Front End Developer Lead

Williams Lea is looking for an experienced Front End Developer. The successful candidate will be working in a dedicated Web Development Team within a fast-moving and growing Technology function. As a Lead Front End Developer, you will work in a team of developers to build a website for a public sector department in the UK. Experience with Agile software development frameworks is a must. The main skills required for this role are Front End Development technologies including but not limited to JavaScript, jQuery, HTML5 & CSS. A working knowledge of Apache web servers and/or AWS is an advantage.

Key Competencies

• Experienced front-end developer able to implement robust and high quality web applications according to specification documents / user stories
• Client-focused, working independently and simultaneously across multiple projects
• Capture and documentation of customer requirements and transformation into software design specifications / user stories
• Writes structured well-documented code to deliver scalable software solutions
• Competent problem solver and quickly identifies and finds ways of overcoming obstacles and barriers
• Good communication, able to write clear and concise documentation for technical and non-technical audiences
• Team player with effective time management
• Strong problem solving skills and attention to detail
• Ability to peer review and provide feedback on others work
• Consistently technically abreast of existing, new and emerging technologies to complement solutions

Key Activities

• Develop code as per the specifications and coding standards
• Liaise with senior project stakeholders both verbally and in writing
• Production of detailed technical design documentation & estimates
• Implementing unit tests
• Ensure all code passes unit testing with appropriate code coverage
• Review Pull Requests of other team member s code
• Provide feedback on process to refine where necessary

Key Technologies

Experience in the following technologies is required:

• Core JavaScript (ES6/ES2015)
• Gulp, Webpack
• CSS up to and including CSS3
• CSS pre-processors (e.g. Sass, Less)
• jQuery
• HTML5, including knowledge of the full range of language features
• Cross-browser compatibility testing and development
• Accessibility and usability (WAI, WCAG, ARIA)
• Unit Testing (BDD/TDD)
• Responsive Design/Implementation

Experience in the following technologies is desirable:

• TypeScript
• Drupal development (configuration, theming and module development)
• Understanding of developing websites in PHP
• MySQL
• Integrating websites with 3rd party APIs (REST/GraphQL)
• Apache server configuration
• Knowledge working with Linux
• Cloud hosting (AWS)
• XSLT and XPath
• Client-side performance analysis and optimization techniques
• Continuous Integration (Jenkins)
• Git Source Control
• Photoshop/Fireworks Design and Wireframing

Qualifications and Experience

• Educated to degree level or higher in Computer Science or relevant industry experience
• Experienced front-end developer with a history of implementing robust and high-quality web applications according to specification documents / user stories
• 5+ years working with web technology
• Experience of the software development lifecycle and Agile development methodologies
• Experience of providing client facing support is an advantage