Sr. Front End Creative Developer (Freelance / Contractor)

Metajive Design LLC • Contract • United States • 2d ago

Description:

Metajive is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Sr. Front-End Creative Developer with deep expertise in modern JavaScript frameworks (Next.js, React) and a passion for creating exceptional user experiences. You will be the architect of our client-facing applications, responsible for transforming complex designs and back-end data into fast, robust, and engaging interfaces. Your primary focus will be on Next.js development and seamless integration with our headless Craft CMS.

This is a freelancer/contractor role, but could open doors to future work with us

Requirements:

Responsibilities:

Lead the development of high-performance, responsive, and accessible user interfaces using Next.js and React.
Architect and implement seamless data consumption from our headless CMS APIs, with a strong focus on Craft CMS and GraphQL.
Collaborate closely with back-end developers (who manage the PHP/Craft CMS API) to define and refine API contracts, ensuring optimal front-end performance.
Translate UI/UX designs and wireframes into high-quality code (HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript/TypeScript).
Implement and maintain state management solutions for complex application logic.
Optimize front-end assets and code for maximum speed and scalability, focusing on Core Web Vitals and Lighthouse scores.
Contribute to setting up and maintaining front-end testing frameworks and CI/CD pipelines relevant to the front-end environment.
Troubleshoot and resolve front-end issues, bugs, and performance bottlenecks across various browsers and devices.

Qualifications:

5+ years of professional experience in front-end development.
Deep expertise in modern JavaScript (ES6+), HTML5, and CSS3/Sass/Tailwind.
Experience working with a creative agency is a huge plus!
Expert-level proficiency with Next.js and the broader React ecosystem (including Hooks, Context API, or Redux/Zustand).
Significant, hands-on experience integrating front-end applications with headless CMS platforms, specifically with Craft CMS.
GraphQL experience is a must, including proficiency in consuming and querying complex schemas.
Strong understanding of static site generation (SSG) and server-side rendering (SSR) principles in Next.js.
Proficiency in version control systems (Git) and collaborative development workflows.
Familiarity with consuming RESTful APIs.
Strong problem-solving, analytical, and proactive communication skills.
Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills with the proven ability to present to clients, mentor less-experienced developers, and manage project scope.
Pioneering Spirit: A proactive, solution-oriented mindset. You are comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment and are ready to build the playbook for agency-level agentic execution.

Bonus Points:

Experience with front-end testing frameworks (e.g., Jest, React Testing Library, Cypress).
Familiarity with serverless functions (e.g., AWS Lambda, Vercel Functions).
Experience with deployment to platforms like Vercel or Netlify.
Working knowledge of modern authentication patterns (e.g., OAuth, JWT).
A security-first mindset in development practices.

Salary:

This is a Freelance/Contractor role with potential for future project work.