Web & React Software Engineer (6 month FTC)

Explore Learning is a leading educational organisation that is committed to making learning enjoyable and effective for children. With our network of learning centres across the country and our online tutor offering, we help thousands of children develop their skills and reach their full potential.

The Role

We're looking for a frontend engineer to build fast, accessible, well-crafted web experiences in React and TypeScript. You'll own features end-to-end — from design handoff through to production — and work alongside AI coding agents as part of how we ship. You'll also dip into the C# / .NET backend when features call for it.

What you'll do

• Build and maintain web applications in React + TypeScript
• Translate Figma designs into accessible, responsive, performant UI. Have a good eye for detail around spacing, colour, typography and visual consistency.
• Integrate with backend REST and GraphQL APIs — and make small backend changes in C# / .NET when a feature needs it
• Write unit, component, integration, and end-to-end tests
• Use AI coding agents (e.g. Claude Code, Copilot) as part of your daily workflow — scoping tasks, reviewing agent output, and shipping production code with them in the loop
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines, observability, and production support
• Care about Core Web Vitals, bundle size, and the user experience on a slow phone

Must-haves

• Strong React experience (3+ years), including hooks, composition patterns, and state management
• Strong TypeScript — solid working knowledge of TypeScript and JavaScript, including typing APIs and writing well-structured, maintainable code.
• Modern HTML / CSS — semantic markup, flexbox/grid, responsive design, and a working knowledge of accessibility (WCAG, ARIA, keyboard nav)
• Experience with a modern build/meta-framework (Next.js, Remix, Vite, or similar)
• Working exposure to C# / .NET — comfortable reading the codebase, making focused changes to API endpoints or DTOs, and writing/extending unit tests. You don't need to be a backend specialist, but you shouldn't be blocked by a C# file
• Practical exposure to agentic software development — using LLM-based coding agents (Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot, or similar) to plan, generate, and review code; understanding their strengths, failure modes, and where human judgment is non-negotiable
• Comfortable with REST API integration, authentication flows (OAuth2 / OIDC), and browser dev tools
• Testing discipline — Jest / Vitest, React Testing Library, and at least one E2E tool (Playwright, Cypress)

Nice-to-haves

• Deeper C# / .NET experience — EF Core, ASP.NET Core minimal APIs or controllers, dependency injection
• Experience writing prompts, agent instructions, or AGENTS.md / CLAUDE.md files for repo-level agent guidance
• Content Management - experience working with headless CMS platforms such as Contentful, Storyblok, or similar.
• Building or integrating with MCP servers, tool-using agents, or LLM APIs
• Performance work — profiling, code-splitting, image optimisation, Core Web Vitals
• Design system / component library experience (Storybook, Radix, shadcn/ui, Tailwind)
• State management at scale (TanStack Query, Zustand, Redux Toolkit)
• Server components, SSR / RSC, edge runtimes
• Azure Static Web Apps, Front Door, or App Service deployment experience
• Entra ID / Entra External ID, MSAL.js
• Datadog RUM or similar frontend observability

You'll thrive here if you

Sweat the details — spacing, focus states, loading skeletons, the empty state nobody asked about.

Care about the user on a 3G connection as much as the one on fibre.

Are happy to cross the frontend/backend line when a feature needs it.

Push back when the design isn't right — whether it came from a human or an agent.

LogisticsLocation: Remote (UK based)

Job Type: 6 month fixed term contract. Full time across Monday-Friday

Reports to: Head of Engineering

Start date: ASAP

Please note: Proof of eligibility to work in the UK will be required. Unfortunately we are not able to offer any form of sponsorship.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment.

Safeguarding is paramount. Our safer recruitment processes are rigorous and designed to deter, identify and reject anyone who may pose a risk to children. Any offer is strictly conditional upon satisfactory references (taken directly from referees) and an Enhanced DBS check.

You must provide a full employment history with all gaps clearly explained and evidenced where required. Any omission, inconsistency or misleading information may result in your application being rejected, an offer withdrawn, or dismissal.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (and relevant Exceptions Orders). Relevant disclosures will be required in line with DBS and safer recruitment requirements.