UI Developer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI Developer

Company: Applied Research Solutions

Location: Beavercreek Township, OH 45440, USA (Kettering Area)

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Software Development / Frontend Engineering

Date Posted: 2026-06-26

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design, develop, and test responsive user interfaces using React for seamless integration with backend cloud APIs.

• Package web-based frontends into lightweight, native desktop applications to enhance user accessibility.

• Collaborate closely with backend engineers, leveraging Go and Python, to integrate UI components and ensure robust system functionality.

• Utilize GitLab for version control, code reviews, and active participation in CI/CD pipeline workflows, ensuring efficient software delivery.

• Drive application stability through the creation and maintenance of comprehensive unit and integration tests for all UI components.

• Act as a key communicator, translating feedback from product owners and stakeholders into actionable UI improvements and feature enhancements.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically focused on frontend development within a cloud services team, requiring a strong understanding of React and its application in building both web and desktop interfaces. The emphasis on collaboration with backend engineers using Go and Python, along with CI/CD practices through GitLab, indicates a need for a developer comfortable in a full-stack-adjacent environment, even though the primary focus is UI.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and test responsive user interfaces written in React to interface with backend cloud APIs, ensuring a dynamic and user-friendly experience.

• Package web-based frontends into lightweight, native desktop applications, broadening the reach and usability of developed solutions.

• Collaborate closely with backend engineers to integrate UI components with Go-based orchestrators, Python scripts, and cloud services, fostering seamless data flow and functionality.

• Leverage GitLab for version control, code reviews, and active participation in CI/CD pipeline workflows, contributing to an agile and efficient development lifecycle.

• Create and maintain comprehensive unit and integration tests for UI components to ensure application stability, reliability, and adherence to quality standards.

• Actively communicate with product owners and stakeholders to translate user feedback and business requirements into actionable UI improvements and new features.

• Document frontend architecture, design patterns, and interface specifications for the broader engineering team, promoting knowledge sharing and maintainability.

• Demonstrate the capacity to grow and develop new skills in response to emerging challenges and evolving technological landscapes.

• Perform other duties as assigned to support the Cloud Services team and organizational objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of core frontend development tasks with an emphasis on integration, testing, and documentation. The requirement to package web apps into desktop applications and collaborate with Go/Python backend engineers suggests a need for a developer who can bridge frontend and backend interactions effectively, even if not directly coding backend logic.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is typically expected for intermediate-level software development roles.

Experience: 3+ years of experience developing, testing, and deploying production-ready web applications.

Required Skills:

• US Citizenship is mandatory.

• A Secret Clearance is required to access sensitive information and systems.

• 3+ years of experience developing, testing, and deploying production-ready web applications, demonstrating a solid track record in software delivery.

• 2+ years of strong experience with React and modern frontend state management tools (e.g., Redux, Context API), enabling the creation of complex and dynamic user interfaces.

• 2+ years of experience with Cloud technologies (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP), understanding how frontend applications interact with cloud infrastructure.

• Proficiency with VSCode, including the effective use of extensions for debugging, linting, and formatting, to enhance developer productivity and code quality.

• Strong communication skills with a proven ability to bridge the gap between technical developers and non-technical stakeholders, facilitating clear understanding and collaboration.

• Excellent collaboration and project organization skills, essential for working effectively within a team and managing development tasks. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with React to deliver desktop applications (e.g., using Electron), showcasing versatility in deployment targets.

• Solid understanding of GitLab workflows, issue tracking, and automated frontend testing pipelines, indicating familiarity with DevOps practices.

• Familiarity with container-based environments (Docker) to ensure consistent local development setups and streamlined deployment processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mandatory requirements for US Citizenship and a Secret Clearance are critical prerequisites. The experience listed is focused on practical application in production environments, with a clear emphasis on React and cloud technologies. Preferred skills point towards a candidate who can hit the ground running with existing team workflows and tools like GitLab and Docker.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase at least two significant projects demonstrating responsive UI design and development using React, highlighting your ability to create user-centric interfaces.

• Include examples of web applications packaged as desktop applications, illustrating your capability to adapt frontend technologies for different deployment scenarios.

• Provide code samples or links to repositories (if public) that demonstrate clean code practices, effective state management, and robust component architecture.

• Prepare to discuss the integration challenges and solutions encountered when connecting your UI components with backend APIs, potentially involving Go or Python services.

• Demonstrate your approach to testing, with examples of unit and integration tests written for UI components, showcasing your commitment to application stability. Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your process for translating product requirements and user feedback into functional UI designs and development plans.

• Explain your workflow for collaborating with backend engineers, including how you handle API integration and data flow requirements.

