Team Lead - Full Stack - Manchester

Debenhams Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus scheme

Company pension

Share schemes

Private medical cover

Life assurance

On-site gym & wellness classes

Brand discounts

Learning & progression

On-site canteen

Season ticket loan

Job summary

Debenhams Group is seeking a Team Lead for the Software Development team in Manchester. You will balance hands‑on technical leadership with people management, guiding a small team to deliver internal applications built with React and Node.js on AWS.

You will plan sprints, review code, and own incident response while coaching team members. The role is based in Manchester, with 3 days in the central office and the rest remote as appropriate.

Qualifications

• 5+ years software development experience.
• At least 3 years in management or team‑lead capacity.
• Hands‑on React and Node.js in production.
• Strong AWS services knowledge and cloud architecture understanding.
• Experience with infrastructure‑as‑code tools like Terraform or similar.
• Working knowledge of relational and NoSQL databases.
• Experience in event‑driven architectures (SNS/SQS/EventBridge).
• Excellent communication and people leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of four developers building internal applications.
• Balance technical leadership with people management and coaching.
• Review code and make architectural calls.
• Plan sprints, prioritise backlog, manage delivery risk.
• Own incident response and root cause analysis for team applications.
• Collaborate with Software Development Manager on roadmap and delivery.

Skills

React & Node.js

AWS & cloud

IaC with GitHub Actions

Terraform

Databases (Relational & NoSQL)

Event-driven architecture

People leadership

Agile/Scrum

Tools

Git

GitHub Actions

Job description

THE ROLE

At Debenhams Group, we are on a journey of transformation, revitalising our brand, culture, and connection with colleagues and customers alike. In a fast-changing retail environment, effective and authentic communication is vital to building trust, aligning our teams, and amplifying the impact of our work across internal and external audiences.

We’re looking for a Team Lead to join our Software Development team, responsible for leading a team of four developers who build the internal applications used across the Debenhams Group business.

You’ll balance hands‑on technical leadership with people management — setting direction, reviewing code, and making architectural calls, while coaching your team and helping them grow.

Our applications are built with React and Node.js, deployed to AWS, and follow event‑driven architecture patterns using SNS, SQS and EventBridge.

You’ll work closely with the Software Development Manager to plan sprints, prioritise the backlog and manage delivery risk, and you’ll own incident response and root cause analysis for issues within your team’s applications.

This role will be based out of our central Manchester office 3 days per week.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

Our tech stack consists of:

• React + Node.js
• AWS — GitHub Actions for CI/CD, Terraform for infrastructure
• PostgreSQL, MySQL, DocumentDB, DynamoDB
• Event-driven architecture using SNS, SQS and EventBridge
• Git and GitHub Actions

WHAT WE LOOK FOR

• 5+ Years’ Development Experience: Including at least 3 years in a management or team‑leading capacity, mentoring and developing other engineers.
• Strong React & Node.js Expertise: Hands‑on experience with React and Node.js in production, backed by a solid understanding of AWS services and cloud architecture.
• Infrastructure as Code: Experience with GitHub Actions for CI/CD and Terraform or similar infrastructure‑as‑code tools.
• Database Knowledge: Working knowledge of relational and NoSQL databases (e.g. PostgreSQL, MySQL, DocumentDB, DynamoDB).
• Event-Driven Architecture: Experience designing or working within event‑driven architectures (SNS, SQS, EventBridge or equivalent).
• People Leadership: Excellent communication skills, comfortable giving feedback and managing people, ideally with experience leading a team of a similar size.
• Ways of Working: Familiarity with Agile/Scrum, microservices or serverless architectures, and ideally experience within ecommerce or retail.

WORKING WITH US

At Debenhams Group we thrive on change, innovation, and pace. Every challenge is an opportunity, and every day is a chance to push boundaries. If you’re someone who embraces the unknown, thrives in a fast‑moving, high-growth environment, and is ready to shape the future of retail, you’ll love it here. We want visionaries, disruptors, and doers—people who bring fresh thinking, relentless energy, and the drive to make an impact.

WHY JOIN US

Our mission is to create a workplace where everyone is respected, individual differences are valued, and people can be themselves at work — without exception.

2025 was a year of significant change for the Group. 2026 is about bold moves, real results and unstoppable momentum. If that excites you, you belong at Debenhams Group.

Our benefits include (subject to level and eligibility):

• Highly competitive bonus scheme, company pension, share schemes, private medical cover and life assurance
• Access to an on‑site gym and free weekly Pilates, yoga and fitness classes
• Discount across all brands
• Comprehensive wellbeing package
• Dog‑friendly offices (in selected locations)
• Ongoing learning and development with strong internal progression
• On‑site canteen serving breakfast, lunch, snacks and hot drinks
• Free season ticket loan