Senior Developer

We are looking for a Senior Developer with strong expertise in JavaScript technologies and exposure to .NET development to design and build innovative applications for Macfarlanes staff and clients. This role goes beyond coding - you will provide oversight and review for new projects as well as evaluate current development practices within the team and establish industry-standard best practices and technology stack for future projects. Your expertise will help shape the technical direction of our legal innovation initiatives. You will also supervise the work of junior developers (currently two) in the team and be responsible for their training and professional development, as well as working closely with other innovation professionals within the Lawtech team and business stakeholders at all levels.

Key Responsibilities

• assess existing coding techniques and recommend improvements aligned with industry standards and best practices;
• define and implement the optimal technology stack for future development projects;
• develop and maintain web applications using JavaScript frameworks (Node.js, React, and others);
• build responsive, accessible interfaces with HTML5, CSS3, and modern styling libraries;
• work with XML and JSON for data exchange and integration across systems;
• implement and maintain CI/CD pipelines, source control (Azure DevOps preferred), and automated testing;
• integrate with APIs and third-party services using RESTful APIs, JSON, and XML-based protocols;
• develop and maintain components using .NET technologies such as C# and ASP.NET where required;
• establish and support the infrastructure required for multiple application deployment environments;
• collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative legal tech solutions;
• ensure code quality, scalability, and security across all projects;
• provide supervision, training and support to junior developers, upskilling where necessary and supporting their professional development;
• has excellent communication skills for effective collaboration with technical and non-technical stakeholders;
• possess strong problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to challenges; and
• ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.

This job description encompasses the main duties of the role and is by no means exhaustive. It is anticipated that duties may vary from time to time according to the needs of the team.

The candidate

• strong proficiency in JavaScript and frameworks such as Node.js and React;
• strong knowledge of Express and Axios;
• solid understanding of HTML5, CSS3, and responsive design principles;
• hands-on experience with XML for data handling and integration;
• experience or capability with Microsoft Azure AI services, AWS, GCP or other cloud-based AI services;
• experience with CI/CD processes and source control systems (Azure DevOps preferred);
• familiarity with RESTful APIs, JSON, and integration techniques;
• knowledge of software development best practices, including testing and code reviews;
• experience supervising and training junior developers; and
• exposure to .NET technologies (C#, ASP.NET) is highly desirable.

Desirable

• experience with TypeScript, Next.js, or other modern JavaScript frameworks;
• experience working on .NET platform and C# programming language;
• any core experience in ML platform libraries (e.g. TensorFlow);
• previous experience in a law firm or legal technology environment;
• exposure to Harvey AI and HighQ Collaborate platforms;
• understanding of cloud platforms (Azure preferred) and containerisation (Docker/Kubernetes);
• familiarity with AI programming techniques, such as Azure AI SDK, OpenAI APIs, or similar;
• understanding of responsible AI principles, including transparency, auditability, and risk mitigation;
• ability to evaluate AI outputs for reliability; and
• exposure to database programming, such as T-SQL or other relational database technologies.