Lead Javascript Developer

Lead JavaScript Developer – OTT/Streaming (Remote, W2 Contract)

Our client is a fast-growing OTT streaming platform building the next generation of video experiences across web, mobile, and connected TV. They're looking for a Lead JavaScript Developer to help drive the front-end and playback architecture that gets content to millions of viewers, reliably and at scale.

This is a hands-on lead role - you'll be writing code, making architecture calls, and mentoring the rest of the JS team, not just sitting in meetings.

What you'll be doing

You'll own front-end architecture decisions across the platform's web and connected-device apps, working closely with backend, DevOps, and product teams to ship features that actually hold up under real streaming traffic. You'll lead code reviews and set technical direction for a team of mid-level and senior JS developers, and you'll be hands-on with video playback performance - things like adaptive bitrate switching, startup time, rebuffering, and cross-device playback consistency. You'll also be the person other engineers go to when something's on fire in production and needs a real answer, not a guess.

What you need to bring

• 7+ years of professional JavaScript/TypeScript development, with real depth in modern frameworks (React strongly preferred)
• Experience building or maintaining video playback experiences - HLS/DASH streaming, player libraries like hls.js, Shaka Player, or video.js, and an understanding of DRM (Widevine, PlayReady, FairPlay)
• Node.js experience for API and service-layer work
• A track record of leading or mentoring other developers, not just writing solo code
• Comfort working in a remote, distributed team and communicating async
• Experience with CDN concepts and troubleshooting playback issues at scale

Nice to have

• Experience building for connected TV / smart TV platforms (Roku, Tizen, webOS, Fire TV, Android TV)
• Familiarity with SSAI/CSAI (server-side or client-side ad insertion)
• Exposure to video analytics or QoE monitoring tools
• AWS or GCP experience, particularly around media services