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- Tasks: Build high-traffic, content-heavy sites using headless WordPress and modern development practices.
- Company: Join a leading digital media group investing in innovative web platforms.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working with occasional office visits and competitive salary.
- Why this job: Be part of a forward-thinking team focused on performance, security, and collaboration.
- Qualifications: Strong experience in headless WordPress, PHP, REST APIs, and custom plugin development required.
- Other info: Opportunity to work with engineers across the UK and Europe on cutting-edge projects.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 65000 £ per year.
Location: Manchester (Hybrid, occasional office visits, once a month)
Full-time, Permanent
£60,000 - £65,000
I'm currently working with a leading digital media group that's investing heavily in their web platform and they’re looking for a Senior WordPress Engineer with serious backend skills, particularly in headless WordPress at scale. This is a genuinely exciting opportunity to get stuck into building out high-traffic, content-heavy sites that are powered by clean, scalable architecture and modern development practices. It’s not your average WordPress gig, think API-first, JAMstack, CI/CD pipelines, and containerised environments – all the good stuff.
You’ll be part of a growing, forward-thinking team where engineering standards are high, DevOps is a given, and everything is built with performance and security front of mind. This is a hands-on, code-focused role where your experience with custom plugins, GraphQL, REST APIs, and advanced PHP will be key to shaping robust, reusable services across multiple sites and teams. There’s also a strong collaborative element here, you’ll be working closely with other engineers across the UK and Europe as they roll out the next generation of their platform.
What you’ll need to bring:
- Strong experience in headless WordPress development (enterprise-level experience is ideal)
- Deep PHP knowledge (7/8) and understanding of the WordPress core
- Hands-on experience creating and integrating with REST APIs and WPGraphQL
- Custom theme/plugin development optimised for headless use
- ACF, CPTs, taxonomies – you know the drill
- Secure API handling (OAuth, JWT) and best practices in authentication
- Solid grasp of performance optimisation – query tuning, caching, CDN strategies
- Familiarity with Docker, Git, and modern CI/CD pipelines
- Confidence in delivering clean, frontend-ready APIs (React, Next.js or similar)
- JAMstack know-how and a passion for scalable, API-first design
Location & Working Setup:
The team is mainly based in London, Peterborough or Manchester, but this role is open to hybrid/remote working, with a touchpoint in the office around once every 4–6 weeks. If you're an experienced WordPress engineer who’s passionate about headless builds, modern architecture, and writing clean, reliable code, this could be a great fit.
Contact Detail:
RedCat Digital Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior WordPress Engineer – Headless
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in headless WordPress development. Join online communities or forums where professionals discuss their experiences and share insights about API-first design and JAMstack architecture.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your hands-on experience by contributing to open-source projects or creating your own GitHub repositories. This will not only demonstrate your skills in custom plugin development and REST APIs but also highlight your commitment to clean, scalable code.
✨Tip Number 3
Network with other engineers in the field, especially those who work with headless WordPress. Attend meetups or webinars focused on modern web development practices to build connections that could lead to referrals or insider information about job openings.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for technical interviews by practising coding challenges related to PHP, GraphQL, and REST APIs. Being able to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and knowledge of performance optimisation techniques will set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior WordPress Engineer – Headless
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience with headless WordPress development, custom plugins, and REST APIs. Use specific examples that demonstrate your backend skills and familiarity with modern development practices.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for scalable, API-first design and mention your experience with technologies like GraphQL, Docker, and CI/CD pipelines. Show how your skills align with the company's goals and the role's requirements.
Showcase Relevant Projects: If you have worked on high-traffic, content-heavy sites or have experience with JAMstack architecture, include these projects in your application. Provide links or descriptions that illustrate your contributions and the impact of your work.
Highlight Collaboration Skills: Since the role involves working closely with other engineers, emphasise your collaborative experiences. Mention any previous teamwork in remote or hybrid settings, and how you effectively communicate and share knowledge with colleagues.
How to prepare for a job interview at RedCat Digital
✨Showcase Your Headless WordPress Experience
Be prepared to discuss your previous projects involving headless WordPress. Highlight specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them, especially in terms of scalability and performance.
✨Demonstrate Your PHP Proficiency
Since deep PHP knowledge is crucial for this role, be ready to answer technical questions or even solve coding problems on the spot. Brush up on PHP 7/8 features and best practices before the interview.
✨Familiarise Yourself with APIs
Understand the intricacies of REST APIs and WPGraphQL, as well as secure API handling methods like OAuth and JWT. Be ready to explain how you've implemented these in past projects.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills
This role involves working closely with other engineers across different locations. Prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated in a team setting, particularly in remote or hybrid environments.