• Detail your approach to creating and maintaining unit and integration tests, emphasizing how you ensure code quality and application reliability.

• Discuss your experience with version control (GitLab) and CI/CD pipelines, including how you contribute to automated testing and deployment processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UI Developer role, a portfolio is crucial. It should not just display finished products but also the thought process behind them. Demonstrating experience with React for both web and desktop applications, along with an understanding of backend integration and testing methodologies, will be key. The emphasis on GitLab and CI/CD suggests that familiarity with modern development workflows is highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the location (Beavercreek Township, OH), experience level (2-5 years), and the required Secret Clearance, a competitive salary range for a UI Developer would typically fall between $80,000 to $110,000 annually. This estimate is derived from industry benchmarks for similar roles in the Midwest region, considering the specialized skill set and security clearance requirement.

Benefits:

• Industry Competitive Benefits Package: This typically includes comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, disability coverage, and a 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching.

• Awards And Recognition Program: Highlights a company culture that values and rewards employee contributions and achievements.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Likely includes vacation days, sick leave, and paid holidays, contributing to work-life balance.

• Professional Development Opportunities: Potential for training, certifications, and conference attendance to enhance skills.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time, on-site position. While standard business hours are expected, occasional flexibility may be required to meet project deadlines or collaborate with teams in different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general market data for UI Developers in Ohio with 2-5 years of experience, adjusted upwards for the requirement of a Secret Clearance, which often commands a premium. The provided benefits are standard for a company that was a "Best Places to Work nominee," suggesting a robust offering.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Applied Research Solutions operates within the technology and government contracting sectors, providing technically integrated solutions. This implies a focus on innovation, precision, and delivering high-quality results for mission-critical partners.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the context of being a "world-class provider" and a "Best Places to Work nominee since 2020" suggests a mid-sized to large organization with established processes and a significant employee base, likely with multiple teams and departments.

Founded: Founded with a mission to deliver premier talent and technology, ARS has established itself as a respected entity. The company's commitment to continuous mission support indicates a stable and enduring operational focus.

Team Structure:

• The role is part of the "Cloud Services team," suggesting a specialized group focused on cloud infrastructure, applications, and related development.

• As an "intermediate role," the UI Developer will likely report to a Lead Developer, Engineering Manager, or a similar leadership position within the Cloud Services team.

• Collaboration is expected with backend engineers (Go, Python), product owners, and potentially other stakeholders, indicating a cross-functional team dynamic. Methodology:

• The company emphasizes "technically integrated solutions" and "state-of-the-art results," pointing to a methodology that values robust engineering practices, quality, and innovation.

• The mention of CI/CD workflows and GitLab suggests an adoption of modern DevOps principles for efficient software development and deployment.

• A focus on "career-driven, loyal professionals" and "work/life balance" indicates a culture that supports both professional growth and employee well-being.

Company Website: appliedres.com

📝 Enhancement Note: ARS appears to be a company that values its employees and fosters a professional, growth-oriented environment within the defense/government contracting technology space. The Cloud Services team likely operates with a structured approach, leveraging modern development tools and practices to support critical missions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This UI Developer position is classified as an intermediate role. This typically means an individual contributor with a solid foundation in core technologies (React, cloud) and the ability to work independently on defined tasks while collaborating effectively with a team. They are expected to contribute to design discussions and problem-solving.

Reporting Structure: The UI Developer will likely report to a Senior Engineer, Team Lead, or Engineering Manager within the Cloud Services team. This structure provides guidance and mentorship while allowing for autonomy in day-to-day development tasks.

Operations Impact: While this is a UI Developer role and not strictly "Operations" in the sense of IT operations or Revenue Operations, the impact is significant. By designing and implementing user-friendly interfaces for cloud services and desktop applications, this role directly influences the usability, efficiency, and adoption of the company's technology solutions by end-users and internal teams. A well-designed UI can streamline workflows, reduce errors, and improve overall productivity for those interacting with the applications.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in React, modern state management, and potentially explore related frontend frameworks or libraries.

• Desktop Application Development: Gain specialized experience in packaging web applications into native desktop formats, a niche but valuable skill.

• Cloud Integration: Further develop understanding of cloud services and how frontend applications integrate with them, potentially leading to full-stack opportunities.

• DevOps Practices: Enhance skills in CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and GitLab workflows, aligning with modern software engineering practices.

• Leadership Potential: With demonstrated success and a willingness to mentor junior developers, there could be a path towards a Senior UI Developer or Lead role within the Cloud Services team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for a UI Developer at ARS appears to be focused on technical specialization and potentially moving into more senior or lead roles within the Cloud Services team. The emphasis on collaboration and modern development practices suggests opportunities to expand into areas like DevOps and cloud architecture.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is listed as "On-site," indicating a traditional office environment. ARS's "Best Places to Work nominee" status suggests a well-equipped and comfortable workspace designed to foster productivity and collaboration.

