Junior Full-Stack Developer — PHP/JavaScript

About Nub News

Nub News is an online local news network headquartered in Crewe. We build technology that helps our editorial and commercial teams publish timely, useful local information and serve communities across the UK.

We are looking for an early-career developer to join our technology team and help improve the websites, content-management systems and supporting services behind the Nub News network.

The role

You will implement clearly defined development tasks, initially with guidance and code review from experienced colleagues. Your work will cover both back-end and front-end development, including new features, improvements to existing systems and the investigation of bugs.

This is a good opportunity for a junior developer who has strong programming fundamentals, enjoys learning and wants to see their work used by real audiences.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain features for Nub News websites and content-management systems.

• Develop back-end functionality using PHP, JavaScript and MySQL.

• Create responsive, accessible user interfaces using HTML, CSS, JavaScript and Vue.

• Contribute to APIs and small services that support Nub News products.

• Diagnose bugs and implement reliable, maintainable fixes.

• Write appropriate automated tests and technical documentation.

• Use Git and participate in code reviews.

• Work with editorial, commercial and product colleagues to understand requirements.

• Support releases and monitor changes after deployment.

• Learn the Nub News architecture, development standards and deployment processes.

• Consider security, privacy, accessibility and website performance when implementing changes.

Essential skills

• A practical foundation in PHP and JavaScript.

• Working knowledge of relational databases, preferably MySQL.

• Good HTML and CSS fundamentals, including responsive layouts.

• Experience with Vue or another modern front-end framework such as React or Angular.

• An understanding of HTTP, APIs and browser-based applications.

• Basic experience using Git.

• The ability to break a problem into manageable steps and ask for help when needed.

• Clear communication and a collaborative approach.

• The ability to work from our Crewe office at least three days each week.

Experience may come from employment, an internship, an apprenticeship, university work, a bootcamp, freelance assignments or personal projects. A degree is not essential.

Useful, but not essential

• TypeScript.

• Laravel

• Node.js.

• MongoDB or another document database.

• Experience with content-management systems.

• Automated testing.

• Continuous integration and deployment.

• Web accessibility, security or performance optimisation.

• Experience working in an Agile development team.

We do not expect a junior candidate to know everything on this list. We are particularly interested in sound fundamentals, evidence of learning and the ability to respond constructively to feedback.

What success looks like

During your first three months, you will become familiar with the Nub News systems, complete smaller fixes and improvements, and contribute code that meets the team's standards.

Within six months, we would expect you to take ownership of smaller features from initial requirement through to testing and release, with appropriate support and review.

What we offer

• A permanent role with a salary of £30,000–£34,000.

• Hybrid working, with at least three days each week alongside colleagues in Crewe.

• Work on products used by local communities throughout the UK.

• Exposure to websites, publishing platforms, APIs and supporting services.

• Regular code review, feedback and opportunities to develop your technical skills.

• Company pension and 25 days' annual leave.

• [Add any training budget, flexible-hours policy, parking, private healthcare or other confirmed benefits.]

How to apply

Please send your CV and a short note covering:

1. A website, application or feature you have helped to build and what you personally contributed.
2. Your experience with PHP, JavaScript or a modern front-end framework.
3. Confirmation that you can work from our Crewe office at least three days each week.

Please send your email to [email protected]

Links to a portfolio, deployed project or code sample are welcome but not compulsory. We recognise that candidates may not be able to share code from previous employers.

Nub News welcomes applications from candidates with different backgrounds and routes into software development. Reasonable adjustments are available during the recruitment process.