Frontend Developer - Next.js

ROLE OVERVIEW

As a Frontend Developer, you bring deep expertise in both React and Next.js, owning the UI layer of custom web applications across multiple client engagements. You understand Next.js at depth: rendering model, caching layers, edge runtime, streaming, routing patterns, and how to make the right architectural trade-offs for each project. Your bias is towards the craft of frontend engineering: component architecture, design systems, accessibility, performance, technical SEO, and delivering pixel-perfect interfaces from Figma designs. A growing part of this role is building frontend experiences that interact with AI-powered features. This is not a traditional manual coding role. You orchestrate AI development tools, primarily Claude Code, through strategic prompting and rigorous review, taking full ownership of what ships.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Architect and build frontend applications using Next.js and React for enterprise clients across multiple engagements.
• Build and document component libraries in Storybook, translating Figma design systems into reusable, accessible UI components.
• Select and implement the appropriate CSS strategy (Tailwind, CSS-in-JS, CSS Modules, Sass) based on project requirements.
• Build frontend experiences that interact with AI-powered features, including streaming LLM responses, AI-assisted workflows, and intelligent UI components.
• Ensure WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility compliance through systematic testing and remediation.
• Optimise frontend performance and technical SEO: Core Web Vitals, semantic HTML, structured data, metadata, rendering strategy selection, code splitting, and bundle optimisation.
• Write and maintain automated tests: unit (Vitest/Jest), component (React Testing Library), and E2E (Playwright/Cypress).
• Integrate with backend APIs (REST/GraphQL) and implement frontend security best practices.
• Orchestrate AI development tools (Claude Code) through strategic prompting, ensuring high-quality, production-ready output.

EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate will have:

• Expert-level Next.js: App Router, Server Components, Server Actions, middleware, edge runtime, streaming, parallel and intercepting routes, ISR/SSR/SSG, caching, and layout architecture.
• Deep React and TypeScript proficiency: advanced patterns, React 19 features, concurrent rendering, Suspense, and the Server Component model.
• Strong CSS expertise across strategies: Tailwind CSS, CSS-in-JS (Styled Components, Emotion), CSS Modules, and Sass.
• Component library development with Storybook. Experience translating Figma design systems into production code.
• Headless UI libraries (Shadcn/ui, Radix UI, Headless UI) and building custom component primitives.
• Accessibility expertise: WCAG 2.1 AA, screen reader testing, keyboard navigation, ARIA patterns.
• Performance optimisation and technical SEO: Core Web Vitals, semantic HTML, structured data, rendering strategies for crawlability.
• Frontend test automation: Vitest/Jest, React Testing Library, Playwright/Cypress.
• Experience building frontend interfaces that interact with AI-powered features.
• Demonstrated ability to orchestrate AI development tools through strategic prompting and quality oversight.

TECHNOLOGIES

Deep understanding of the following technologies is essential:

• Next.js, React 19, TypeScript.
• CSS: Tailwind CSS, CSS-in-JS, CSS Modules, Sass.
• Headless UI: Shadcn/ui, Radix UI, Headless UI.
• Storybook, Figma.
• Testing: Vitest/Jest, React Testing Library, Playwright/Cypress, axe/WAVE.
• State management: Zustand, TanStack React Query.
• REST and GraphQL API consumption.
• Cloud and edge: Alibaba Cloud, GCP, AWS, Vercel Edge, Cloudflare Workers.
• Git, CI/CD, Claude Code.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in a consulting or agency environment across multiple concurrent client engagements.
• Experience with MCP servers for design tooling integration (e.g., Figma MCP).
• Experience building AI-powered UI features using Vercel AI SDK or similar.
• Animation and interaction design (Framer Motion, CSS animations).
• Integration with headless CMS platforms (Contentful, Sanity, Builder.io, Payload CMS).
• Monorepo tooling (Turborepo, Nx) and visual regression testing (Chromatic, Percy).
• Export/print workflows (PDF generation, report exports).

WHAT APPNOVATION HAS TO OFFER 

• Challenging and rewarding work with real impact
• Direct Access to Cutting-Edge AI Platforms
• Diverse and Inclusive Culture 
• Growth opportunities for personal and professional development
• A collaborative and innovative work environment where your ideas are valued
• Exposure to exciting projects and high-profile clients
• Supportive work environment with access to company leaders
• Hybrid working model