Office Location(s): The primary work location is Beavercreek Township, OH (near Kettering). This area offers a suburban setting with access to amenities and a community atmosphere.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a workspace conducive to teamwork, with opportunities for face-to-face interaction with colleagues, fostering idea exchange and problem-solving.

• Technology & Tools: Access to modern development tools like VSCode and potentially company-provided hardware and software licenses necessary for frontend development, cloud interaction, and GitLab usage.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities to engage with the Cloud Services team, product owners, and other engineering staff, facilitating clear communication and alignment on project goals.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week, typically during core business hours. While on-site, there may be some flexibility depending on team needs and project timelines, but the primary expectation is consistent presence in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site nature of this role emphasizes the company's preference for in-person collaboration. This environment is likely structured to support team synergy and efficient communication, essential for the integrated development approach described.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with HR or a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, clearance status, and interest in the role.

• Technical Interview (Round 1): Likely focused on core React concepts, state management, component design, and debugging scenarios. Expect questions about your experience with modern frontend development practices.

• Technical Interview (Round 2): Deeper dive into your experience with cloud technologies, API integration, testing methodologies (unit/integration), and potentially a coding challenge or review of your portfolio projects. Discussion of GitLab and CI/CD experience.

• Team/Hiring Manager Interview: Focus on cultural fit, collaboration style, problem-solving approach, and how you would contribute to the Cloud Services team. Questions about handling feedback and working with stakeholders.

• Final Interview: May involve a senior leader or product owner to confirm alignment with company goals and the specific project needs.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight React Expertise: Showcase projects that clearly demonstrate your proficiency in React, including complex component structures and effective state management.

• Showcase Web-to-Desktop: If you have projects where you packaged web apps into desktop applications, make sure to feature these prominently. Explain the tools and process used.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Be ready to discuss how you collaborated with backend developers, product owners, or designers. Use examples from your portfolio to illustrate this.

• Explain Testing Strategies: For each relevant project, discuss the unit and integration tests you implemented. Explain why you chose those testing approaches and how they ensured quality.

• GitLab & CI/CD Familiarity: Be prepared to talk about your experience using GitLab for version control, code reviews, and your understanding of CI/CD principles, even if your direct contributions were limited.

Challenge Preparation:

• Live Coding: Be ready for a live coding exercise, likely in React, focusing on component creation, state updates, or API data handling. Practice common React patterns.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Prepare for questions that present a common UI development problem (e.g., performance optimization, complex state synchronization) and ask for your approach to solving it.

• Portfolio Walkthrough: Practice presenting one or two of your strongest portfolio projects. Focus on the problem, your solution, the technologies used (especially React, cloud, and integration aspects), and the outcome.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely rigorous, focusing on technical skills, problem-solving, and cultural fit. A well-prepared portfolio that directly addresses the requirements (React, desktop packaging, cloud integration, testing, GitLab) will be a significant advantage.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• React: The core JavaScript library for building user interfaces, essential for this role. Proficiency in modern React features and best practices is expected.

• GitLab: Used for version control, code reviews, and CI/CD pipelines. Familiarity with its workflow, issue tracking, and repository management is crucial.

• VSCode: The preferred Integrated Development Environment (IDE), requiring proficiency with its features, extensions for debugging, linting, and formatting to maximize developer efficiency.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary focus for a UI Developer, understanding how frontend performance is tracked and reported (e.g., via browser developer tools, analytics platforms) is beneficial.

• Experience with tools that help monitor application stability and user experience from a frontend perspective. CRM & Automation:

• No specific CRM or automation tools are listed as primary requirements for this UI role. However, understanding how frontend applications interact with backend systems that might be managed by CRMs or automation platforms is helpful. Other Relevant Technologies:

• State Management Libraries: (e.g., Redux, Context API, Zustand) for managing complex application states in React.

• Cloud Platforms: (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) for understanding how frontend applications are deployed and interact with cloud services.

• Containerization: (Docker) for consistent development environments and deployment.

• Backend Languages: Familiarity with Go and Python is beneficial for effective integration discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily centered around modern frontend development with React and robust version control/CI/CD practices via GitLab. Familiarity with containerization and cloud environments is also highlighted, indicating a modern development infrastructure.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Quality & Precision: As a provider of "technically integrated solutions," ARS likely values meticulous development, robust testing, and high-quality deliverables. For a UI Developer, this translates to pixel-perfect design implementation and stable, bug-free code.

