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 employer: Harvey Nash
Contact Detail:
Harvey Nash Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Tech Lead
✨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 can influence product direction in this role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Tech Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Tech Lead role. Highlight your experience with React, AWS, and working in collaborative environments. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves technical leadership, don’t forget to mention any experience you have mentoring others or influencing stakeholders. We love seeing candidates who can lead by influence rather than just hierarchy.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language to describe your experiences and achievements. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the point!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
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 involving AWS. They’ll want to see how you’ve tackled challenges and delivered high-quality 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.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This position requires influencing stakeholders and mentoring other engineers. Think of instances where you've led by influence rather than authority, and be ready to discuss how you’ve helped teams move quickly while maintaining quality.
✨Embrace Ambiguity
The ability to navigate through uncertainty is key for this role. Prepare to share experiences where you’ve shaped solutions during the discovery phase or dealt with complex dependencies. Highlight your problem-solving skills and adaptability.