Full Stack Web Developer

At AQA, we’re committed to advancing education and we’re committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it’s our people who make this happen.

Job title: Full Stack Web Developer

Contract type: Permanent
Location: Guildford and Manchester
Salary: Manchester - £46,400 to £53,100 and Guildford £48,400 to £55,300
Working Arrangements: Hybrid – 2 days a week in office

Are you ready to build digital experiences that support learners across the country when it matters most? As our Full Stack Developer you’ll join a team that shapes AQA’s digital experience, creating reliable and engaging web products that support learners and educators.

You’ll work with modern technologies and contribute to improvements that make a real difference, supporting the development of AQA’s web platforms, ensuring they perform effectively during critical exam periods and beyond. You’ll help deliver enhancements that improve accessibility, reliability and usability for all our users.

Key Responsibilities

In this role, you’ll be responsible for:

• Designing, developing and maintaining web applications using React, Next.js and modern technologies.
• Collaborating across teams to deliver secure, high‑quality digital products.
• Supporting continuous improvement through agile practices and mentoring others.

What We Are Looking For

You’ll thrive in this role if you bring curiosity, collaboration and a focus on quality.

• Good working knowledge of React, TypeScript, NodeJS, Git, CSS/Tailwind.
• Confidence working with Content management systems, REST APIs and modern CI/CD pipelines.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex technical issues.
• An interest in developing secure, scalable web solutions.
• Experience working in agile environments and communicating with business stakeholders.
• An awareness of web security in an enterprise environment.

What’s in It for You

You’ll enjoy opportunities to grow your skills and contribute to impactful digital products.

• A chance to develop products used nationwide during high‑stakes exam delivery.
• Support for your professional development and continuous learning.
• Flexible working options that support work‑life balance.
• An inclusive culture that values your perspective and ideas.
• Opportunities to work with a broad, modern web technology stack.

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone—regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background—is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We actively promote inclusive language, avoid stereotypes, and strive for representation across all dimensions of diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

Application process

• To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter by 23.59 on Sunday 15 February.

• First stage interviews will take place remotely throughout the week commencing 23 February, second stage interviews will take place in our Manchester and Guildford offices throughout the week commencing 2 March.

#CRE23

Recruitment Agencies

We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place.

Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.

Full Job Description

Summary

Purpose: The Full Stack Developer will drive digital innovation across the organisation, contributing to product, web, and content development. With expertise in both front-end and back-end technologies—including Node.js, React, Next.js, Tailwind CSS, Azure, and Sanity CMS—you’ll deliver scalable, secure solutions and support codebase management. This role suits an experienced developer who enjoys solving complex problems, writing clean code, and mentoring others. They will also naturally promote a culture of trust, learning, innovation, and technical excellence.Landscape: This role sits within the Web Operations Team, part of the Marketing and Brand department in the Customer and Product Directorate. It supports technical development and web enhancements aligned with a customer-first strategy across teams including Marketing, Sales, Customer Services, and Product Development.
The website plays a key role in exam delivery, particularly during the Summer series, where this role may provide hands-on leadership or resolve critical issues.
While not a line management position, the Full Stack Developer collaborates with stakeholders across departments and suppliers to deliver strategic and tactical changes. Regular engagement is expected across all levels, with travel primarily to Manchester, Guildford, and London.
Activities:
Agile delivery of our Web and digital product roadmap
Responsible for supporting delivery of our web product roadmap (which includes complex specification content) across internal and third party teams.
Design, develop, and maintain web applications using React, Next.js and other relevant technologies.
Implement front-end development requirements to create responsive user interfaces that enhance user experience using React and Next.js.
Implement secure and performant back end code using React, Next.js, Node.js and Azure.
Participate in code reviews and maintain code quality through version control using Git and Azure DevOps
Troubleshoot and debug applications to optimise performance and ensure reliability.
Work with cloud services such as Azure, Sanity and Vercel to deploy applications and monitor infrastructure.
Stay updated with emerging technologies and industry trends to continuously improve development processes.
Supporting and mentoring junior and newly onboarded developers and contributing to the broader knowledge of the team
Working with operational teams to develop and support web products, reducing time to market, and increasing quality through continuous improvement of:processes, driving agile / lean good practice,
people, through modelling leadership behaviours, coaching, and
technology, ensuring systems reflect good practice
Ensure expectations of the business and its customers are understood and met.
Supporting the team in retrospectively reviewing and improving processes through continuous improvement.
Stakeholders
Work closely with Product Managers, Product Owners, a range of Senior Stakeholders, our outsourced development agency, and our Web Operations team – as well as internal departments including Security and Risk and Architecture.
Instil confidence in customers and stakeholders through clear, consistent, and timely communication
Other Responsibilities
Risk management – participating in the identification, assessment, planning and management of threats and opportunities.
Information security – taking an active part in the preservation of security, confidentiality, availability and integrity of information assets.
Continuous professional development – responsible for ensuring own ongoing professional development to meet existing and future organisational needs.
Act as an escalation point for issues, including any major incidents.
To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate:
Essential Criteria
Excellent experience of development in a variety of agile / lean and scaled agile delivery structures, with an outcome-focussed approach.
Proficiency and experience with web technologies including as a minimum/essentially JavaScript, Typescript, CSS and React.
Solid understanding of software development methodologies and application development life cycles with experience using CI/CD and Git.
Experience with RESTful APIs and application integration techniques.
High level of curiosity, with a genuine passion for finding and implementing innovative solutions for business problems through technology.
Good understanding of security considerations in modern web development.
Desirable Criteria
Demonstrable technical knowledge to be able to create, drive, innovate and assess technical solutions across a wide range of software technologies, processes and platforms.
Structured thinking approach, able to lead groups of people to break down and resolve complex and ambiguous problems in time-pressured environments, recognising and balancing technical against operational and commercial factors.
Experience delivering in high-stakes and regulated environments.
Passion for continuous improvement in practice, to increase product quality, reliability, and dependability.
A good level of understanding of headless content management systems.
Familiarity with Linux operating systems for deployment and server monitoring.
Experience with Azure DevOps.