Mid-weight Front-End Web Developer

Upperdog is a digital agency based in the centre of Bournemouth. We are a growing team of digital specialists who live by our motto: work hard and be nice to people. We design and build high-performing websites and take pride in creating great client experiences from the very first conversation right through to delivery and ongoing support.

We're entering an exciting growth phase, and we're looking for a mid-weight Web Developer ready to step up, contribute to technical excellence, and help shape the future of our production team.

About the role

As a mid-weight Web Developer at Upperdog, you'll play a key role in the custom design and build of WordPress websites, no cookie-cutter themes or plugin overload, just well-structured, scalable code you can be proud of.

You'll collaborate closely with our designer, fellow developers, and project managers, actively contributing to client conversations and technical decision-making throughout the project lifecycle. We work openly and collaboratively, you'll be part of shaping solutions, not just delivering them.

Our developers regularly review each other's code, share ideas and support continuous improvement, helping everyone level up together.

This is a great role for someone with years' experience who's ready to take on more responsibility and expand their skills across modern front-end development, WordPress and JavaScript frameworks.

About you

You'll enjoy and excel here if you:

• Have strong foundational knowledge of front-end development and custom WordPress builds
• Enjoy solving complex technical challenges and shaping how solutions are delivered
• Are proactive, curious, and passionate about emerging technologies e.g. React, headless, etc.
• Communicate well with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Embrace constructive feedback, both giving and receiving it, to level-up code quality
• Take pride in delivering polished experiences that honour the design vision accurately

Key responsibilities

• Build custom WordPress websites using bespoke designs created by our in-house designer team
• Develop clean, scalable front-end code that delivers pixel-perfect results aligned to the approved designs
• Ensure responsive layouts and great user experiences across desktop, tablet and mobile devices
• Test, troubleshoot and resolve bugs to ensure high quality and smooth launches
• Support the ongoing maintenance and enhancement of existing client websites
• Work collaboratively with designers, developers and project managers to plan and deliver work on time and to scope
• Join relevant client conversations to provide technical clarity and confidently explain solutions in plain language
• Follow modern web standards, accessibility principles and security best practice in every build
• Participate in internal code reviews, sharing knowledge and contributing to continuous improvement across the team
• Stay up to date with new technologies, tools and techniques by actively bringing fresh thinking into our projects
• Manage your workload effectively, working independently when needed while proactively communicating progress with the team

Skills & experience

Required

• 3–4+ years in front-end development within a digital agency or commercial WordPress environment
• Strong HTML, CSS and modern JavaScript including responsive design techniques
• Solid WordPress PHP development experience and being able to build and extend custom themes
• Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) experience being confident building structured, scalable components
• Good understanding of the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg) and custom field integration
• Strong attention to accessibility, performance and security best practices
• Comfortable with Git version control and browser DevTools
• Confident communicating technical decisions clearly to both internal teams and clients
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive mindset toward ownership and delivery

Nice to have

• Experience with modern JavaScript frameworks such as React, Vue or similar
• WooCommerce development experience (setup, customisation and optimisation)
• Familiarity with SCSS/SASS and modern build tools (Webpack, Vite, etc.)
• Understanding of server environments, hosting, caching and deployment workflows
• Experience implementing tracking / analytics to support marketing performance
• Ability to contribute to UX or design discussions e.g. working in Figma

What success looks like

• You ship high-quality builds that are stable, scalable and beautifully matched to design
• Clients feel confident in your technical guidance and enjoy working with you
• You actively contribute to improving development standards and workflow
• Your skills evolve quickly through collaboration and mentorship

What we offer

• 30 days of annual leave from your first day, plus Bank Holidays
• Hybrid and flexible working
• Private healthcare – Including mental health support, therapies and diagnostic
• Development and events contribution – £500 per year towards any additional learning such as online courses, subscriptions or reading materials to help you expand your knowledge
• Gym membership / subsidised parking
• Referral fee – bonus referral for any new starter or client
• Monthly team lunches
• Quarterly team building – from the New Forest water park to crazy golf
• Dog friendly office
• Quarterly appraisals – which clear objectives, training and development plans and discussions on career progressions
• Pension scheme
• Good office location in central Bournemouth with nearby shops and cafes, located next to the gardens and 5 minutes from the beach
• And more…

For more information and to ensure your details reach the correct person, please email a copy of your CV and an introductory email. You will hear back within 28 days to confirm if we'd like to invite you to interview. Please no recruitment agencies.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Application question(s):

• Do you live in Dorset and can travel to Bournemouth (BH2 5BD) twice a week for this job?

Experience:

• development: 3 years (required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Bournemouth BH2 5BD