Full Stack Engineer (Team Lead)

Full Stack Engineer (Team Lead) Type: 4 month fixed term contract (expected to role into perm). Salary: £6,500 - £7,000 per calendar month (depending on exp). Location: Hybrid 1-2 days in London or Liverpool office (depending on where you live). Employment Type: Full-time. About the company & role for Full Stack Engineer (Team Lead) Our client is building a dynamic digital ecosystem that fosters social learning, problem-solving, and transformative connections. Through their Platform, they empower individuals, teams, and organisations to collaborate, share knowledge, and drive meaningful impact. Committed to technology, inclusivity, and real-world solutions, the group is shaping the future of knowledge-sharing and professional development. This is a great opportunity for a Full Stack Engineer to join them on an initial 4 month fixed term contract that is then expected to extend permanently and where you will help build and lead a team that are focused on innovation. Role Overview: The Full Stack Engineer will play a key role in designing, developing, and maintaining their platform. This position requires a highly skilled developer with expertise in front-end and back-end technologies, experience in scalable architecture, and the ability to lead a team of engineers. Key Responsibilities for Full Stack Engineer (Team Lead): Technical Leadership – Lead and mentor a team of developers, ensuring high-quality code, best practices, and adherence to agile development methodologies. Full-Stack Development – Design, develop, and maintain platform features using React (frontend), Node.js (backend), Directus (CMS), PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and APIs. Matrix/Synapse Integration – Develop and maintain real-time messaging and collaboration features using Matrix/Synapse for decentralised communication. Cloud & DevOps – Manage deployments, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, or equivalent). Database & API Management – Design efficient PostgreSQL and MongoDB schemas and develop secure RESTful/GraphQL APIs for seamless data integration. Performance Optimisation. System Architecture & Scalability. Code Review & Quality Assurance. Security Best Practices. Skills and Experience: Essential: Proficiency in JavaScript/TypeScript, React, Node.js, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB. Experience with Directus or other headless CMS solutions. Strong understanding of RESTful & GraphQL APIs. Proven experience in leading a development team and mentoring junior engineers. Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and DevOps practices. Agile development experience with CI/CD pipelines, Git, and containerisation (Docker). Desirable: Arabic language skills to support the platform’s bilingual capabilities. Experience with AI/ML integrations or recommendation systems. Expertise in Matrix/Synapse integration for real-time messaging and communication. Knowledge of WebSockets, real-time messaging, and event-driven architectures. Background in platform monetisation and payment integration. Strong familiarity with access control, authentication (OAuth, JWT), and data privacy regulations.