Frontend Lead / Senior Frontend UI Engineer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Frontend Lead / Senior Frontend UI Engineer

Company: RightHand (Client: Major Spanish Communication and Media Group)

Location: Madrid, Spain

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Frontend Engineering / Technical Leadership

Date Posted: 2026-09-09

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the technical direction and development of frontend interfaces for evolving digital products, ensuring scalability, accessibility, and consistency.

• Drive the creation and enhancement of a comprehensive Design System, bridging Product and Design needs with modern frontend architecture.

• Provide hands-on technical leadership, mentoring a small frontend team (2-3 individuals) while actively contributing to the development of critical components and solutions.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Design, Technology, and Data teams to influence technical decisions and the evolution of digital user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a hybrid of technical leadership and hands-on development, requiring a candidate who can guide a team while remaining deeply involved in coding. The emphasis on Design Systems and Core Web Vitals suggests a company focused on user experience, performance, and brand consistency across its digital platforms.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership & Mentorship:

  • Lead and technically mentor a frontend team of 2-3 engineers, fostering a culture of high performance and continuous improvement.
  • Serve as the primary technical point of contact for frontend within the Product team.
  • Define and document the frontend architecture, establishing a clear technical roadmap.
  • Set and enforce high standards for code quality, web accessibility (WCAG), performance, and maintainability.
  • Conduct thorough code reviews, providing constructive feedback to team members.
  • Proactively identify and manage technical debt, developing actionable plans for remediation.

• Frontend Development & Architecture:

  • Actively participate in the development of key features and components, maintaining hands-on coding skills.
  • Design, develop, and maintain reusable UI components using React and Vue.js.
  • Build and evolve digital products and applications leveraging Next.js for server-side rendering and performance benefits.
  • Implement robust testing strategies, including unit, integration, and end-to-end tests.
  • Optimize frontend performance, focusing on achieving excellent Core Web Vitals scores.

• Design System & User Experience:

  • Spearhead the creation, evolution, and adoption of the company's Design System.
  • Ensure seamless alignment between design specifications and technical implementation.
  • Collaborate closely with UX designers to translate user research findings into tangible interface improvements.
  • Champion web accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA/AAA) across all digital products.

• Cross-functional Collaboration & Product Strategy:

  • Work in close partnership with Product Managers, UX/UI Designers, Backend Engineers, and Data Analysts.

  • Contribute to product planning sessions, providing technical insights and feasibility assessments.

  • Influence strategic decisions by balancing technical considerations, business objectives, and user needs.

  • Operate effectively within Agile methodologies, ensuring smooth coordination and communication across interdisciplinary teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strategic leadership role focused on evolving digital products through robust frontend architecture and a strong Design System. The blend of leadership, hands-on development, and cross-functional collaboration is crucial.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is typically expected for senior engineering roles.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5-10 years of professional experience as a Senior Frontend Engineer, Senior UI Engineer, or in a similar advanced frontend role.

• Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring, or coordinating small development teams (2-3 individuals).

• Proven track record in creating, evolving, or significantly contributing to a Design System. Required Skills:

• Expert proficiency in semantic HTML5, modern CSS3 (including preprocessors like Sass/LESS, if applicable), and JavaScript/TypeScript.

• Extensive professional experience and deep understanding of React.

• Solid experience developing components and applications with Vue.js.

• Hands-on experience building robust web applications and products using Next.js.

• Strong knowledge of frontend architecture patterns and best practices for building reusable components.

• Proficiency in web accessibility standards and practical application of WCAG guidelines.

• Solid understanding of frontend performance optimization techniques and Core Web Vitals.

• Experience with testing frameworks (e.g., Jest, React Testing Library, Cypress) and conducting thorough code reviews.

• Familiarity with Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban). Preferred Skills:

• Experience with state management libraries (e.g., Redux, Zustand, Vuex).

• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines for frontend applications.

• Experience with performance monitoring tools (e.g., Lighthouse, WebPageTest).

• Knowledge of backend technologies or full-stack development principles.

• Experience with micro-frontend architectures.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis is on practical, hands-on experience with core frontend technologies (React, Vue, Next.js) and a strong understanding of architectural principles, performance, and accessibility. Leadership experience, even if informal, is a key differentiator.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design System Showcase: Demonstrations of contributions to or creation of Design Systems, highlighting component libraries, documentation, and adoption strategies.

