Senior Back End Developer E-Commerce · UK Head Office ·

Location: London

Basis: Temporary

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract (FTC)

Duration: 9 months (FTC)

Type: Freelance, part-time (approx. 3-4 days per week)

Pay: Competitive

Reporting To: Digital Product Manager

About Rough Trade

As we continue to scale our digital presence, we are looking for an experienced Senior Back End Developer to lead the development of robust, scalable integrations that power our online and retail operations.

For over 45 years, Rough Trade has been trusted by customers and the music industry to shine a spotlight on the best new music from all over the world. This has afforded Rough Trade a unique role and scope of opportunity within the UK and Global music retail industry. There is no other music retail shopping experience quite like that offered by Rough Trade. This role is a unique chance to be part of something truly special within the music retail landscape, and for the right candidate to truly make their mark.

The Role

We are seeking a Senior Back End Developer with deep expertise in Shopify and experience building ERP integrations using the Shopify back end. This role requires a highly skilled developer who can work autonomously, meet strict deadlines, and lead one mid-weight developer. You will play a crucial role in optimising our e-commerce infrastructure, ensuring seamless connectivity between our platforms, and driving technical improvements to enhance performance and scalability.

About You

To succeed in this role, you should have:

Expertise in Shopify Integrations: A deep understanding of Shopify, including building, optimising, and supporting integrations with ERP systems.

ERP Knowledge: Experience working with various ERP systems, with specific familiarity with Oracle NetSuite being a strong advantage.

Technical Leadership Skills: Proven ability to mentor and upskill team members, fostering growth and knowledge-sharing.

Freelance Flexibility: Ability to work on a part-time, project-based schedule (approximately 3 days per week).

Results-Oriented Approach: Demonstrated success in delivering on fixed-term project commitments within tight timeframes.

Key Responsibilities

As a Senior Back End Developer, you will:

Support and Optimise Shopify Integration: Refine and optimise work already completed in our migration to Shopify, ensuring seamless functionality and exceptional performance.

Mentor and Upskill: Collaborate with and provide mentorship to our Junior Back End Developer, guiding them through the technical challenges of integration projects.

Support ERP Transition: Partner with the Operations and Digital Product Manager to successfully transition to a new ERP system, such as Oracle NetSuite or a similar platform, ensuring smooth integration with Shopify and other systems.

Desirable Skills

Technical Breadth and Depth:

• Proven experience in back-end development with a deep understanding of Shopify’s architecture, including building, maintaining, and optimising integrations.

• Experience with Headless Shopify implementations.

• Strong understanding of REST APIs and GraphQL is required,

• Experience with various programming languages commonly used in back-end systems (e.g., Node.js, Ruby on Rails, Python).

• Knowledge of testing and deployment best practices, including automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, and staged releases.

• Exposure to containerisation and cloud hosting environments (such as AWS, Azure, or Docker) can be advantageous.

• Familiarity with front-end technologies (React, Vue.js, Vercel, Cloudflare) and how they interact with back-end services.

• Previous experience in the music/retail industry or working in a fast-paced e-commerce environment desired but not essential.

ERP and Integration Expertise:

• Direct experience integrating e-commerce platforms with ERP systems, strongly preferring candidates who have worked with Oracle NetSuite or similar WMS solutions.

• Ability to design, implement, and troubleshoot integration points between Shopify and multiple ERP systems, ensuring data consistency and efficient processing.

Project Management and Mentorship:

• Experience working in Agile environments and managing fixed-term projects, ensuring deliverables are met within tight deadlines.

• Strong understanding of coding best practices, including clean, maintainable code and effective version control.

• Demonstrated capability to mentor and upskill more junior team members, fostering a collaborative environment for knowledge sharing.

• Previous freelance or contract experience is beneficial, indicating comfort with managing time, scope, and stakeholder expectations in a flexible work environment.

Technical Tools and Methodologies

• Experience with GitHub for version control and collaborative development workflows.

• Familiarity with JIRA for Agile project management, including sprint planning, task tracking, and issue resolution.

Soft Skills and Collaboration:

• Strong communication skills to effectively liaise with operations, digital product managers, and cross-functional teams.

• Excellent problem-solving ability and a proactive, results-oriented mindset that adapts to rapidly shifting priorities.

• Self-motivation and strong organizational skills to manage remote or flexible work arrangements.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.

• You’ll directly shape how Rough Trade connects its online and retail systems, supporting a global customer base with robust, scalable architecture.

• The opportunity to work with a passionate team in an iconic music business.

• A dynamic, collaborative environment where your work directly impacts our digital growth.

• Flexible freelance schedule, allowing for a balance with other commitments.

• Attractive employee discount.

If you have a passion for technology and e-commerce, thrive in fast-paced environments, and want to be part of Rough Trade’s digital evolution, we’d love to hear from you.

At Rough Trade we value diversity and inclusion across everything that we do. From the records that we sell to the events that we hold, to the incredible people that work in our business every day, we are committed to delivering the best possible experience for everybody.

We are a Real Living Wage employer.