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InstrumentIN

Technical Lead (Freelance)

Instrument is a prominent design and technology agency dedicated to empowering brands and fostering growth through innovative digital experiences.

Instrument

Employee count: 201-500

Salary: 200k-243k USD

United States only

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Instrument is a digitally native design and technology company built to help brands unlock their full potential. Since 2005, our team of makers, thinkers, and storytellers has partnered with leading brands like Google, Nike, Uber, ŌURA, and Eventbrite to craft digital experiences that create impact and drive results.
Unlike traditional agencies, we don’t just design—we build. Our work lives at the intersection of taste and technology, powered by curiosity, thoughtful curation, and a commitment to delivering the most fitting solution for every brief. We bring this to life across three core offerings: Brand, Marketing, and Product.
As a member of our freelance network, you’ll collaborate with our teams to bring bold ideas to life—whether launching new brands, building digital products, or shaping experiences that move people. We welcome collaborators from all backgrounds and experiences who share our curiosity, creativity, and care for craft.
We believe great work comes from diverse perspectives and shared purpose. If you’re passionate about learning, experimenting, and making work that matters, we’d love to hear from you.

We’re looking for a Senior Backend Engineer / Tech Lead to support a fast-moving web build leveraging Wagtail CMS. This role is deeply hands-on and highly collaborative—partnering closely with frontend developers to bring complex component-driven experiences to life.

You’ll play a critical role in shaping backend architecture, extending Wagtail capabilities, and ensuring a smooth deployment pipeline on Google Cloud.

Tech Stack: Python, Django, Wagtail CMS, PostgreSQL, Google Cloud Platform (App Engine, Cloud SQL, Cloud Storage), StreamField / StreamBlocks

Timing: 3/23 – 4/3
Hours: 40 hrs/week
Location: Remote (EST-PST timezones)

What You'll Do

    • Lead backend development for a Wagtail CMS implementation, ensuring scalable and maintainable architecture

    • Customize and extend Wagtail internals, including render logic, StreamFields, and admin configurations

    • Partner closely with frontend engineers to enable complex UI patterns through custom Blocks and templates

    • Model content structures that support flexible, component-driven design systems

    • Own and support deployments on Google Cloud Platform, ensuring stability and performance

    • Collaborate on technical planning, proactively identifying risks and proposing solutions

    • Contribute to a high-velocity development environment, supporting sprint execution and delivery

What You'll Bring

    • Strong experience with Python and Django, with deep expertise in Wagtail CMS

    • Proven ability to work within Wagtail internals (custom Blocks, StreamFields, rendering logic, templates)

    • Experience deploying and maintaining Wagtail projects on Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

      • Familiarity with App Engine, Cloud SQL (PostgreSQL), and Cloud Storage

      • Strong understanding of backend architecture, CMS modeling, and API design

      • Experience collaborating closely with frontend teams on component-based builds

      • Ability to move quickly, unblock teams, and provide technical leadership in a short-term engagement

Pay Range

  • The expected pay range for this role is $96 - $117 per hour based on the US 3 pay range
  • Our company has three regional pay bands that it adheres to depending on your location, we reference them as US 1, US 2, and US 3
  • US 3 is our base pay. Examples of cities in US 3 are Portland, Houston and Miami.
  • US 2 pay is 7.5% higher than US 3 to meet the market rates. Examples of cities in US 2 are Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle
  • US 1 pay is 15% higher than US 3 to meet market rates. Examples of cities in US 1 are Brooklyn and San Francisco
  • If you are curious which region you are in, please apply and get connected with our recruiting team!

About the job

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Posted on

Job type

Contractor

Experience level

Senior

Salary

Salary: 200k-243k USD

Location requirements

Hiring timezones

United States +/- 0 hours

About Instrument

Learn more about Instrument and their company culture.

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Instrument is a design and technology company committed to helping brands unlock their full potential. Since its inception in 2005, the organization has established itself as a leader in creating expressive and enduring digital experiences that drive progress and shape outcomes. The company's mission revolves around collaboration with clients from diverse industries, enabling them to build scalable brand systems and products that harness emerging technologies and changing consumer behaviors.

Instrument seeks to create a meaningful impact on businesses and communities alike. They emphasize a strong set of values, including putting people first, pursuing excellence, embracing a growth mindset, and applying truth in action. Instrument employs a multi-disciplinary approach, integrating strategy, creative design, and technology into every project, ensuring that they partner closely with clients throughout the process. The outcome of their efforts has garnered recognition across various platforms, affirming their role as a trusted partner for brands such as Sonos, NBA, Levi's, and Nike. Instrument remains dedicated to innovating and shaping a better future for brands and their audiences.

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Instrument

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