• Complex Component Development: Examples of sophisticated, reusable UI components built with React or Vue, illustrating architectural decisions and problem-solving.

• Next.js Project Examples: Showcase of web applications or products developed using Next.js, emphasizing performance, SSR/SSG, and SEO considerations.

• Accessibility Implementation: Case studies or examples demonstrating adherence to WCAG standards in real-world projects, including problem identification and solutions.

• Performance Optimization Case Studies: Detailed examples of how performance bottlenecks were identified and resolved, with measurable improvements in Core Web Vitals or page load times.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Documented examples of how frontend workflows were structured or improved, including collaboration with design and product teams.

• Component Development Lifecycle: Processes for designing, building, testing, and deploying reusable frontend components.

• Performance Monitoring & Improvement Cycles: Established processes for ongoing monitoring of performance metrics and iterative improvements.

• Accessibility Auditing & Remediation: Documented procedures for conducting accessibility audits and implementing necessary fixes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates are expected to provide tangible proof of their skills through a portfolio that details their technical contributions, architectural thinking, and impact on user experience and performance. Process documentation should reflect structured approaches to development and collaboration.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Frontend Lead / Senior Frontend UI Engineer with 5-10 years of experience in Madrid, Spain, the estimated annual salary range is €50,000 - €70,000. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, interview performance, and the company's compensation philosophy.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary package.

• Hybrid work model offering flexibility between remote and in-office work.

• Opportunities for professional development, including training, conferences, and certifications.

• Contribution to employee well-being programs.

• Access to the latest technologies and tools.

• Collaborative and innovative work environment within a leading media group.

• Potential for career advancement within the organization.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours, estimated at 40 hours per week, with flexibility often afforded through the hybrid work arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on current market data for similar roles in Madrid, considering the seniority and technical leadership aspects. Benefits are typical for a full-time position in a modern tech-forward company, with a focus on professional growth and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media & Communications, Digital Publishing, Technology. The company is a major player in Spain's media landscape, undergoing significant digital transformation. This means a dynamic environment where traditional media meets cutting-edge digital innovation, including AI-driven solutions.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (part of a major communication and media group). This implies established processes, a broad reach, and the potential for significant impact, but also a need for agility within product teams to drive innovation.

Founded: While the exact founding date of the specific digital division isn't provided, the parent group likely has a long history, indicating a stable organization undergoing digital evolution.

Team Structure:

• Operations Team: The frontend team is small (2-3 engineers), reporting to a Product or Technology lead. This structure emphasizes autonomy and direct contribution.

• Reporting Structure: The Frontend Lead will report to a higher-level Engineering Manager or Head of Product/Technology, with direct reports within the frontend team.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role is inherently cross-functional, requiring close partnership with Product Management, UX/UI Design, Data teams, and potentially backend engineering.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decisions: Emphasis on using data and user insights to inform technical and product decisions.

• Agile Development: Work is conducted under Agile methodologies, requiring iterative development, continuous feedback, and adaptability.

• Design System Centricity: A strong focus on building and maintaining a unified Design System to ensure consistency and efficiency across digital products.

Company Website: https://jobs.rh.company (Note: This is the recruitment portal; the actual company website would be different and should be researched by the applicant).

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's industry and size suggest an organization with resources and ambition for digital transformation. The team structure indicates a collaborative, agile environment where individual contributions are highly visible and impactful.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Individual Contributor (IC) role with explicit leadership responsibilities. It sits at the cusp of senior engineering and technical team leadership. The "Lead" title signifies responsibility for guiding technical direction, mentoring junior team members, and ensuring the quality and architecture of frontend development.

Reporting Structure: The Frontend Lead will report to a Product Manager, Engineering Manager, or Head of Technology. They will, in turn, lead a small team of 2-3 frontend engineers. This structure allows for direct influence on product strategy and team development.

Operations Impact: The role has a significant impact on the company's digital presence and user engagement. By leading the frontend architecture, Design System, and ensuring high-quality, performant, and accessible user interfaces, this role directly influences customer satisfaction, brand perception, and ultimately, revenue generated through digital channels. Influence extends to technical decision-making and shaping the future of digital products.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like advanced React/Vue patterns, performance optimization, or frontend architecture.

