Director, Software Engineering (Frontend) - Fixed Term Contract

Job Title: Director, Software Engineering (Front End)

Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract, 6 months - very likely to go Permanent

Hybrid: 3 days in office, 2 days remote

Location: Gatwick, with travel to the London office

WHO WE ARE

We are RAPP – world leaders in activating growth with precision and empathy at scale.

As a global, next-generation precision marketing agency we leverage data, creativity, technology, and empathy to foster client growth. We champion individuality in the marketing solutions we create, and in our workplace. We fight for solutions that adapt to the individual’s needs, beliefs, behaviours, and aspirations.

We foster an inclusive workplace that emphasises personal well-being.

YOUR ROLE

Overview:

We are looking for a Director, Software Engineering (Front End) to join our creative and fast-moving marketing agency. In this role, you will be the technical lead for a small team, driving the development of high-performance websites, interactive campaigns, and digital experiences for a wide range of clients.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on developer and solution architect who stays ahead of the latest front-end trends, can scope and estimate projects, and thrives in a collaborative, deadline-driven environment.

Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a small team of front-end developers to deliver high-quality client projects on time and on budget.
• Set and enforce best practices for coding standards, performance optimization, and maintainability.
• Conduct code reviews and ensure projects meet agency quality and accessibility standards.

Solution Architecture & Project Estimation

• Collaborate with designers, project managers, and backend developers to plan, architect, and estimate front-end solutions for client campaigns and websites. These could be internal to RAPP in UK and globally, within the OPMG (Omnicom) Agency or other third party agencies of clients.
• Design and architect scalable, high-performance front-end solutions for complex applications and custom build projects such as the “online Showroom” built for Mercedes Benz.
• Collaborate with product managers, UX/UI designers, and backend teams to define requirements and translate them into technical designs.
• Provide accurate time and effort estimates for new features and projects and timeline estimates for pitches, proposals, and project planning.

Development & Innovation

• Stay ahead of the latest front-end languages, frameworks, and marketing tech stacks to recommend innovative solutions for client needs.
• Build pixel-perfect, responsive, and interactive websites, landing pages, and digital experiences across devices and browsers.
• Integrate with APIs, CMS platforms, and MarTech (Adobe Campaign, SFMC, Braze, Acoustic, Redpoint, Tealium etc).

Collaboration & Client Interaction

• Partner with creative, strategy, account teams and clients to understand client objectives and bring design concepts to life.
• Participate in client meetings to present technical solutions, options and provide expert guidance.
• Ensure smooth handoffs and deployment processes by working closely with DevOps & Cloud Services.
• Ensure solutions and technologies adhere to Omnicom policies regarding vendor assessments & infosec as well as ensuring the Omnicom/RAPP SDLC process is followed.

THE OPPORTUNITY

• Opportunity to lead innovative, high-visibility projects for major brands and campaigns. 

• A creative, collaborative environment where data and technology intersect. 

THE REQUIREMENTS:

Core Skills & Competencies: 

Technical Expertise 

• Expert in JavaScript (ES6+), TypeScript, HTML5, CSS3/SASS. 

• Deep experience with modern front-end frameworks such as React, Vue, Nextjs, Ember.js or Angular (React preferred if applicable). 

• Proficient in responsive design, cross-browser compatibility, and performance optimization. 

• Familiarity with headless CMS architectures and marketing platforms (WordPress, Contentful, HubSpot, etc.). 

• Experience integrating RESTful and SOAP APIs and third-party marketing tools. 

• Branching, TeamCity, Version control (Bitbucket), CI/CD pipelines. 

• Track record of delivering high-quality web applications with strong attention to detail, an eye for design, and excellent problem-solving skills. 

• Knowledge of techniques for SEO  

Leadership & Agency Skills 

• Proven track record as a Tech Lead or senior developer in a marketing, creative, or digital agency environment. 

• Ability to estimate and scope projects accurately for multi-client, multi-deadline environments. 

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to pivot quickly when client priorities shift. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills  

• Ability to work in Agile or Kanban, use of JIRA 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Web Development, or related field (or equivalent professional experience). 

• 5+ years of front-end development experience, with at least 1–2 years in a technical lead or team lead role. 

• Experience delivering projects for multiple clients on tight timelines. 

Preferred Skills (Nice to Have): 

• Knowledge of marketing analytics tools (Google Analytics) and A/B testing frameworks. 

• Understanding of SEO, web performance metrics, and conversion optimization. 

• Knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and serverless architectures. 

• Familiarity with design systems and tools like Storybook or Figma. 

• Exposure to DevOps practices, containerization (Docker), and microservices. 

We are RAPP. And we can’t wait to meet you.