Senior Software Developer

About Wilsons Auctions

Wilsons Auctions is the largest independently owned auction house operating across the UK and Ireland. With a network of 10 centres, we continue to grow and are currently seeking to fill the exciting role of Senior Software Engineer.

This role can be based at our regional offices in Belfast, Glasgow, Newcastle, or Dublin.

Gavel is our enterprise-grade, end-to-end auction platform that powers both internal operations and the public-facing auction website. It has been built as a modern Type Script solution using a Node.js backend API with NestJS, a React administrative portal, and a Next.js customer-facing website. The product is hosted on a contemporary AWS cloud architecture using infrastructure as code via AWS CDK, with scalable services, managed data storage, content delivery, real-time capabilities and observability built in.

You'll be responsible for ongoing development, bug fixes and iterative enhancements across the API, admin portal and customer website, while continuing to evolve the platform using current engineering practices and AI-enabled delivery methods.

Initially, you will work in close partnership with our third-party supplier that currently supports and contributes to the Gavel platform's development. You will also establish hardware, software and processes within Wilsons Auctions to allow us to operate independently of our current supplier.

This collaboration continues until the internal team has acquired sufficient system knowledge to take full ownership. You'll help facilitate structured knowledge transfer, align ways of working, and progressively reduce external dependency.

Deliver feature improvements, new features and bug fixes across the Gavel monorepo, including the Node.js/NestJS backend API, React admin portal and Next.js public website, with a focus on reliability, accessibility, performance and maintainability.

Maintain and evolve the backend API, developed using Node.js, NestJS and TypeORM, alongside the Aurora MySQL Serverless v2 schema and migrations; ensure data integrity, robust API design and query performance at scale.

Enhance the Next.js website for SEO, Core Web Vitals and fast content delivery using Cloud Front and optimised media pipelines.

Build real-time auction capabilities (e.g., Socket.IO or App Sync) and maintain robust search experiences via Open Search.

Own integrations end-to-end: implement, monitor and harden connections with Reapit, CAP HPI, Experian, Cartel, Authi Pay, Prommt, Next Gear, Impel, AIB, HMRC VAT Lookup, Google Places, Barcode Lookup, Credas, AWS Rekognition, AWS SES, and Campaign Manager (among others).

Operate what you build: instrument, monitor and tune services using Cloud Watch, optimisation in Open Search, and caching via Elasti Cache/Redis.

Contribute to CI/CD and IaC: write automated tests, maintain pipelines (Git Lab, Code Build/Code Deploy), and update infrastructure through AWS CDK.

Champion security: apply best practices around Cognito (incl. M365 federation), IAM least-privilege, encryption with KMS, WAF, secrets management and auditable changes.

Apply AI Product Development Lifecycle (AI PDLC) best practices for future product development, using Claude Code to support structured requirements analysis, solution design, implementation, automated testing, code review, documentation and safe release planning.

Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Ops and Support to triage issues, scope work, and deliver incremental value safely and predictably.

Languages & frameworks:
Type Script, Node.js, NestJS, React, Next.js; monorepo via Lerna & Yarn work spaces.

Data & messaging:
Aurora MySQL Serverless v2 (RDS), TypeORM migrations, Elasti Cache/Redis, Bull queues.

Search & real-time:
Open Search;
Socket.

IO and AWS App Sync for live updates and bidding.

Storage & delivery: S3, Cloud Front; image optimisation (Sharp/Lambda).

Auth & security: AWS Cognito (incl. M365 federation), IAM, KMS, WAF, Secrets Manager.

CI/CD, IaC & AI-enabled delivery:
Git Lab CI, Code Build/Code Deploy, AWS CDK (Type Script), Claude Code and AI…