Lead Front-End Engineer

Talent Army; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid/Remote options

Professional development

Collaborative culture

Job summary

Talent Army is seeking a Lead Front-End Engineer in New Zealand to shape the frontend platform and set architectural direction. You will stay hands-on while guiding performance, accessibility, and SEO across React/Next.js-based systems.

You will collaborate with Product, Design and Engineering, mentor teammates, and drive engineering standards while contributing codebase work. Flexible hybrid/remote options available within New Zealand.

Qualifications

• 7+ years building modern web applications.
• Deep commercial experience with React, Next.js and TypeScript.
• Experience designing front-end architecture, component libraries or design systems.
• Proven success improving performance, accessibility and customer experience.
• Experience with Core Web Vitals, SSR and technical SEO.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms, APIs, CI/CD pipelines and observability tooling.
• Track record of setting technical direction and communicating architectural decisions.

Responsibilities

• Shape the frontend platform architecture and technical direction across frontend systems.
• Mentor and lead other engineers while contributing to the codebase.
• Collaborate with Product, Design and Engineering to drive engineering standards and impactful decisions.

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

About the Company

Our client is one of New Zealand’s largest digital platforms, serving millions of users every month. Their engineering team is modernising the frontend platform, investing in React, Next.js and modern engineering practices to deliver faster, more accessible and higher-performing customer experiences.

With a collaborative, high-trust culture, engineers are encouraged to challenge thinking, influence technical direction and continuously improve how software is built.

About the Role

As Lead Front-End Engineer, you’ll be one of the technical leaders shaping the future of the frontend platform.

You’ll remain hands‑on while setting technical direction across frontend architecture, performance, accessibility, observability and technical SEO. You’ll be expected to form strong technical opinions, clearly articulate the reasoning behind them, challenge and collaborate with other engineers, and bring people with you as the platform evolves.

Working closely with Product, Design and Engineering, you’ll help make important technical decisions, drive engineering standards and mentor other developers while continuing to contribute directly to the codebase.

This is a role for someone who enjoys solving complex front‑end problems but can also step beyond the code, explain why a particular direction matters and help a team get there.

Skills & Experience

• 7+ years building modern web applications
• Deep commercial experience with React, Next.js and TypeScript
• Experience designing front‑end architecture, component libraries or design systems
• Proven success improving performance, accessibility and customer experience
• Experience with Core Web Vitals, SSR and technical SEO
• Familiarity with cloud platforms, APIs, CI/CD pipelines and observability tooling
• A track record of setting technical direction, making and communicating architectural decisions, and bringing other engineers along with you
• Comfortable challenging technical thinking and working through differing opinions constructively
• Able to reflect on technical decisions, learn from what hasn’t worked and adapt your approach

Why Work Here?

• Help shape the future of one of New Zealand’s largest digital platforms
• Influence front‑end architecture and engineering standards
• Work on products used by millions of customers
• Modern React, Next.js and AI-assisted development practices
• Flexible hybrid/remote working options within New Zealand
• High‑trust engineering culture focused on continuous improvement
• Mentor other engineers while remaining hands‑on