• Leadership Progression: Transition into a formal Engineering Manager role, overseeing larger teams and broader technical domains.

• Product Strategy: Increase involvement in product roadmap planning and strategic technical decision-making.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Expand knowledge in areas like UX research, data analysis, or backend integration through collaboration.

• Influence: Become a recognized authority on frontend best practices and Design Systems within the organization and potentially the wider industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for growth, either into more senior technical leadership or management roles. The emphasis on Design Systems and cross-functional collaboration provides opportunities to develop a broad skill set.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. The role involves a mix of remote work and in-office presence in Madrid. This suggests a modern work environment that balances flexibility with in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): Madrid, Spain. Specific office details (e.g., amenities, accessibility) would be provided during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model likely encourages in-office days for team syncs, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional meetings, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to modern development tools, collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Jira, Confluence), and potentially cloud-based development environments.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with the immediate frontend team, as well as designers, product managers, and other stakeholders, both remotely and in person.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week, with inherent flexibility associated with a hybrid model. This allows for structured workdays focused on achieving team and project goals, while accommodating personal needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the work environment is a key benefit, offering flexibility while ensuring opportunities for essential in-person collaboration crucial for leadership and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter from RightHand to assess general fit, experience, and motivation for the role.

• Technical Interview (Hands-on): A deep dive into frontend skills, architecture, and problem-solving. This may involve live coding challenges, discussions about past projects, and technical Q&A focusing on React, Vue, Next.js, and performance.

• Design System & Leadership Interview: Assessment of experience with Design Systems, leadership style, team mentoring capabilities, and cross-functional collaboration strategies. This might involve scenario-based questions.

• Portfolio Presentation: A session where candidates present selected projects from their portfolio, explaining their role, technical decisions, challenges, and outcomes. This is a critical part of demonstrating impact.

• Final Interview: A conversation with senior stakeholders (e.g., Head of Product, CTO) to discuss company culture, strategic alignment, and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 projects that best showcase your leadership, Design System contributions, complex component development, and

Next.js expertise.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate:

  • The problem statement/business objective.
  • Your specific role and responsibilities (especially leadership aspects).
  • Key technical decisions and their rationale (architecture, tech stack choices).
  • Challenges faced and how you overcame them.
  • Measurable outcomes and impact (e.g., performance improvements, adoption rates, user feedback).

• Highlight Design System Work: If presenting a Design System project, detail its structure, the tools used for documentation (e.g., Storybook), the process for component contribution, and its adoption impact.

• Demonstrate Leadership: For team-based projects, explain how you mentored, guided, or influenced technical direction.

• Prepare for Deep Dives: Be ready to discuss code snippets, architectural diagrams, and technical trade-offs in detail.

Challenge Preparation:

• Technical Challenges: Practice coding exercises focusing on JavaScript/TypeScript, component design (React/Vue), and potentially Next.js-specific features. Be prepared to discuss performance implications.

• System Design/Architecture: Think about how you would architect a new feature or improve an existing one, considering scalability, maintainability, and performance.

• Leadership Scenarios: Prepare answers for questions about managing team conflict, mentoring junior engineers, handling technical debt, and making difficult technical decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to thoroughly assess both technical proficiency and leadership potential. A strong, well-prepared portfolio presentation is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• JavaScript/TypeScript: Core languages for all frontend development.

• React: Primary framework for building interactive UIs and components.

• Vue.js: Secondary framework for component development, indicating a need for versatility.

• Next.js: Framework for building performant web applications, including SSR and SSG capabilities.

• HTML/CSS: Foundational web technologies for structuring and styling.

• Version Control: Git (e.g., GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket) for code management and collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Core Web Vitals: Metrics for measuring user experience (LCP, FID, CLS).

• Performance Monitoring Tools: Lighthouse, WebPageTest, browser developer tools for analysis.

• Analytics Platforms: Potentially Google Analytics or similar for tracking user behavior and product performance.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly CRM-focused, understanding how frontend integrates with backend APIs and data services is crucial.

• CI/CD Tools: Familiarity with tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions for automated builds and deployments.

• Design System Tools: Storybook or similar for documenting and showcasing UI components.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in React, Vue, and Next.js is essential. A strong understanding of web performance metrics (Core Web Vitals) and accessibility standards (WCAG) is equally critical. Familiarity with modern development workflows and tools is expected.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence in Craftsmanship: A commitment to high-quality, well-engineered code, performant interfaces, and robust architecture.

