Senior UI Developer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UI Developer

Company: Avnet (Farnell)

Location: Leeds, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: UI/Front-End Development, eCommerce Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-22

Experience Level: Senior (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the development of a global, large-scale eCommerce platform's user interface, focusing on creating beautiful, functional, and user-centric designs.

• Leverage expertise in React, Node.js, and Apollo Client to deliver responsive, high-performance user interfaces that enhance the customer experience.

• Collaborate within a cross-functional team, including Product Owners, UX Designers, and back-end developers, to build scalable and visually appealing online storefronts.

• Specifically contribute to personalization, recommendations, merchandising, and marketing content delivery to optimize conversion rates and increase site revenue.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior UI Developer," the responsibilities and focus on eCommerce platform enhancements, personalization, and revenue driving indicate a strong connection to GTM (Go-To-Market) and revenue operations, particularly in how front-end development directly impacts sales and marketing outcomes. This role bridges technical UI expertise with business objectives.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of highly interactive and visually appealing user interfaces using React and associated libraries, ensuring a seamless e-commerce experience.

• Collaborate closely with Product Owners, UX/UI Designers, and back-end engineers to translate complex business requirements into robust technical solutions.

• Optimize UI performance for fast load times, smooth navigation, and a reactive experience across all devices, crucial for user engagement and conversion.

• Implement sophisticated data fetching and state management strategies using Apollo Client, integrating the UI with RESTful and GraphQL APIs built with Node.js and Apollo Server.

• Champion and enforce software development best practices, including writing clean, maintainable code, implementing comprehensive automated testing, and conducting thorough code reviews to ensure code quality and system stability.

• Mentor and guide junior and mid-level developers in React development, front-end architecture principles, and established best practices, fostering team growth and knowledge sharing.

• Partner with back-end engineers to ensure seamless integration between front-end components and back-end services, contributing to the overall architecture and performance optimization of the application stack.

• Develop and implement features related to personalization, recommendation engines, and merchandising content delivery to directly impact conversion rates and revenue.

• Utilize A/B testing methodologies, likely through tools like Adobe Target, to evaluate and iterate on UI designs and features for continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on personalization, recommendations, merchandising, and marketing content delivery signifies a direct impact on GTM strategies and revenue generation. This responsibility requires not just technical execution but also an understanding of how UI elements influence customer behavior and drive sales.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is typically expected for a Senior UI Developer role.

Experience: Proven track record as a Senior Front-End or UI Developer, with a minimum of 5-10 years of hands-on experience in building complex web applications. Demonstrated experience in an Agile/Scrum development environment is essential.

Required Skills:

• ReactJS: Deep expertise in React and its core principles, including component-based architecture and hooks.

• TypeScript: Strong proficiency in TypeScript for building scalable and maintainable JavaScript applications.

• Node.js: Solid understanding of Node.js for server-side development and API integration.

• GraphQL & Apollo: Extensive experience with GraphQL queries, mutations, state management, and specifically with Apollo Client and Apollo Server.

• HTML5 & CSS3: Expert-level knowledge of semantic HTML5 and modern CSS3, including responsive design principles.

• JavaScript (ES6+): Advanced proficiency in modern JavaScript features and best practices.

• Jest: Familiarity with front-end testing frameworks, particularly Jest for unit and integration testing.

• Storybook: Experience using Storybook for UI component development and documentation.

• Styled Components: Proficiency in CSS-in-JS solutions like Styled Components for styling React applications.

• Gitlab & GitFlow: Experience with Gitlab and adherence to version control processes like GitFlow for collaborative development.

• Performance Optimization: Proven ability to optimize UI performance for large-scale applications, including techniques like lazy loading and code splitting.

• Responsive Design: Expertise in creating adaptable user interfaces that function seamlessly across various devices and screen sizes.

• Agile/Scrum: Practical experience working within Agile and Scrum methodologies.

• Excellent Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills for effective collaboration and stakeholder engagement.

Preferred Skills:

• Loadable Components: Experience with libraries for optimizing component loading.

• Akamai Caching: Familiarity with Akamai caching strategies for enhancing content delivery performance.

