Digital Developer – Lead

Heat Recruitment; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology recruitment firm in Manchester is seeking an experienced Senior Java Developer / Technical Lead for a contract role. You will lead and mentor a team, design and maintain APIs, and drive improvements in scalable service delivery. This position requires strong Java development experience and comfort with CI/CD practices. The role offers hybrid working, requiring at least 40% onsite presence. Competitive daily rate offered for qualified candidates.

Qualifications

• Strong background as a Java Developer, Lead Engineer, or Technical Lead.
• Proven experience guiding or leading development teams.
• Deep knowledge of CI/CD systems and automated testing frameworks.
• Solid expertise in API design, backend services, and system integration.
• Experience in system administration and configuration management.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and support a team of Java Developers.
• Design, build, and maintain APIs for internal and external use.
• Develop automated test suites and contribute to CI/CD pipelines.
• Provide 2nd-line technical support across key platforms.
• Deliver and enhance server-side web applications.

Skills

Java Development

Team Leadership

CI/CD

API Design

System Administration

Communication

Unix Systems

Job description

Location

Manchester

Rate Competitive TypeContract WorkplaceRemote Ref89343

Senior Java Developer / Technical Lead Contract

Start Date : ASAP

Locations : Manchester

Hybrid Working : Minimum 40% onsite

£800 P / D IR35 :

Screening : BPSS (Basic Disclosure)

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Java DeveloperTechnical Lead to join a high-performing digital delivery environment. This role is ideal for someone passionate about engineering excellence, modern software delivery practices, and leading teams to build scalable, reliable, and secure services.

As a Technical Lead, you will provide technical direction and hands-on expertise while supporting and mentoring a team of Java Developers. You will work across backend systems, APIs, high-traffic platforms, and large-scale data environments, helping to drive best practice and continuous improvement across the engineering function.

Key Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and support a team of Java Developers.

Design, build, and maintain APIs for internal and external use.

Develop automated test suites and contribute to CI / CD and continuous deployment pipelines.

Provide 2nd-line technical support across key platforms and applications.

Deliver and enhance server-side web applications and backend services.

Communicate technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders.

Perform system administration and configuration management tasks.

Work with large datasets, ensuring robust, scalable processing and storage.

Build and support high-traffic web applications with strong architectural practices.

Drive improvements in performance, stability, and scalability.

Required Skills & Experience

Strong background as a Java Developer, Lead Engineer, or Technical Lead.

Proven experience guiding or leading development teams.

Deep knowledge of CI / CD systems and automated testing frameworks.

Solid expertise in API design, backend services, and system integration.

Experience in system administration and configuration management.

Strong understanding of scalable architectures and high-traffic environments.

Comfortable with unix-like operating systems, including Linux and macOS.

Excellent communication skills, particularly with non-technical audiences.

Additional Information

No Health & Safety risks associated with this role.

Hybrid working must meet the requirement of being on site at least 40% of the time.

Professional qualifications are not required for this position.