Staff Software Engineer (UI)- React.JS

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Staff Software Engineer (UI) - React.JS

Company: Acquia

Location: Remote - Canada

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Software Engineering - Front End Development

Date Posted: March 05, 2026

Experience Level: 8+ Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the design, development, and implementation of cutting-edge user interfaces using React.JS and TypeScript within a collaborative, agile environment.

• Drive technical excellence by mentoring junior engineers, conducting thorough code reviews, and championing best practices in unit and system testing to enable frequent production deployments.

• Own and operate the services developed, participating actively in the entire software development lifecycle from planning and development to deployment and ongoing operations.

• Lead cross-team initiatives, ensuring operational robustness, security hygiene, and comprehensive software documentation for both internal and external stakeholders.

• Embrace an AI-Native approach, integrating AI tools and agentic workflows to redefine traditional processes and achieve enhanced efficiency and innovation in front-end development.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Staff" level, indicating a senior individual contributor role with significant technical leadership and mentorship expectations. The emphasis on AI-Native principles and agentic workflows suggests a forward-thinking company culture prioritizing innovation and efficiency through advanced technology adoption.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain reusable, high-quality UI components and features using React.JS, TypeScript, HTML, CSS/SASS, and associated libraries.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, product designers (including Figma integration), and back-end engineers to translate complex requirements into intuitive and performant user experiences.

• Mentor and guide other front-end engineers on the team, fostering a culture of continuous learning, knowledge sharing, and technical growth.

• Implement robust unit and end-to-end tests (e.g., Jest, Selenium/Cypress) to ensure code quality, reliability, and facilitate a high-cadence continuous delivery pipeline.

• Actively participate in all phases of the Agile software development lifecycle, including sprint planning, daily stand-ups, backlog refinement, and retrospectives.

• Take ownership of the services built, ensuring their operational stability, security, and scalability in production environments.

• Lead and contribute to cross-functional initiatives, ensuring alignment on technical direction, design standards, and operational readiness.

• Produce clear, concise, and comprehensive software documentation for both internal technical teams and external end-users.

• Champion adherence to WCAG accessibility standards in all UI development to ensure inclusivity and compliance.

• Contribute to the evolution of the team's technology stack and development processes, with a proactive interest in emerging AI technologies and their application to front-end challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of individual contribution, technical leadership, and operational ownership, typical for a Staff Engineer. The explicit mention of leading cross-team initiatives and owning services reinforces the senior nature of this role, requiring not just coding skills but also strategic thinking and execution capability.

🎓 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 this level of role.

Experience: 8+ years of professional front-end software development experience is a mandatory requirement. This extensive experience should demonstrate a deep understanding of modern front-end architectures, best practices, and the ability to lead complex projects.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in front-end development with 8+ years of experience in CSS/SASS, JavaScript, and HTML.

• High proficiency with React.JS or a similar modern front-end framework, coupled with strong TypeScript skills.

• Experience implementing UI elements that meet WCAG accessibility standards.

• Familiarity with state management libraries such as Redux or equivalent.

• Experience with utility-first CSS frameworks like Tailwind CSS or similar.

• Proficiency in version control systems, specifically Git, and package management tools like NPM.

• Demonstrated experience writing effective unit tests using frameworks like Jest or equivalents.

• Experience in writing end-to-end tests using tools such as Selenium, Webdriver.io, or Cypress.

• Practical experience working within Agile development methodologies and continuous delivery (CI/CD) environments.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Drupal CMS.

• Familiarity with working with and contributing to design systems.

• A proactive interest and demonstrated experience in applying emerging AI technologies to solve complex front-end challenges or optimize performance.

• Experience collaborating with designers using tools like Figma.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on 8+ years of experience, coupled with specific framework and tool requirements, clearly defines this as a senior-level position. The "Extra credit" section, particularly regarding AI and Drupal, suggests areas where candidates can differentiate themselves and align with Acquia's strategic interests.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 complex front-end projects that demonstrate mastery of React.JS, TypeScript, and modern CSS techniques.

• For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your specific role and contributions, the technical challenges faced, and the solutions implemented.

• Highlight examples of implementing WCAG compliant UI elements and ensuring accessibility standards were met.

• Include case studies demonstrating experience with state management (e.g., Redux) and CSS frameworks (e.g., Tailwind).

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate experience in documenting software development processes, including design rationales, architectural decisions, and API specifications.

• Provide examples of how you have contributed to or maintained CI/CD pipelines, emphasizing efficiency and automation.

• Show evidence of participation in Agile ceremonies and contributing to backlog refinement, sprint planning, and retrospectives.

• Illustrate how you have managed technical debt through refactoring and continuous improvement initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Staff Engineer role, a portfolio is crucial. It should not only showcase technical proficiency but also the ability to lead, mentor, and contribute to process improvement. The emphasis on AI integration suggests that projects demonstrating innovative uses of AI in development workflows would be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Staff Software Engineers with 8+ years of experience in remote Canadian roles, the estimated salary range is CAD $140,000 - $190,000 annually. This range can vary based on specific experience, skillset alignment, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) and holiday schedule.

• Retirement savings plan (e.g., RRSP matching).

• Professional development and continuous learning opportunities.

• Stock options or equity grants may be available.

• Remote work stipend for home office setup.

• Access to Acquia's employee resource groups and community initiatives.

Working Hours: A standard full-time work week of approximately 40 hours is expected. While flexibility is inherent in a remote role, core collaboration hours will likely be established to accommodate team synchronization across different Canadian time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is derived from market data for senior software engineering roles in Canada, considering the remote nature and the "Staff" level designation which commands a premium. Benefits are standard offerings for tech companies of Acquia's size and industry, with specific emphasis on professional growth and remote work support.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Acquia operates within the Digital Experience Platform (DXP) and Content Management System (CMS) space, with a strong foundation in open-source Drupal. This industry is characterized by rapid technological evolution, a focus on customer experience, and a competitive landscape driven by innovation.

Company Size: Acquia is a significant player in its market, likely falling into the mid-to-large enterprise category with several hundred to a few thousand employees globally. This size often means established processes but also opportunities for impact and growth.

Founded: Acquia was founded in 2007. This history suggests a mature company with a proven track record, likely having navigated multiple technology shifts and market cycles.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Front End Engineering team, which is likely composed of multiple Staff Engineers, Senior Engineers, and potentially Junior Engineers.

• Collaboration is expected to be close-knit within the immediate team, with regular interaction with Product Management, Product Design, and Back-End Engineering teams.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Development: Emphasis on using metrics (e.g., performance, conversion rates, user feedback) to inform development decisions and validate solutions.

• Agile & DevOps Practices: Adherence to Agile methodologies for iterative development and strong adoption of DevOps principles for seamless integration, deployment, and operations.

• AI-Augmented Workflows: A stated commitment to integrating AI as a core part of the development workflow, fostering adaptability and efficiency through intelligent automation and cognitive augmentation.

Company Website: https://www.acquia.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Acquia's foundation in Drupal positions it uniquely in the DXP market. The explicit mention of AI-Native candidates and agentic workflows indicates a strong push towards leveraging AI to enhance productivity and innovation, which is a key differentiator.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at the "Staff" level, representing a senior individual contributor. It signifies a deep technical expert who not only delivers high-quality code but also mentors others, influences technical direction, and drives cross-functional initiatives. This level is a critical step beyond Senior Engineer, often involving architectural input and strategic technical planning.

Reporting Structure: The Staff Software Engineer will likely report to an Engineering Manager or Director. They will be expected to collaborate closely with Product Managers, Product Owners, and UX/UI Designers, acting as a technical leader and trusted advisor within these cross-functional interactions.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant, directly influencing the quality, performance, and user experience of Acquia's digital products. By building robust and scalable front-end solutions, this engineer contributes directly to customer satisfaction, conversion rates, and the overall success of Acquia's platform offerings. The adoption of AI-Native principles further amplifies this impact by driving efficiency and enabling the team to tackle more complex challenges.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific front-end technologies, architectural patterns, or emerging areas like AI-driven development.

• Leadership Development: Transition into management roles (e.g., Engineering Manager) or continue on an advanced individual contributor track (e.g., Principal Engineer), influencing broader technical strategy.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain broader experience by working on diverse projects across different product lines or contributing to platform-level initiatives.

• AI & Innovation Leadership: Become a go-to expert for AI integration within the engineering organization, potentially leading new AI-focused initiatives and tooling.

• Mentorship & Training: Develop strong mentorship skills and contribute to internal training programs or knowledge-sharing sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff" title implies a significant career trajectory, offering pathways into principal engineering or management. The company's focus on AI suggests unique growth opportunities in leveraging and integrating cutting-edge technologies.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: As a fully remote position, the "office" is the employee's home workspace. Acquia likely supports a distributed work model, emphasizing asynchronous communication and digital collaboration tools.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote within Canada, Acquia has global operations, with headquarters in Boston, MA. Employees will be expected to work within Canadian time zones to facilitate collaboration with local and potentially international teams.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Digital Environment: Expect a heavy reliance on digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Teams, Zoom, Jira, Confluence) for communication, project management, and knowledge sharing.

• Access to Tools: Provision of necessary hardware and software, including development environments, testing tools, and potentially stipends for home office setup and internet connectivity.

• Team Interaction: Regular virtual team meetings, one-on-ones, and opportunities for informal digital "water cooler" chats to foster team cohesion and camaraderie.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, typically around 40 hours per week. While remote work offers flexibility, adherence to core working hours for synchronous collaboration and meetings will be necessary to align with team and business needs across different Canadian time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature necessitates strong self-discipline and excellent digital communication skills. Acquia's culture likely supports asynchronous work, but understanding and respecting core collaboration hours will be key to team effectiveness.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, focusing on alignment with required skills and experience, especially the 8+ years of front-end development and

React/TypeScript proficiency.

• Technical Interview(s): Expect one or more rounds of technical interviews. These may include:

  • Coding Challenges: Live coding exercises (e.g., on a shared editor) focused on JavaScript, React, problem-solving, and algorithm design.
  • System Design: Discussions about designing scalable and maintainable front-end architectures, state management strategies, and component design.
  • Technical Q&A: In-depth questions about CSS, HTML, accessibility (WCAG), testing methodologies, CI/CD, and potentially Drupal.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio projects. Be prepared to discuss your contributions, technical decisions, challenges, and outcomes, particularly highlighting AI integration if applicable.

• Behavioral & Cultural Fit Interview: Questions assessing your collaboration style, mentorship approach, problem-solving philosophy, adaptability, and alignment with Acquia's values (including the AI-Native mindset).

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership or the hiring manager to finalize assessment and discuss the role in more detail.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 of your strongest projects that best showcase your skills in React, TypeScript, UI development, and ideally, any innovative use of AI or complex problem-solving.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, follow a clear story: Problem -> Your Role -> Solution -> Challenges -> Outcome/Impact. Quantify results where possible.

• Highlight Technical Depth: Be ready to dive deep into the code, architectural decisions, and trade-offs you made. Explain why you chose certain technologies or approaches.

• Showcase AI Integration: If you have projects demonstrating AI application (e.g., AI-assisted coding, AI-powered UI generation, AI for performance optimization), make these prominent. Explain the process of prompting, managing, and directing AI.

• Emphasize Collaboration & Mentorship: Be prepared to discuss how you've worked with teams, mentored junior engineers, and contributed to code reviews.

Challenge Preparation:

• Brush up on Fundamentals: Review core JavaScript, React concepts (hooks, context, performance optimization), CSS, and HTML.

• Practice Coding Problems: Use platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or similar to practice algorithm and data structure problems, focusing on those relevant to front-end development.

• Prepare for System Design: Think about how you would design a complex UI component library, a dashboard application, or a feature that requires significant state management. Consider scalability, maintainability, and performance.

• Research Acquia: Understand their products, their position in the DXP market, and their emphasis on open-source (Drupal) and AI. Tailor your responses to reflect this understanding.

• Articulate AI-Native Thinking: Be ready to discuss how you approach AI in your workflow – how you prompt, integrate, and leverage AI tools to enhance your productivity and problem-solving capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI-Native candidates means interviewers will likely probe deeply into how you integrate AI into your development process. Be ready to provide concrete examples and articulate your "orchestration mindset."

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Front-End Framework: React.JS (primary), potentially others for context.

• Language: TypeScript (required), JavaScript.

• Styling: CSS/SASS, Tailwind CSS or similar CSS library.

• State Management: Redux or equivalent (e.g., Zustand, Context API).

• Version Control: Git.

• Package Management: NPM.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Tools for tracking UI performance, user engagement, and conversion metrics. (Specific tools not listed, but expect common analytics platforms).

CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with how front-end integrates with back-end systems, potentially involving APIs that interact with CRM or marketing automation platforms. (Less direct involvement, more understanding of integration points).

• CI/CD Tooling: Familiarity with modern CI/CD pipelines and tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions).

Development & Collaboration:

• IDE: VS Code or similar.

• Design Tools: Figma (for collaborating with designers).

• Testing Frameworks: Jest (unit tests), Selenium/Webdriver.io/Cypress (E2E tests).

• Collaboration Platforms: Slack, Jira, Confluence.

• AI Tools: Prompt engineering tools, AI coding assistants (e.g., GitHub Copilot, specific company-internal tools).

📝 Enhancement Note: The tech stack is heavily focused on modern front-end development. The explicit mention of AI tools indicates a forward-looking technology environment where candidates are expected to be proficient with AI augmentation in their daily tasks.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• AI-Native Integration: A core value is treating AI as an integral extension of cognitive workflows, not just an external tool. This implies a culture of experimentation and continuous learning around AI capabilities.

• Radical Adaptability & Builder Mentality: A drive to constantly evolve and improve processes, transforming traditional workflows into more efficient, agentic systems.

