React/Next.js Developer

Position: React/Next.js Developer

Location: Bournemouth (Hybrid working available)

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am–5.00pm (flexi-time available)

Salary: Competitive, based on experience

Role Description

We are looking for a highly skilled React / Next.js Developer with strong experience in headless and composable CMS architectures to support solution design, frontend engineering, and knowledge transfer to our in-house team. This role sits at the heart of Appius — a digital agency with over 25 years of history — delivering modern digital platforms for an established client portfolio across multiple sectors. You will architect, develop, and maintain high-performing frontend solutions using React, Next.js, and modern JavaScript frameworks. You’ll work closely with our Solutions Architect and Experience Team to interpret specifications, wireframes, and designs into sophisticated, component-driven digital ecosystems. This is a critical role that bridges technical implementation and delivery — ensuring best-practice frontend engineering, scalable design systems, and seamless integration with composable content and experience platforms such as Sitecore, Sitefinity, Optimizely, and Umbraco.

Core Responsibilities

Frontend Engineering

• Develop high-quality websites and interactive digital experiences using React and Next.js.
• Create reusable, scalable component libraries and design-system-driven UI structures.
• Implement modern rendering strategies including SSR, SSG, ISR, and API routes within Next.js.
• Ensure solutions are optimised for performance, accessibility, and SEO.
• Contribute to long-term experience layer architecture across multiple client ecosystems.

Headless CMS & Composable Integration

• Integrate frontend applications with headless CMS platforms
• Translate functional specifications into structured content models and API-driven architectures.
• Collaborate with backend developers to define data structures, endpoints, and integration pathways.
• Configure content workflows and map CMS entities to frontend components.
• Support composable ecosystem patterns including search, experimentation, personalisation, and multi-platform orchestration where relevant.

Essential

Required Skills & Experience:

• Strong commercial experience with React, Next.js, and TypeScript.
• Deep understanding of modern JavaScript, frontend tooling, and component-based architectures.
• Experience building experience layers for Headless CMS and composable digital platforms.
• Understanding of Next.js rendering strategies including SSR, SSG, ISR, hydration, and App Router patterns.
• Proficient in HTML5, CSS3, SCSS, and responsive UI development.
• Experience consuming REST and GraphQL APIs and integrating CMS-managed content structures.
• Cross-browser and cross-device development expertise.
• Strong focus on frontend performance, accessibility, SEO, and maintainability.
• Experience mentoring teams and helping shape Experience Engineering standards and delivery practices.

Desirable

• Experience with Sitecore, Optimizely, Sitefinity, Umbraco, or similar API-first CMS platforms.
• Experience building design-system-aligned component libraries (e.g. design tokens, reusable UI frameworks).
• Familiarity with modern testing approaches (e.g., Playwright, Cypress, component testing).
• Familiarity with composable architecture patterns beyond CMS, such as:
• Search and discovery services
• Personalisation and experimentation platforms
• Multi-system experience orchestration
• Experience with deployment environments
  

Personal Attributes

• Strong communicator able to work closely with designers, architects, and client teams.
• Problem-solver who can identify technical solutions even in ambiguous scenarios.
• Collaborative and people-first mindset with a desire to share knowledge and support the wider team.
• Detail-oriented with a commitment to quality, consistency, and maintainability.
• Comfortable contributing not just code, but architectural thinking and delivery rhythm.

Training & Development

We Invest Heavily In Professional Development, Including Access To

• Technology partner training
• Online developer courses
• Opportunities for certification in composable CMS platforms and React ecosystem tools

Benefits

• Full training given to progress in this role
• Flexi-time and hybrid working options
• Health care scheme with gym membership discounts
• Pension Scheme
• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays
• Invitation to join our annual summer team day and Christmas Party, plus a range of social events throughout the year
• In-office fruit, drinks and snacks always available
• Bournemouth based office within THIS Workspace www.thiswork.space — 5 mins from the amazing beaches

Apply now