• User-Centricity: A deep focus on understanding and improving the user experience, driven by data and empathy.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication, knowledge sharing, and a willingness to work effectively across teams.

• Continuous Improvement: A proactive approach to identifying areas for enhancement, whether in code, processes, or team dynamics.

• Innovation: Embracing new technologies and approaches to solve problems and create cutting-edge digital experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The team actively collaborates with Product, Design, and Data, fostering a shared understanding of goals and challenges.

• Feedback-Rich Environment: Encourages constructive feedback through code reviews, design critiques, and regular team retrospectives.

• Knowledge Sharing: Practices such as internal tech talks, documentation, and pair programming are likely encouraged to disseminate best practices and learnings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture appears to value technical excellence, user focus, and collaborative problem-solving within an agile framework. Candidates should demonstrate alignment with these values.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Leadership and Hands-on Work: Effectively managing team responsibilities while maintaining deep technical involvement requires strong time management and prioritization skills.

• Evolving Digital Landscape: Keeping pace with rapid advancements in frontend technologies, frameworks, and best practices.

• Design System Adoption & Governance: Ensuring consistent adoption and effective governance of the Design System across multiple products and teams.

• Performance Optimization at Scale: Optimizing complex digital products for peak performance across diverse devices and network conditions.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Navigating differing priorities and perspectives across Product, Design, and Technology to achieve consensus.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Frontend Technologies: Opportunities to explore and implement new libraries, frameworks, and architectural patterns.

• Leadership Training: Formal or informal training in team management, mentorship, and technical leadership.

• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Potential for attendance at leading frontend development conferences and specialized workshops.

• Mentorship Programs: Access to senior leaders for guidance and career development advice.

• Exposure to AI in Media: Gaining insights into how AI is being integrated into media consumption and content delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant opportunities for professional growth by tackling complex challenges in a dynamic industry and offering structured learning and development pathways.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Technical Leadership: "Describe a time you led a frontend team through a challenging project. What was your approach to mentoring, code quality, and technical decision-making?"

• Design System: "Walk us through your experience building or evolving a Design System. What were the key challenges in adoption, and how did you ensure consistency?"

• Performance Optimization: "How do you approach diagnosing and resolving frontend performance issues, particularly concerning Core Web Vitals? Can you share an example?"

• Architecture & Scalability: "How would you design a scalable and maintainable frontend architecture for a large-scale digital media platform?"

• Problem Solving: "Describe a complex technical problem you encountered in a previous role. How did you approach solving it, and what was the outcome?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about this specific role and our company's digital transformation in the media space?"

• "How do you foster a collaborative and inclusive environment within a technical team?"

• "How do you stay updated with the latest trends in frontend development and incorporate them into your work?"

• "Describe your ideal working relationship with Product Managers and UX/UI Designers." Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: Quantify your achievements whenever possible (e.g., "reduced page load time by 30%", "increased component reusability by 50%").

• Tell a Story: Frame your projects as narratives with a clear beginning (problem), middle (solution/your role), and end (results).

• Be Prepared for Technical Deep Dives: Have code snippets, architectural diagrams, and technical justifications ready for each project.

• Showcase Leadership: For team projects, clearly articulate your leadership contributions, mentoring efforts, and influence on technical direction.

• Demonstrate Design System Expertise: If applicable, show live examples or detailed documentation of the Design System components and their benefits.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on articulating leadership experience, deep technical expertise in core frontend technologies, and a strategic understanding of Design Systems and performance optimization, all backed by concrete examples from your portfolio.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Frontend Lead / Senior Frontend UI Engineer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the RightHand jobs portal.

• Tailor Your Resume: Emphasize your experience in React, Vue, Next.js, Design Systems, technical leadership, and web accessibility. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 impactful projects that showcase your leadership, technical skills, and contributions to Design Systems or performance optimization. Ensure it's easily accessible (e.g., personal website, GitHub repository, shared drive).

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio projects, focusing on your role, technical decisions, challenges, and measurable outcomes. Prepare for in-depth technical and behavioral questions.

• Research the Company: Understand the media group's digital strategy, its products, and its position in the market to demonstrate genuine interest and alignment during interviews.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.