• Collaboration & Communication: The emphasis on working with backend engineers, product owners, and stakeholders highlights the importance of effective teamwork and clear communication.

• Innovation & Adaptability: The mention of growing and developing new skills in response to emerging challenges suggests a culture that encourages learning and staying current with technology trends.

• Mission Focus: Within the government contracting space, a commitment to supporting organizational missions and delivering reliable solutions is paramount.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect to work closely with backend developers, product owners, and potentially QA engineers. This requires an open approach to sharing code, ideas, and feedback.

• Agile Principles: The use of GitLab and CI/CD likely implies adoption of agile development methodologies, involving iterative development cycles, regular stand-ups, and continuous feedback loops.

• Knowledge Sharing: The documentation requirement and emphasis on team collaboration suggest a culture where knowledge is shared, and team members are encouraged to learn from each other.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at ARS appears to be a blend of professional rigor, collaborative teamwork, and a commitment to growth. For a UI Developer, this means being technically sound, a good communicator, and adaptable to new challenges and technologies within a structured, mission-oriented environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Bridging Web & Desktop: Successfully packaging web frontends into reliable desktop applications can present unique technical challenges related to performance, native integration, and cross-platform compatibility.

• API Integration Complexity: Ensuring seamless and efficient integration with backend services developed in Go and Python requires careful API design, error handling, and communication.

• Maintaining Responsiveness: Developing UIs that are both responsive across various devices and performant when packaged as desktop applications demands strong optimization skills.

• Evolving Technology Landscape: Staying abreast of the latest advancements in React, state management, and frontend tooling while also adapting to emerging cloud technologies requires continuous learning.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced React Techniques: Deepen expertise in areas like performance optimization, advanced hooks, and server-side rendering with React.

• Desktop Application Development: Gain specialized skills in building and deploying desktop applications using web technologies (e.g., Electron).

• Cloud Infrastructure Interaction: Enhance understanding of how frontend applications interface with cloud services, potentially leading to roles with broader cloud responsibilities.

• DevOps & CI/CD Mastery: Become proficient in setting up and managing automated testing and deployment pipelines within GitLab.

• Cross-functional Skill Development: Opportunity to gain exposure to backend development concepts through collaboration with Go and Python engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to the technologies and integration requirements of the role. The growth opportunities are directly tied to overcoming these challenges and expanding expertise in modern frontend development, cloud integration, and DevOps practices.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex UI component you built with React. What were the main challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on state management, reusability, and performance.)

• "How do you approach ensuring your React applications are responsive and performant across different devices and browsers?" (Discuss CSS techniques, performance profiling, and testing.)

• "Walk me through your process for integrating a frontend application with a backend API. What are common pitfalls, and how do you handle them?" (Mention error handling, data fetching strategies, and API contract adherence.)

• "Describe your experience with packaging web applications into desktop applications. What tools and considerations are important?" (Highlight your understanding of frameworks like Electron or similar.)

• "How do you ensure the quality and stability of your UI code? Discuss your approach to unit and integration testing." (Emphasize testing frameworks and strategies.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Applied Research Solutions and this specific UI Developer role?" (Research ARS's mission, values, and recent projects.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with backend engineers and product owners?" (Provide examples of successful teamwork and communication.)

• "Describe a time you had to adapt to a new technology or development challenge." (Showcase your learning agility and problem-solving skills.)

• "What are your career aspirations, and how does this role fit into them?" (Align your goals with the growth opportunities discussed.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select Your Best: Choose 2-3 projects that best demonstrate your proficiency in React, web-to-desktop packaging, and integration with backend services.

• Tell a Story: For each project, explain the problem it solved, your role in the solution, the technical challenges, your design decisions (especially for UI/UX), and the positive outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Key Technologies: Explicitly mention your use of React, state management, cloud integration, and any relevant testing frameworks.

• Discuss Collaboration: If applicable, explain how you collaborated with others on the project.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific code implementations, architectural choices, and challenges faced.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on articulating technical solutions with clarity, demonstrating a strong understanding of React and its ecosystem, and showcasing your ability to integrate with backend systems and work collaboratively. Emphasize projects that align with the job description's core requirements.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UI Developer position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on recruiting.ultipro.com.

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your 3+ years of web application development experience, 2+ years with React and state management, and any experience with cloud technologies. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate your strongest projects, focusing on those that demonstrate React proficiency, web-to-desktop packaging, and API integration. Be ready to walk through them and discuss your process.

• Practice Interview Questions: Rehearse answers to common behavioral and technical interview questions, particularly those related to React, UI design, testing, and collaboration.

• Research Applied Research Solutions: Understand the company's mission, values, and the type of work they do, especially within their Cloud Services team. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.