• Figma: Ability to collaborate with UX/UI designers and translate Figma prototypes into functional UI components.

• A/B Testing (Adobe Target): Experience with A/B testing tools like Adobe Target for performance analysis and optimization.

• RESTful APIs: Understanding of RESTful API principles and integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The extensive list of required technologies like React, Node.js, GraphQL, TypeScript, and specific libraries (Apollo, Jest, Storybook, Styled Components) highlights the need for a candidate with a deep, specialized technical skill set. The mention of A/B testing and performance optimization underscores the performance-driven nature of this role within an e-commerce context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated React Expertise: Showcase complex React applications built, highlighting component architecture, state management solutions, and integration with APIs.

• Performance Optimization Case Studies: Present specific examples of how UI performance was improved, detailing the techniques used (e.g., code splitting, lazy loading) and the measurable impact on metrics like load time or user engagement.

• API Integration Examples: Include projects that demonstrate robust integration with both RESTful and GraphQL APIs, showcasing data fetching, mutation handling, and error management.

• User-Centric Design Implementation: Provide examples where UI designs were translated into functional, user-friendly interfaces, emphasizing responsiveness and accessibility.

Process Documentation:

• Agile Workflow Adherence: Evidence of participation in Agile ceremonies (sprint planning, daily stand-ups, retrospectives) and contributions to sprint goals.

• Code Review Contributions: Examples of constructive feedback provided during code reviews, demonstrating a commitment to improving code quality and mentoring.

• Testing Strategy Implementation: Showcase how automated tests (unit, integration) were integrated into the development workflow to ensure application stability and reliability.

• Performance Monitoring & Iteration: Demonstrate a process for monitoring UI performance in production and iterating on designs based on data and user feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior role, a portfolio is crucial. It should not just list projects but tell a story of problem-solving, technical execution, collaboration, and impact. For this role, demonstrating how UI development directly contributes to business outcomes like conversion rates and revenue is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Senior UI Developer with 5-10 years of experience in Leeds, UK, specializing in React, Node.js, and GraphQL, the estimated annual salary range is likely between £60,000 - £85,000. This range accounts for the demand for these specific technical skills, the senior level of the role, and the cost of living in the Leeds area.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary Package: A strong base salary commensurate with experience and skill set.

• Pension Scheme: Contribution towards a retirement pension plan.

• Simply Health Plan: Access to health and wellness services through a health plan.

• Generous Holiday Allowance: 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.

• Holiday Purchase Option: Flexibility to buy additional holiday days.

• Free Onsite Parking: Convenient parking facilities at the office location.

• Flexible Home Working: The ability to work remotely on a flexible basis, contributing to a hybrid work model.

• Cycle to Work Scheme: An initiative to promote cycling as a mode of transport, offering tax benefits.

• Reward Schemes: Participation in employee recognition and reward programs.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. The role offers flexibility, including flexible home working, suggesting a focus on output and delivery rather than strict adherence to a 9-to-5 schedule, common in hybrid and senior technical roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on current market data for senior front-end developers in the UK technology sector, with adjustments for location (Leeds) and the specific high-demand tech stack (React, Node.js, GraphQL). Benefits are directly extracted from the provided text, highlighting a comprehensive package aimed at employee well-being and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Farnell, an Avnet company, operates within the global high-service distribution of technology products, services, and solutions, with a strong focus on electronic system design, maintenance, and repair. This places them within the broader Technology, Electronics, and Distribution sectors. The eCommerce platform is central to their go-to-market strategy.

Company Size: Avnet is a large global corporation, typically employing thousands of individuals worldwide. Farnell, as a significant part of Avnet, also has a substantial employee base. This large-scale operation implies structured processes, significant resources, and opportunities for cross-departmental collaboration.

Founded: Avnet was founded in 1925, giving it a long history and established presence in the technology distribution market. Farnell has its own history, having been established in 1939. This deep heritage suggests stability, established market positions, and a culture that balances tradition with innovation.

Team Structure:

• Cross-functional Teams: The UI development team operates within a cross-functional structure, led by a dedicated Product Owner. This model ensures close collaboration with UX Designers, back-end developers, and other UI developers.

• Reporting Hierarchy: Senior developers likely report to a Team Lead or Engineering Manager within the UI development department.

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on "supportive team environment" and "open-door policy within management" suggests a culture that encourages open communication, mutual support, and accessibility to leadership.

Methodology:

• Agile/Scrum: The team operates within an Agile/Scrum framework, indicating iterative development cycles, regular stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives.

• User-Centric Design: A strong focus is placed on creating user-centric designs for a seamless customer experience, emphasizing the importance of UX/UI collaboration.

• Performance Optimization: Continuous effort is dedicated to optimizing the performance of the UI for fast load times and a reactive experience, a critical aspect of eCommerce success.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The context of Avnet/Farnell as a global distributor of technology products means this Senior UI Developer role is instrumental in supporting a massive B2B and B2C eCommerce operation. The company's long history suggests stability, while its size points to structured processes and potential for career growth within a large organization.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a "Senior" level, indicating a need for seasoned professionals who can not only execute complex development tasks but also lead initiatives, mentor junior staff, and contribute to architectural decisions. The focus on driving revenue through UI enhancements suggests a role with significant business impact, bridging technical expertise with GTM objectives.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UI Developer will work within a cross-functional team led by a Product Owner, collaborating closely with UX Designers and back-end engineers. They will likely report to a UI Development Manager or Head of Engineering, with opportunities for interaction with product management and potentially marketing teams.

Operations Impact: The primary impact of this role is directly tied to the success of the global eCommerce platform. By enhancing the user interface, implementing personalization, and optimizing content delivery, the Senior UI Developer will directly influence customer engagement, conversion rates, site revenue, and overall customer satisfaction. This role is critical in translating technical development into tangible business outcomes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in React, GraphQL, Node.js, and related front-end technologies, potentially becoming a subject matter expert.

• Front-End Architecture: Opportunity to contribute to and influence the architectural direction of the eCommerce platform's front-end.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Develop leadership skills through mentoring junior developers, leading code reviews, and potentially taking on technical lead responsibilities for specific features or projects.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain experience working closely with Product, UX, and back-end teams, fostering a holistic understanding of the product development lifecycle and its business implications.

• Career Progression: Potential advancement to roles such as Lead UI Developer, Front-End Architect, or Engineering Manager within Avnet/Farnell.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" designation implies a strategic contribution beyond just coding. The role's direct link to revenue and conversion metrics means this position offers significant visibility and impact, providing a strong foundation for career growth in either technical leadership or management.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is advertised as "TELECOMMUTE" but also mentions "Flexible home working" and "FREE Onsite Parking," indicating a hybrid work model. This suggests that while remote work is supported, there will be an expectation for some on-site presence in Leeds, likely for collaborative sessions, team meetings, or specific project phases.

Office Location(s): The primary location is Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom. This provides a base for employees who choose to utilize office facilities or for mandatory in-office days.

Workspace Context:

• Hybrid Collaboration: Employees will experience a blend of remote work and in-office collaboration. This requires strong self-management skills when working remotely and effective communication strategies for in-person interactions.

• Technology-Rich Environment: As a technology company, expect access to modern development tools, robust infrastructure, and collaborative software platforms conducive to both remote and in-office work.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with UX designers, back-end developers, and other UI team members exist both virtually and in the office, fostering a dynamic and collaborative development culture.

Work Schedule: While the standard is 40 hours per week, the "Flexible home working" aspect suggests a degree of autonomy in scheduling. This allows developers to manage their time effectively, balancing project deadlines with personal needs, which is beneficial for deep work and sustained productivity in development roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Hybrid" work arrangement, combined with "Flexible home working," indicates a modern approach to work-life balance. Candidates should be comfortable with a mix of remote and in-office work, and possess strong self-discipline and communication skills to thrive in this environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and application to assess alignment with the core technical requirements (React, Node.js, GraphQL) and experience level.

• Technical Interview(s): Expect in-depth discussions covering your experience with the specified technologies, problem-solving abilities, and front-end architecture concepts. This may include live coding exercises or discussions about past projects.

• Portfolio Review: A critical stage where you will present selected projects from your portfolio. Be prepared to discuss your specific contributions, technical challenges, solutions implemented, and the impact of your work, particularly regarding performance and user experience.

• Cross-functional Team Interview: An opportunity to interact with Product Owners, UX Designers, and other developers. This assesses your collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit within the team.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a hiring manager or senior leadership to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and confirm details.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Relevant Projects: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your expertise in React, Node.js, GraphQL, and performance optimization for large-scale applications, ideally within an eCommerce context.

• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the business problem, your specific role and contributions, the technical solutions you implemented (including code snippets if appropriate), and the measurable outcomes (e.g., performance improvements, conversion rate increases, user satisfaction).

• Demonstrate Process: Explain your development process, including how you collaborated with designers, handled API integrations, implemented testing strategies, and approached performance tuning.

• Highlight Seniority: Showcase leadership qualities, such as mentoring junior developers, contributing to architectural decisions, and advocating for best practices.

Challenge Preparation:

• Technical Deep Dive: Brush up on advanced React concepts, state management patterns (especially with Apollo Client), GraphQL query optimization, and Node.js best practices.

• Performance Scenarios: Be ready to discuss common UI performance bottlenecks and how you would diagnose and resolve them in a large-scale eCommerce environment.

• Problem-Solving: Prepare to tackle hypothetical UI development challenges, focusing on your analytical approach, decision-making process, and ability to articulate solutions clearly.

• Collaboration Scenarios: Think about how you would collaborate with UX designers on complex features or resolve technical disagreements with back-end developers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio review and technical depth suggests that candidates will be rigorously assessed on their practical skills and ability to articulate their technical contributions and their impact on business objectives.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• ReactJS: The core JavaScript library for building user interfaces.

• Node.js: Used for server-side logic, API development, and potentially build tooling.

• Apollo Client: Essential for managing GraphQL data fetching and state in React applications.

• TypeScript: For static typing and enhanced code maintainability.

• Jest: A popular JavaScript testing framework for unit and integration tests.

• Storybook: A tool for developing, testing, and documenting UI components in isolation.

• Styled Components: A CSS-in-JS library for component-level styling.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Adobe Target: Likely used for A/B testing and personalization initiatives.

• Web Analytics Tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics): While not explicitly mentioned, essential for tracking user behavior and performance metrics on the eCommerce platform.

• Performance Monitoring Tools: Tools to monitor front-end performance in production environments.

CRM & Automation:

• GraphQL APIs: The primary interface for data exchange between front-end and back-end services.

• RESTful APIs: Also utilized for integration with various services.

• Gitlab: The chosen platform for version control, CI/CD pipelines, and team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: This stack is very common for modern, high-performance web applications, especially in the eCommerce space. Proficiency in GraphQL and its associated tools like Apollo Client is a key differentiator for this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A strong commitment to creating exceptional user experiences, driving decisions based on user needs and feedback.

• Performance Excellence: Dedication to building fast, reliable, and high-performing applications, understanding its direct impact on conversion and revenue.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Valuing open communication, mutual support, and collective problem-solving within cross-functional teams.

• Continuous Improvement: Embracing Agile methodologies and a culture of learning, adapting, and iterating to enhance processes and outcomes.

• Code Quality & Best Practices: Commitment to writing clean, maintainable, and well-tested code, fostering a culture of technical excellence.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Active collaboration with Product Owners, UX Designers, and Back-End Engineers to ensure cohesive product development.

• Agile & Iterative: Working in short sprints, with regular feedback loops and adaptive planning.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging mentorship and the sharing of technical knowledge and best practices across the team.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Utilizing A/B testing results and performance metrics to inform UI development choices and iterations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture appears to be a blend of modern tech practices (Agile, user-centricity, performance focus) within a large, established corporation. The emphasis on collaboration and continuous improvement is crucial for a role that bridges technology with business objectives.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling Performance: Ensuring the UI remains performant and responsive across a global, high-traffic eCommerce platform, especially with increasing feature complexity.

