Tech Lead (AWS / TypeScript / Python)

hedgehog lab; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

hedgehog lab is seeking a Principal-level engineer to lead engineering on a large-scale online marketplace transformation. You will shape technical direction across cloud, data, auth, front-end and APIs as AWS-based services migrate from PHP/Laravel to a TypeScript/JavaScript/Python stack.

The role requires hands-on leadership, IaC with Terraform or CDK, and proven delivery in fast-moving environments. Occasional on-site collaboration near Edinburgh, with potential travel to other UK offices

Qualifications

• Principal-level breadth across cloud, architecture, data, auth, front-end and APIs.
• Track record building service-based platforms in AWS with IaC.
• Fluent in TypeScript/JS/Python; readable PHP (Laravel).
• Set and uphold engineering standards; communicate decisions with authority.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering on a high-volume online marketplace transformation.
• Define technical direction during migration from PHP/Laravel to a TypeScript/JS/Python stack.
• Ensure delivery velocity in a fast-paced, complex environment.

Skills

Cloud architecture

AWS platform experience

IaC (Terraform, CDK)

TypeScript/JavaScript/Python

PHP (Laravel) familiarity

Engineering leadership

Delivery in fast-paced env

English communication

Tools

Terraform

AWS CDK

Job description

Location and basis

Contract, outside IR35. Starting as soon as possible.

While there's no set number of days you're required on site, there will be times when the client needs the team together in person for important meetings, workshops and key moments. When that's the case, we'd expect you to attend. To make that work, you'll need to be based within 50 miles of one of our offices in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester or London.

The engagement

You'll lead engineering on a high-volume online marketplace, part-way through a major, multi-year technology transformation. There's a live migration to AWS and a full version 2 build underway.

The current client-facing platform runs on PHP and Laravel, and the target is a service-based architecture on AWS built in TypeScript, JavaScript and Python. You'll set technical direction across that shift while keeping delivery moving.

You'll need to be hands-on and broad: someone who understands cloud, architecture, data, auth, front-end and APIs, and has built service-based platforms in AWS before. In an older structure this person would have carried an architect title.

This is a demanding, fast-paced environment. You'll need to be productive quickly without a long ramp.

The platform

This is a genuinely large-scale marketplace. Very few platforms handle a product catalogue or transaction volume at this level.

The roadmap includes agentic AI workflows built into the platform, retail media integrated directly into the marketplace, and infrastructure work targeting cost and performance at high volume.

A lot of this is being attempted at volumes that have rarely been tested in a marketplace before, so the work leans research-led rather than routine.

Who This Suits

This is a fast-paced scale-up environment on a complex platform.

You'll do well here if you think strategically rather than transactionally, and you can advocate for technical change and bring people with you.

What We Need

The essentials:

• Principal-level engineering breadth across cloud, architecture, data, auth, front-end and APIs
• Track record building service-based platforms in AWS, with infrastructure as code (Terraform or CDK)
• You write TypeScript, JavaScript and Python, and can read and work with PHP (Laravel)
• You set and hold engineering standards, and communicate decisions with authority
• Comfortable leading delivery in a fast-moving, complex environment
• Comfortable working in English, written and spoken

Nice To Have

• Retail or e-commerce background
• Experience leading through a major re-architecture or cloud migration
• GenAI or agentic workflows in your engineering practice