Tech Lead (Node&React)

Oak'S Lab; Gauteng; Hybrid; ZAR 800 000 - 1 100 000; Full time

Job summary

A technology company in South Africa, Gauteng, is seeking an experienced Tech Lead to manage engineering teams. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership abilities and a solid background in web application development using Node.js and React. Responsibilities include overseeing technical delivery, code quality, and team dynamics in a collaborative environment focused on innovative product development. A desire to learn and apply AI technologies is essential.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Remote working environment

26 days off plus additional for long tenure

Budget for personal growth on learning

Free English lessons

Team bonding activities

Qualifications

• 2+ years in a leadership role.
• 6+ years in software engineering.
• 3+ years of experience building web applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of engineers and ensure project goals.
• Oversee software architecture and technical delivery.
• Conduct regular code reviews to maintain quality.

Skills

Leadership in engineering

Web application development with Node.js and React

Software architecture

Strong analytical thinking

Proficiency in English

Tools

Typescript

Node.js

React + Next.js

PostgreSQL

Job description

About Us

We are a leading product development partner specializing in custom web and mobile application development.

With Silicon Valley founders and top‑tier European tech talent, we operate from Prague and have successfully delivered over 65 software products for early‑stage startups, scaleups, and global enterprises.

• Founded in
• Headquartered in Prague
• Built and launched 65+ products
• 85+ team members

Driving product innovation for leading US companies

At OAK’S LAB we take an AI‑first approach, utilizing AI on almost every project.

From streamlining design and testing workflows to enhancing developer productivity, our teams leverage tools such as Figma MCC Server, Playwright MCC Server, and Cursor, and we’re actively experimenting with remote AI agents to push the boundaries of what’s possible in product development.

Our Projects

• Nasdaq Private Market (Series C, Finance)
• Blackpoint Cyber (Series B, Cybersecurity)
• OpenLoop (Series A, Healthcare)

The Role

Our product development team is looking for an experienced Tech Lead who combines creative thinking, exceptional problem‑solving skills, and technical expertise to own the technical buildout of the product.

On each of our products, we have a dedicated team that is led by a Tech Lead, a Product Manager, and a Design Lead.

Our teams are small and effective and range from 5 to 15 people.

This role requires a combination of strong technical and leadership capabilities.

You’ll be responsible for managing an engineering team (usually 3–7 engineers), owning the software architecture and infrastructure, engaging with the business to understand the product needs, and overseeing the technical direction and delivery.

You’ll get support and guidance from our Head of Engineering and will also be part of our Engineering Leads Council, where we consult on large technical challenges and tech‑related decisions that shape the startups we build.

You’ll also have the opportunity to join our internal AI Guild, a community where engineers share insights, experiment with cutting‑edge AI tools, and learn from one another.

Responsibilities

Leadership

• Collaborate with the Product Manager and Design Lead to align on the project’s goals and ensure the delivery of a seamless, performant front‑end experience.
• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of engineers, fostering a collaborative and high‑performing team culture.
• Create and maintain an environment where your engineers are motivated, engaged, and constantly improving their skills.

Development

• Own the technical delivery of the project, ensuring deadlines are met and deliverables align with the client’s objectives.
• Select and update technologies that are most appropriate for the client’s needs, ensuring they align with our standards.
• Assist the Product Manager in discovery refinement, ensuring that epics and user stories in the roadmap are refined, estimated, and prioritised in line with business goals.
• Be a hands‑on contributor to the project, developing features together with the team.
• Conduct regular code reviews to maintain code quality.
• Oversee the overall software architecture.
• Proactively seek ways to improve the development process and team efficiency.

Skills & Requirements

• 2+ years in a leadership role
• 6+ years in engineering
• 3+ years building web applications using Node.js and React
• Experience in architecting software (starting projects from scratch is a plus)
• Experience setting up and maintaining hosting infrastructure
• Strong business acumen (experience in early‑stage startups is a plus)
• Desire to learn new technologies and apply AI in your workflow
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills for complex technical challenges
• Willingness to learn new technologies
• Proficiency in English

Our Tech Stack

• Typescript
• Node.js
• React + Next.js
• React Native
• GraphQL, tRPC
• Material UI
• Playwright
• PostgreSQL
• Google Cloud Platform
• Python
• HuggingFace API, LLM APIs (e.g., OpenAI API), Langchain, Vector Databases for RAG

Note: You don’t need experience with all the above technologies as we are happy to upskill in certain areas.

Benefits

• Flexible working hours
• Remote working environment
• 26 days off + 1 additional day for every year working with OAK’S LAB (capped at 30 days)
• Budget to spend on your growth (books, courses, conferences)
• Free English lessons
• Team bonding, happy hours, online games, and annual offsite trips