Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- 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 across Europe.
- Qualifications: Strong experience in headless WordPress, PHP, REST APIs, and custom plugin development required.
- Other info: Ideal for those passionate about scalable, API-first design and clean coding.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 52000 £ 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 (Manchester)
✨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. This will not only enhance your knowledge but also help you connect with potential colleagues.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your hands-on experience by contributing to open-source projects or creating your own GitHub repositories. Focus on custom plugins, REST APIs, and performance optimisation techniques. This practical demonstration of your skills can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 3
Network with current employees or alumni from the company through LinkedIn. Engaging in conversations about their work culture and projects can provide you with valuable insights and potentially a referral, which can significantly boost your chances of landing the job.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for technical interviews by practising coding challenges that focus on PHP, REST APIs, and GraphQL. Use platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to sharpen your skills. Being well-prepared will help you demonstrate your expertise and confidence during the interview process.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior WordPress Engineer – Headless (Manchester)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience with headless WordPress development, PHP, and API integrations. Use specific examples of projects where you've implemented these skills to demonstrate your expertise.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for modern web architecture and scalable design. Mention your familiarity with JAMstack and CI/CD pipelines, and how you can contribute to the team’s goals.
Showcase Relevant Projects: If possible, include links to your previous work or GitHub repositories that showcase your custom plugins, REST APIs, and any headless WordPress projects. This will give the hiring team a clear view of your capabilities.
Highlight Collaboration Skills: Since the role involves working closely with other engineers, emphasise your teamwork and communication skills. Provide examples of how you've successfully collaborated on projects in the past.
How to prepare for a job interview at RedCat Digital
✨Showcase Your Headless WordPress Experience
Make sure to highlight your experience with headless WordPress development during the interview. Discuss specific projects where you've implemented API-first architectures and how you tackled challenges related to scalability and performance.
✨Demonstrate Your PHP Proficiency
Since deep PHP knowledge is crucial for this role, be prepared to discuss your experience with PHP 7/8. You might be asked to solve coding problems or explain complex concepts, so brush up on your PHP skills and be ready to showcase your understanding of the WordPress core.
✨Discuss Your API Integration Skills
Talk about your hands-on experience with REST APIs and WPGraphQL. Be ready to provide examples of how you've created and integrated these APIs in past projects, as well as any best practices you follow for secure API handling.
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Teamwork
Given the collaborative nature of the role, share examples of how you've worked effectively with other engineers in previous positions. Highlight your ability to communicate technical concepts clearly and your experience in a team-oriented environment, especially in hybrid or remote settings.
