Frontend Engineering Lead

Role Summary

We’re seeking a Frontend Team Lead to help drive the evolution of our AI-powered platforms. This is a hands-on leadership role ideal for a senior frontend engineer with deep experience in React, TypeScript, and modern web platforms. 

You will play a key role across product development and engineering execution, leading frontend architecture, mentoring other developers, and working closely with backend and product teams to deliver intuitive and performant user experiences.

As our frontend team grows, we’re looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and enjoys solving complex problems that blend cutting-edge technology with impactful human-centred design.

‍

Responsibilities

‍
Frontend Engineering & Architecture

Lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of scalable, accessible, and high-performing frontend systems using React, TypeScript, and modern tooling.

Set architectural direction for the frontend codebase and participate in ongoing system evolution and refactoring initiatives.

Ensure high-quality, maintainable code through code reviews, automated testing, and continuous integration.

Maintain rigorous adherence to UX, accessibility, and design standards in alignment with our product and design teams.

‍

‍Technical Leadership & Delivery

Guide and mentor a growing team of frontend engineers, promoting best practices and supporting their technical development.

Own frontend-related technical decisions while collaborating on full-stack architectural planning with backend engineers and DevOps.

 Ensure consistent communication between engineering, product, and design to deliver valuable customer-facing features efficiently.

 Balance product delivery with long-term technical investment, identifying ways to improve performance, maintainability, and scalability across the frontend stack.

Team Collaboration & Cross-functional Work

Partner closely with the Head of Engineering, Delivery Leads, and Product Managers to scope and ship features end-to-end.

Collaborate across functions—including backend and AI/ML developers—to create seamless full-stack solutions.

Champion a positive and open engineering culture through collaboration, transparency, and shared ownership.

‍

Mentorship & Team Development

Act as a mentor to junior and mid-level developers, guiding them in technical growth and decision making.

Foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the frontend team through knowledge-sharing, pair programming, and feedback.

Contribute to hiring and onboarding of new frontend talent as we scale the team.

‍

Required Experience
‍

• 6+ years of frontend software engineering experience, with a strong background building production-grade web applications.
• Significant hands-on experience with React and TypeScript in a production environment.
• Experience leading engineering initiatives, mentoring teammates, and owning architectural decisions on frontend systems.
• Strong knowledge of modern frontend build systems, component design patterns, and performance optimisation strategies.
• Deep understanding of web accessibility, responsive design, and usability principles.
• Experience working with other teams, including backend, devops, and product stakeholders.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, testing frameworks (e.g., Jest, React Testing Library), and version control using Git.

‍

Desirable Skills
‍

• Experience with advanced state management solutions (e.g., Redux, Zustand, Recoil).
• Experience integrating with GraphQL and RESTful APIs.
• An understanding or curiosity about AI/ML-powered user interfaces or applications.
• Experience leading greenfield product developments as well as maintaining and evolving mature codebases.

‍

Key Attributes
‍

• Strong communicator—able to clearly articulate technical reasoning and collaborate across all levels of the organisation.
• Leadership mindset—willing to support, empower and challenge the frontend team to achieve excellence.
• Product thinker—understands how to translate user needs and product goals into simple, elegant interfaces.
• Proactive and pragmatic—drives improvements across systems and processes while balancing tech debt and feature delivery.
• Passionate about technology—keeps abreast of developments in the frontend ecosystem and applies new tools thoughtfully.

‍

What We Offer
‍

• Work on impactful, cutting-edge products powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning.
• Be part of an agile, close-knit team that values creativity, quality, and continuous learning.
• Opportunities to lead and shape the direction of frontend engineering at a growing organisation.
• Flexible working environment, with typically 2 days hybrid working in our Belfast office.
• 4-day week during the holidays - July, August and December
• Early finish every working Friday - 3pm fun Fridays
• A salary of £70,000 to £90,000 – depending on experience.

‍

Join Us
‍

If you're a frontend leader who thrives on solving meaningful problems, mentoring others, and delivering great user experiences, we’d love to hear from you.

Whitespace is committed to creating an inclusive, supportive environment for all team members—we welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences.