Technical Lead

Technical Lead

Preston Full-Time 60000 - 84000 £ / year (est.) Home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a team of developers while actively coding and innovating in EdTech.
  • Company: Join a transformative EdTech company revolutionising student tracking and analytics.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, fully remote work, and 25 days holiday.
  • Why this job: Be part of a growing team that values innovation and quality in tech delivery.
  • Qualifications: 5+ years in TypeScript/JavaScript with leadership experience; strong React, Node.js, and GraphQL skills.
  • Other info: This role is ideal for those ready to step up in their career and make an impact.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 84000 £ per year.

I'm working with a transformative EdTech redefining how schools, learning facilities, and staff track and monitor students whilst providing real-time analytics and data to caregivers and parents alike. It's a really innovative technology with a strong track record of success.

The firm has a CTO and developers in place, now, whilst the core product has been built, they're really looking for someone to sit between the two as a hands-on technical leader, someone who thoroughly enjoys coding, someone who relishes in keeping their team up-to-date in the latest technologies and practices, and someone who can innovate and think outside of the box. This isn't a CTO role but is a future Head of Development position.

Who This Suits?

  • This role is ideal for someone who has already been a Lead Developer or Senior Engineer with unofficial team leadership responsibilities and is ready to step up.
  • Enjoys both shipping features and coaching people.
  • Can bring clarity and stability to a team with big ambitions and growing demands.
  • Likes to work across the stack - and isn’t scared of legacy systems or technical debt.

Given the EdTech space is part of a highly regulated environment, I'm looking for candidates from similar: HealthTech, MarTech, EdTech or FinTech as they will best know how to deliver within some of the more pernickety intricacies of regulations and guidance.

About the Tech:

The platform is built using modern JavaScript tools and cloud infrastructure. The current stack includes:

  • TypeScript, Node.js, React, and GraphQL
  • MongoDB Atlas
  • AWS-based infrastructure using ECS, Lambda, and CloudWatch
  • CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions, Terraform, and IaC
  • Testing via Cypress (E2E), Jest/Vitest (unit)
  • Observability with tools like Sentry, Datadog, or New Relic

You won’t be starting from scratch, the platform is already live and scaling, but there is real scope to improve code quality, DevOps maturity, and feature velocity as the business continues to grow and scale. This is a senior-level engineering position with a clear mandate: build a stronger engineering team and ship faster, more reliable code.

You’ll be responsible for:

  • Team leadership: line managing 3-4 engineers, mentoring junior and mid-level devs, reviewing code, and guiding technical decisions.
  • Hands-on development: contributing actively to the codebase (roughly 50% hands-on).
  • Engineering quality: raising the bar on code standards, testing, and deployment reliability.
  • Cross-functional work: partnering with the Product Owner and wider business to translate priorities into outcomes.
  • Visibility and communication: presenting updates at weekly company-wide meetings and feeding progress into senior leadership.

There is a clear desire to improve engineering output, move past legacy practices, and support a DevOps-first, test-driven approach to feature delivery. You’ll be central to making that happen.

What You’ll Bring

Must-haves:

  • 5+ years of experience with TypeScript/JavaScript across front and back end.
  • Strong experience with React, Node.js, and GraphQL.
  • Proven ability to lead or mentor other developers - formally/informally.
  • Clear understanding of modern testing, CI/CD, and DevOps principles.
  • Confident communicating with non-technical stakeholders.

Nice-to-haves:

  • Exposure to QA automation, legacy platform upgrades, or infrastructure-as-code.
  • Comfortable working in smaller product teams with a high degree of autonomy.

You’ll need to be comfortable presenting your work to the wider business, including weekly all-hands. That doesn’t mean being the loudest in the room, but you can’t hide away. You’ll need to articulate what’s happening, what’s blocked, and what’s next.

Package & Benefits

£70,000–£90,000 base salary, depending on experience. Fully remote (UK only), with options for coworking or in-person collaboration. 25 days holiday + bank holidays. Opportunity to shape the culture and tech strategy in a growing product company. Unfortunately, this role cannot offer visa sponsorship.

Technical Lead employer: NearTech Search

Join a pioneering EdTech company that is not only transforming the educational landscape but also prioritises employee growth and innovation. With a fully remote work model, generous holiday allowance, and a culture that encourages collaboration and technical excellence, this role offers you the chance to lead a talented team while actively contributing to cutting-edge technology. Embrace the opportunity to shape the future of education and advance your career in a supportive environment that values your input and expertise.
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Contact Detail:

NearTech Search Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Technical Lead

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the specific technologies mentioned in the job description, such as TypeScript, Node.js, and React. Being able to discuss your hands-on experience with these tools will demonstrate your technical expertise and readiness for the role.

✨Tip Number 2

Highlight any previous experience you have in team leadership or mentoring roles. Be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully guided junior developers or improved team dynamics, as this is a key aspect of the position.

✨Tip Number 3

Showcase your understanding of the EdTech sector and its regulatory environment. If you have experience in similar fields like HealthTech or FinTech, be ready to discuss how that knowledge can help you navigate the complexities of the role.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare to communicate effectively with non-technical stakeholders. Practice articulating technical concepts in a way that is accessible to everyone, as this will be crucial when presenting updates at company-wide meetings.

We think you need these skills to ace Technical Lead

JavaScript
TypeScript
React
Node.js
GraphQL
MongoDB Atlas
AWS (ECS, Lambda, CloudWatch)
CI/CD pipelines
GitHub Actions
Terraform
IaC (Infrastructure as Code)
Cypress (E2E testing)
Jest/Vitest (unit testing)
Sentry
Datadog
New Relic
Team Leadership
Mentoring
Code Review
DevOps Principles
Communication Skills
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Problem-Solving Skills
Agile Methodologies

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience with JavaScript, TypeScript, React, and Node.js. Emphasise any leadership roles or mentoring experiences you've had, as this position requires strong team management skills.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for EdTech and how your background in similar regulated environments (like HealthTech or FinTech) makes you a suitable candidate. Mention specific examples of how you've led teams and improved engineering practices.

Showcase Your Technical Skills: Include a section in your application that details your technical skills, particularly in modern JavaScript tools and cloud infrastructure. Highlight your familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, testing frameworks, and observability tools, as these are crucial for the role.

Prepare for Interviews: Be ready to discuss your previous projects and how you've contributed to team success. Prepare to articulate your approach to mentoring and leading developers, as well as your strategies for improving code quality and deployment reliability.

How to prepare for a job interview at NearTech Search

✨Showcase Your Technical Skills

Be prepared to discuss your experience with TypeScript, JavaScript, React, Node.js, and GraphQL. Bring examples of projects you've worked on that demonstrate your hands-on coding abilities and how you've contributed to the codebase.

✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience

Highlight any previous leadership roles or mentoring experiences you've had. Discuss how you've guided junior developers, managed team dynamics, and contributed to a positive team culture.

✨Communicate Clearly with Non-Technical Stakeholders

Since this role involves presenting updates to non-technical stakeholders, practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms. Be ready to share how you’ve successfully communicated project statuses and challenges in the past.

✨Emphasise Your Adaptability

Given the focus on innovation and improvement, be prepared to discuss how you've tackled legacy systems or technical debt in previous roles. Share examples of how you've implemented modern practices and tools to enhance engineering output.

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