• Intellectual Humility: The willingness to unlearn outdated methods and embrace new, AI-augmented approaches, fostering a growth mindset.

• Customer Focus & UX Passion: A strong commitment to delivering exceptional digital experiences that provide direct value to customers, with a deep appreciation for User Experience.

• Quality & Excellence: Striving for high-quality software and continuous improvement, not just individually but as a team.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly Collaborative: Expect close teamwork with front-end, back-end, product management, and design teams.

• Mentorship Driven: A culture where senior engineers actively mentor and support the growth of their peers and more junior team members.

• Constructive Feedback: An environment that encourages open code reviews and constructive feedback loops to elevate the quality of the product and individual skills.

• Cross-Functional Ownership: A shared responsibility for the entire software lifecycle, from development through to production operations, fostering a sense of collective accountability.

📝 Enhancement Note: Acquia's stated values around AI-Native principles, adaptability, and intellectual humility are significant cultural indicators. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they embody these values in their work and how they see AI transforming software development.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Keeping Pace with AI Evolution: The rapidly evolving landscape of AI tools and methodologies requires continuous learning and adaptation to leverage new capabilities effectively.

• Integrating AI Seamlessly: Finding the right balance and effective methods for integrating AI into existing development workflows without disrupting productivity or introducing new complexities.

• Driving Cross-Team Initiatives: Successfully influencing and leading technical direction across multiple teams requires strong communication, negotiation, and strategic thinking skills.

• Maintaining High Standards in a Remote Environment: Ensuring consistent quality, collaboration, and team cohesion in a fully distributed workforce.

• Balancing Innovation with Stability: Implementing new technologies and AI-driven processes while ensuring the stability and reliability of production systems.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI & Prompt Engineering Specialization: Opportunities to become a leader in applying AI to front-end development, potentially leading internal workshops or defining best practices.

• Advanced Architectural Skills: Deepening expertise in scalable front-end architectures, design patterns, and performance optimization.

• Mentorship & Leadership Programs: Formal or informal opportunities to develop leadership and mentorship capabilities, preparing for future senior roles.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Access to attend relevant tech conferences, workshops, and pursue certifications to stay at the forefront of front-end and AI technologies.

• Exposure to Drupal Ecosystem: Gaining in-depth knowledge of Drupal, a leading CMS, which can be a valuable specialization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the company's forward-thinking approach, particularly around AI. Growth opportunities are framed around both deepening technical expertise and developing leadership skills, with a unique emphasis on AI innovation.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex front-end problem you solved using React and TypeScript. What was your process, and what were the key trade-offs?" (Focus on technical depth, decision-making, and problem-solving).

• "How do you approach mentoring junior engineers? Provide an example of how you've helped someone grow their skills." (Assess leadership, communication, and team development).

• "Walk us through your process for designing and implementing a new feature from initial requirements to production deployment, including testing and CI/CD." (Evaluate understanding of the full SDLC and Agile practices).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you see AI fundamentally changing the role of a front-end engineer? How have you integrated AI into your own workflow?" (Crucial question assessing AI-Native mindset and practical application).

• "Describe a time you had to adapt to a significant change in technology or process. How did you approach it?" (Gauge adaptability and willingness to embrace new methods).

• "What does 'intellectual humility' mean to you in a professional context?" (Assess alignment with company values).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Quantify Impact: For each project, aim to present metrics that demonstrate success (e.g., improved load times, increased conversion rates, reduced bug count).

• Tell a Story: Frame your portfolio pieces as narratives that showcase your problem-solving journey, technical ingenuity, and the value you delivered.

• Deep Dive on AI: If AI was involved, explain the "orchestration mindset" – how you prompted, managed, and directed AI, and what the tangible benefits were.

• Be Ready for Code Review: Have specific code snippets or project repositories ready to discuss in detail, demonstrating code quality and architectural choices.

• Showcase Collaboration: Highlight instances where your work facilitated team collaboration or improved developer workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparing for AI-specific questions is paramount. Candidates should be ready to articulate their "AI-Native" philosophy and provide concrete examples of integrating AI into their development processes.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Staff Software Engineer position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Greenhouse.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 8+ years of front-end experience, specific proficiency in React.JS, TypeScript, and other required technologies. Quantify achievements and explicitly mention any experience with AI integration in development workflows.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 key projects that showcase your skills, focusing on complexity, technical execution, and ideally, any innovative AI applications. Ensure you can articulate the problem, solution, challenges, and impact clearly.

• Practice AI-Native Responses: Be ready to discuss your "orchestration mindset" and provide specific examples of how you use AI to enhance your development process.

• Research Acquia: Understand their mission, products (especially Drupal), and their stated commitment to AI-Native workflows. Prepare thoughtful questions about the role, team, and company culture.

⚠️ 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.

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