lead in Hemel Hempstead employer: First Line Software
At First Line Software, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer by fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through diverse training programs and flexible working options, allowing you to choose between remote, on-site, or hybrid work styles. Join us in our stunning offices and be part of a team that not only drives technological advancements but also supports critical scientific research in a dynamic and supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Digital Tech Lead in Hemel Hempstead
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at First Line Software or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to First Line Software.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like First Line Software.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like First Line Software that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Digital Tech Lead in Hemel Hempstead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at First Line Software.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at First Line Software and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at First Line Software
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If First Line Software uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
