Principal Full Stack JavaScript Engineer at hedgehog lab, Newcastle Upon Tyne, £Contract Rate (Outside IR35)

Type: Full-time, Contract (outside IR35)
Location: UK-based (flexible home, office, or hybrid working)
Office locations: Newcastle and Leeds
Hub locations: Edinburgh, Manchester, London

We’re growing our Engineering team to strengthen our ability to deliver world-class digital products for our clients.

As a Principal Full Stack JavaScript Engineer, you’ll join a small, highly technical group tackling a complex transformation: breaking down a monolithic JavaScript platform into clearer, modern components.

This is an individual contributor role for someone who thrives on problem-solving, can ramp up quickly, and can collaborate confidently with other very strong engineers.

You’ll be hands-on from day one, helping modernise architecture, improve maintainability, and set the foundations for future technology decisions, all while staying pragmatic and delivery-focused.


What you'll do

• Lead (hands-on) full-stack engineering across a JavaScript platform, with a strong focus on architecture and problem-solving.

• Break down an existing monolithic system into well-structured components and services.

• Work closely with senior client engineers, ask the right questions, and influence technical direction through evidence and collaboration.

• Support a move from Vercel-hosted deployment towards a Google Cloud future, improving deployment and operational readiness.

• Contribute to authentication modernisation by integrating an identity platform rather than maintaining bespoke authentication.

• Deliver value quickly by quickly understanding the domain, codebase, and priorities.

Who is hedgehog lab

hedgehog lab is a digital product consultancy with 20 years of experience. Based in Northern England, we help global brands craft better digital experiences through technical excellence and human-first collaboration.


What we’re looking for

• Deep expertise in JavaScript (TypeScript a plus).

• Strong full-stack experience, including Node.js and API architecture.

• A pragmatic mindset: you care about quality, but you also deliver outcomes and keep momentum.

• Confident communicator who can hold their own in technical discussions with senior engineers.

• Comfortable working in small, flat teams with little hierarchy and lots of collaboration.

Nice to have

• Experience with Google Cloud (especially identity or auth-related services).

• Experience with Vercel or modern web deployment platforms.

• Interest or experience in open source communities or open source strategy.

• Exposure to geospatial/GIS/mapping products or highly interactive map UIs.

Ready to apply?

Submit your application below. Please note that we’re unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.