Shopify Lead Developer

Who We Are:

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse. 

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences.  Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work. 

The opportunity:

We are seeking an experienced Shopify Lead to drive the architecture, design, and execution of enterprise-grade e-commerce solutions on Shopify and Shopify Plus. This role involves technical leadership, solution design, and team mentorship while ensuring robust, scalable, and high-performing Shopify implementations aligned with business goals. 

The ideal candidate is a hands-on technologist and strategic thinker with deep expertise in Shopify and a proven track record of leading complex digital commerce projects end-to-end. 

What you'll be doing:

• Lead the architecture, customization, and development of advanced Shopify Plus storefronts and ecosystems. 
• Define and enforce technical standards, best practices, and coding guidelines across Shopify projects. 
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams — including UI/UX, Product, Marketing, and Operations — to translate business needs into scalable technical solutions. 
• Own full lifecycle delivery of Shopify projects: design, development, testing, deployment, and post-launch optimization. 
• Develop and integrate custom apps, APIs, and third-party services (ERP, CRM, OMS, payment gateways, analytics, etc.). 
• Drive performance optimization, SEO best practices, and security compliance for all Shopify storefronts. 
• Mentor and guide a team of developers; conduct technical reviews, training, and knowledge-sharing sessions. 
• Evaluate new Shopify releases, technologies, and tools to continuously improve the development ecosystem. 
• Act as the technical point of contact for Shopify-related discussions with stakeholders, clients, and leadership. 

What we want from you:

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field. 
• 10+ years of total web development experience with a minimum of 5 years dedicated to Shopify and Shopify Plus. 
• Expert-level proficiency in Shopify Liquid, HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript (ES6+), and AJAX. 
• Experience with modern front-end frameworks (React, , or ) and headless commerce architecture. 
• Strong understanding of RESTful APIs, GraphQL, and Shopify Admin API integrations. 
• Proven experience in developing custom Shopify apps (public/private) using , Express, or Laravel. 
• Deep knowledge of Shopify Plus features, multi-store setup, localization, and internationalization. 
• Familiarity with DevOps practices, version control (Git), CI/CD pipelines, and deployment management. 
• Demonstrated ability to manage teams, code reviews, and delivery timelines in a fast-paced environment. 
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills. 

If you know some of this even better:

• Experience with Shopify Hydrogen, Oxygen, or headless commerce implementations. 
• Exposure to data-driven e-commerce optimization tools (Klaviyo, Segment, GTM, etc.). 
• Knowledge of SEO, performance tuning, and analytics integration for Shopify stores. 
• Prior experience working in agency environments or with enterprise-scale e-commerce clients. 

What we can offer you:

Alongside the opportunity to work with some of the most exciting brands around the world, we'll also prioritise your career development and help you grow your skills. We'll empower you to make a difference, allow you to be yourself, and respect who you are.

Our personality and behaviours: We believe that we are what we do, not just what we say. Our shared values and behaviours show how to bring the VML Enterprise Solution's culture to life through the actions we all take every day:

• Connect Meaningfully
• Inspire Creatively
• Include Purposefully
• Approach Positively

Our brilliant, talented people are what makes VML Enterprise Solutions what we are. That's why we look for people who go beyond and always push our thinking to be better than yesterday.

AT VML Enterprise Solutions

Our Enterprise Solutions division houses strategic consultants, creative and technical architects and skilled developers and operators that together help some of the world's leading organisations to deliver outstanding digital experiences across all major routes to market worldwide: marketplaces, online retailers, D2C, B2B and social platforms. With over 4,200 experts in 55 operational centres across 34 countries, our capabilities span the entire buying journey from customer acquisition, through engagement, to conversion and loyalty, driving multi-channel growth for world-leading brands.

We work with some of the most exciting brands such as The Coca-Cola Company, EY, Bosch, Unilever, Ford, DFS, Mercedes-Benz, Johnson & Johnson, Nestlé, Sainsbury's, Selfridges, Shell and Tiffany & Co. We've built over 500 platforms for brands and retailers and generate in excess of $29bn annually for our clients and work with over 50 strategic partners including Adobe, SAP, Salesforce, HCL, Shopify, Sitecore, BigCommerce, commerce tools and Acquia. Our reputation is based on our people, and we believe we have some of the best in the business.

As our business grows internationally, we're looking for new people to join us on our journey to inspire and take a key role in shaping some of the best commerce solutions, services, and websites in the world. Working as a team, no problem is insurmountable; we share in our client's successes and believe that anyone can show creative bravery no matter what their role is in the team.

WPP (VML Enterprise Solutions) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers. 

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. 

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