• Balancing Speed and Quality: Maintaining high code quality and robust testing practices while meeting demanding delivery timelines in an Agile environment.

• Cross-Team Dependencies: Effectively managing dependencies and communication with back-end teams and UX designers to ensure seamless integration and feature delivery.

• Evolving Technology Landscape: Staying current with the rapid advancements in front-end technologies and integrating them effectively into the existing stack.

• Driving Business Impact: Translating technical development efforts into measurable improvements in conversion rates, revenue, and customer satisfaction.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Technology Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in React, GraphQL, Node.js, and explore emerging front-end technologies.

• Architectural Contribution: Potential to influence and shape the front-end architecture of a major eCommerce platform.

• Mentorship Programs: Formal or informal opportunities to mentor junior developers and be mentored by senior architects or leaders.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Support for attending relevant industry events and pursuing certifications to enhance skills and knowledge.

• Exposure to Business Strategy: Gaining a deeper understanding of eCommerce strategies, personalization, and revenue optimization through close collaboration with business stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for growth by tackling complex technical challenges within a high-impact business context. The challenges are typical for senior roles in large-scale eCommerce environments, and the growth opportunities are substantial for someone looking to advance their career in front-end development and architecture.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• UI Architecture & Scalability: "Describe a complex UI architecture you've designed or significantly contributed to. How did you ensure it was scalable, maintainable, and performant for a high-traffic application?" (Focus on React, GraphQL, micro-frontends if applicable).

• Performance Optimization Techniques: "Walk me through a time you identified and resolved a critical UI performance issue on a live website. What tools did you use, what was your process, and what were the results?" (Prepare specific examples using Jest, lazy loading, code splitting, Akamai caching).

• GraphQL & API Integration: "How do you approach integrating front-end applications with GraphQL APIs? Discuss your experience with Apollo Client, managing complex queries, mutations, and error handling." (Be ready to discuss data fetching strategies and state management).

Company & Culture Questions:

• Contribution to Business Goals: "How do you see your role as a Senior UI Developer directly contributing to Avnet's eCommerce revenue goals and customer satisfaction?" (Connect UI features to personalization, conversion, and user experience).

• Team Collaboration: "Describe your experience working in cross-functional Agile teams. How do you ensure effective communication and collaboration with Product Owners, UX Designers, and back-end developers?" (Highlight experience with Gitlab, Scrum, and conflict resolution).

• Mentorship Experience: "As a senior developer, how do you approach mentoring junior team members and fostering a culture of learning within the team?" (Provide specific examples of guidance and support).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Impact-Driven Storytelling: Frame your portfolio projects around the business problem, your solution, and the quantifiable results achieved. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for clarity.

• Technical Deep Dive: Be prepared to go into detail on the technologies used, architectural decisions, and specific code challenges you overcame. Demonstrate your understanding of best practices.

• Showcase Collaboration: Highlight instances where you worked effectively with designers, product managers, or other engineers.

• Focus on Relevance: Tailor your presentation to the specific requirements of the role – emphasize React, Node.js, GraphQL, performance, and eCommerce relevance.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just technical proficiency but also strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to translate technical efforts into business value, especially within an eCommerce context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UI Developer position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Avnet's careers portal.

• Tailor Your Resume: Customize your resume to highlight your extensive experience with React, Node.js, GraphQL, Apollo Client, and performance optimization techniques. Quantify your achievements with metrics where possible, especially those related to user experience, conversion rates, or site performance.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Select and prepare 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your senior-level UI development skills, focusing on complex React applications, API integrations, and performance improvements relevant to eCommerce. Be ready to present these projects with clear explanations of your role, technical approach, and impact.

• Practice Technical Concepts: Review advanced React patterns, state management strategies (especially with Apollo Client), GraphQL best practices, Node.js fundamentals, and common UI performance optimization techniques. Be prepared for live coding or in-depth technical discussions.

• Research Avnet/Farnell: Understand Avnet's position in the technology distribution market, Farnell's role within Avnet, and the importance of their eCommerce platform. Familiarize yourself with their company values and recent news to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural alignment.

⚠️ 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.