Tech Lead (Ref: 196763)

Job Title - Tech Lead (Ref: 196763)

Location - Nottingham

On site role

Contact - callum.bell@forsythbarnes.com

The Opportunity

We are partnering with a fast-growing e-commerce business undergoing an exciting phase of growth and technology transformation. With a high-volume transactional platform and ambitious growth plans, technology is a key driver of the next stage of the company’s journey.

This is a unique opportunity for a hands-on Tech Lead to take ownership of the technology function, improve engineering maturity and shape the future technology strategy. Working directly with the founders and senior leadership team, you will act as a trusted advisor, driving improvements across platforms, systems, automation, AI adoption and customer experience.

This role offers a genuine pathway towards becoming the company’s future Head of Engineering.

The Role

You will inherit an existing technology estate and be responsible for moving the business from a reactive, bug-fixing approach towards a proactive, scalable and performance-led engineering culture.

You will challenge current ways of working, improve development standards and make key decisions around the future technology roadmap, including whether to evolve existing platforms or introduce new technologies.

Your focus will span web platforms, mobile applications, AI-enabled automation, infrastructure, cybersecurity and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the technology roadmap and define the future engineering strategy.

• Lead, mentor and develop the existing technology team, establishing accountability and engineering excellence.

• Improve software quality, reduce technical debt and implement robust development processes.

• Evaluate and evolve the current technology estate, including opportunities for platform modernisation.

• Drive improvements in website performance, scalability and customer experience.

• Champion AI adoption, workflow automation and emerging technologies.

• Define future mobile application strategy and delivery.

• Oversee infrastructure, DevOps processes, Cloudflare technologies and production environments.

• Ensure cybersecurity, resilience and best practices are embedded into all technology decisions.

• Partner with founders and business leaders to translate commercial objectives into technical execution.

About You

You are a hands-on technology leader who combines strong engineering capability with strategic thinking and commercial awareness.

Essential Experience

• Proven experience as a Tech Lead, Lead Engineer, Principal Engineer or similar within a high-growth SME, scale-up or e-commerce environment.

• Experience owning and transforming existing technology estates.

• Strong full-stack engineering background with the ability to make decisions across architecture, platforms and delivery.

• Experience improving engineering culture, reducing technical debt and implementing scalable development practices.

• Experience working closely with founders or senior stakeholders as a trusted technology advisor.

• Experience leveraging AI, automation and modern technologies to improve business efficiency and customer experiences.

• Understanding of infrastructure, performance optimisation, security and reliable production systems.

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience with PHP and WordPress to understand and evolve the current technology platform.

• Experience modernising legacy platforms, rebuilding websites or leading technology transformation programmes.

• Experience with high-volume e-commerce, retail, marketplace or transactional platforms.

• Exposure to mobile technologies such as React Native, Flutter, Swift, Kotlin or PWAs.

• Experience with Cloudflare technologies including WAF, Zero Trust, DNS, caching and performance optimisation.

• Knowledge of DevOps, Docker, CI/CD, cloud infrastructure and networking fundamentals.

• Experience operating within regulated or security-conscious environments.

Why Join?

• Take ownership of technology within a rapidly growing e-commerce business.

• Influence the future architecture, systems and product strategy.

• Work directly with founders and become a key member of the leadership journey.

• Build and develop a technology team as the business scales.

• Clear progression opportunity into a future Head of Engineering role.