At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of a user-centric digital platform using React and AWS.
- Company: Join a leading UK media organisation with a strong focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive day rate, hybrid work model, and a dynamic team environment.
- Other info: Opportunity to influence product direction and work in a collaborative, multidisciplinary team.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on a high-visibility platform used by millions.
- Qualifications: Strong experience in React, Node, TypeScript, and AWS cloud solutions.
We are working with a leading UK media organisation to engage an experienced Contract Software Engineer to support the development of a large-scale, user-centric digital platform. The platform is UI and UX-heavy, highly visible, and used by millions, sitting at the intersection of content, information, and media. This role goes beyond pure delivery. You will work in close partnership with Product and UX, playing a key role in discovery, defining technical direction, and taking clear ownership of outcomes across complex, multi-dependency environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Work collaboratively with Product Managers and UX Designers during discovery to translate user needs into feasible, high-quality technical solutions.
- Actively participate in user research, contributing engineering insight to inform product and design decisions.
- Design and build modern, scalable full-stack web experiences using React, Node, and TypeScript.
- Develop and support backend-for-frontend (BFF) services and APIs using AWS (Lambda, API Gateway, SNS/SQS, DynamoDB, S3).
- Contribute to and evolve a shared components and design system model, balancing reuse with product-specific needs.
- Operate confidently in a large, multi-team delivery environment, managing dependencies and navigating organisational complexity.
- Provide technical leadership, influencing stakeholders, advocating best practice, and helping teams move at pace without compromising quality.
- Own delivery outcomes end-to-end, from early discovery through to live operation and iteration.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Strong experience as a Software Engineer working on React, Node, and TypeScript at scale.
- Hands-on experience building cloud-native solutions on AWS, including infrastructure, deployment pipelines, and event-driven architectures.
- Proven experience working closely with Product and UX teams in discovery-led delivery environments.
- Experience contributing to or leading user research activities from an engineering perspective.
- Ability to quickly assess buy vs build decisions and identify pragmatic, high-value technical solutions.
- Experience working in large organisations with complex stakeholder groups and cross-team dependencies.
- Clear communication style, strong collaboration skills, and confidence engaging senior, sometimes challenging, stakeholders.
- Demonstrable ownership mindset, taking responsibility for delivery outcomes rather than isolated technical tasks.
Leadership & Ways of Working
- Comfortable leading by influence rather than hierarchy.
- Experience supporting, mentoring, or leading other engineers within a broader delivery team.
- Experience operating within trios or similar cross-functional models (Product, Design, Engineering).
- Confident working through ambiguity and shaping solutions during discovery as well as live delivery.
Nice to Have
- Experience working within education, learning platforms, EdTech, or product-led environments.
- Understanding of education systems, learning behaviours, or accessibility considerations for younger audiences.
- Experience integrating into or collaborating with large-scale technology organisations.
- Familiarity with CMS-driven or headless content platforms and shared content models.
Why This Role
- Work on a high-impact digital platform with real public reach.
- Influence product direction and technical decisions during discovery, not just delivery.
- Engage in a contract that is genuinely Outside IR35, outcome-focused, and delivery-led.
- Join an experienced, multidisciplinary team operating at scale within a respected media organisation.
Tech Lead in Manchester employer: Harvey Nash
Contact Detail:
Harvey Nash Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Tech Lead in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the tech industry, especially those who work in media or have experience with React and AWS. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your best projects, especially those involving user-centric design and cloud-native solutions. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and soft skills. Be ready to discuss how you've collaborated with Product and UX teams in the past, and how you’ve tackled complex delivery environments.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining us. Plus, it makes it easier for us to keep track of your application and get back to you quickly.
We think you need these skills to ace Tech Lead in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Tech Lead role. Highlight your experience with React, Node, and AWS, and showcase any projects where you've worked closely with Product and UX teams. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your background makes you a perfect fit. Don’t forget to mention your experience in user-centric design and your leadership style.
Showcase Your Projects: Include links to your GitHub or portfolio that demonstrate your work with scalable web applications and cloud-native solutions. We love seeing real examples of your coding prowess and problem-solving skills!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Harvey Nash
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your React, Node, and TypeScript skills. Be ready to discuss your past projects in detail, especially those that involved building cloud-native solutions on AWS. They’ll want to see how you’ve tackled challenges and delivered high-quality technical solutions.
✨Collaborate Like a Pro
Since this role involves working closely with Product Managers and UX Designers, be prepared to talk about your experience in collaborative environments. Share examples of how you've contributed to user research and translated user needs into technical solutions. Show them you can bridge the gap between tech and design!
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Even if you're not in a formal leadership position, highlight instances where you've influenced stakeholders or mentored other engineers. They’re looking for someone who can lead by influence, so share stories that showcase your ability to guide teams and advocate for best practices.
✨Embrace Ambiguity
This role requires comfort in navigating complex environments and shaping solutions during discovery. Prepare to discuss how you've handled ambiguity in past projects. Show them you can think on your feet and adapt to changing requirements while keeping delivery outcomes in focus.