UI Engineer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI Engineer

Company: Aretum

Location: McLean, Virginia, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Software Engineering / Front-end Development

Date Posted: May 01, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Develop and maintain sophisticated user interface (UI) components for enterprise-level applications, ensuring seamless integration with back-end services.

• Leverage modern front-end frameworks, primarily React and TypeScript, to build scalable, high-performance, and user-friendly interfaces.

• Integrate various APIs, with a specific focus on GraphQL, to enable dynamic data fetching and manipulation within the UI.

• Implement robust unit testing strategies using Vitest to ensure code quality, reliability, and maintainability of UI components.

• Collaborate closely within an Agile/Scrum development team, working with UX designers, business analysts, and other engineers to deliver high-quality software solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "UI Engineer," the responsibilities and required skills indicate a strong front-end development focus, emphasizing component-based architecture, API integration, and testing. The role is situated within a federal civilian client context, suggesting a need for adherence to specific security and development standards common in government contracting.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Architect, develop, and implement reusable UI components using React and TypeScript, adhering strictly to UX designs, wireframes, user stories, and acceptance criteria.

• Enhance and maintain existing UI components for enterprise applications, focusing on performance optimization, accessibility, and code quality.

• Integrate front-end components with various APIs, including but not limited to GraphQL-based APIs, ensuring efficient data flow and application responsiveness.

• Design and develop comprehensive unit tests for all new and existing UI components using Vitest, aiming for high test coverage and code reliability.

• Proactively identify, troubleshoot, and resolve UI-related defects reported by testers and end-users, implementing effective and efficient bug fixes.

• Actively participate in Agile ceremonies, collaborating with UX designers, business analysts, and fellow engineers to refine acceptance criteria and ensure UI functionality meets or exceeds project requirements.

• Support functional validation, regression testing, and sprint release activities, ensuring smooth deployment and integration of new features.

• Utilize Azure DevOps and Git for comprehensive task management, code version control, status tracking, and collaboration within the development workflow.

• Contribute to the application development and deployment lifecycle across various environments, including local, test, staging, and cloud platforms.

• Work collaboratively with technical teams on applications utilizing a broad technology stack, including React, TypeScript, GraphQL, ASP.NET Core, Entity Framework Core, PostgreSQL, Kubernetes, Helm, Azure, Azure Pipelines, Azure DevOps, and Git.

• Maintain clear, concise, and accurate technical documentation, effectively communicating project status, identified risks, blockers, and quality concerns to the project team and stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a full-stack awareness, particularly concerning integration with ASP.NET Core, PostgreSQL, and cloud-native technologies like Kubernetes and Azure. While primarily a UI role, understanding these adjacent technologies will be crucial for effective collaboration and integration.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of dedicated experience in UI development, front-end engineering, or comprehensive software development roles.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to translate UX designs, wireframes, user stories, and detailed acceptance criteria into functional and visually accurate React components.

• Proficient in building comprehensive unit tests for UI components using Vitest or comparable modern JavaScript testing frameworks.

• Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills to effectively identify and resolve UI issues and defects in complex application environments.

• Solid understanding and practical experience with API integration, particularly with GraphQL.

• Knowledge of containerized application environments and deployment pipelines, from local development setups to cloud-based deployments.

• Familiarity with ASP.NET Core, Entity Framework Core, and PostgreSQL within an application development context.

• Understanding of Kubernetes and Helm charts for application deployments and configuration management.

• Experience with Azure cloud services, including Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Storage Accounts, and Key Vaults.

• Proficiency in using Azure Pipelines, Azure DevOps, and Git for managing development workflows, code repositories, and task tracking.

• Strong grasp of Agile/Scrum development methodologies, including participation in ceremonies and adherence to iterative development cycles.

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts clearly.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with UI component libraries and state management solutions such as Ant Design, React Query, and Zustand.

• Prior experience supporting federal civilian clients, understanding government contracting environments and requirements.

• Experience with enterprise application modernization initiatives or cloud-native application development.

• Knowledge of web accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and best practices for UI testing.

• Previous involvement in proposal, recompete, or contingent award efforts for government contracts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills list is extensive, covering not only core front-end technologies but also back-end integration points, cloud infrastructure, and DevOps practices. Candidates should emphasize experience with the entire CI/CD pipeline and cloud deployment strategies. The preference for experience with specific libraries like Ant Design, React Query, and Zustand suggests these are actively used within the team.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 distinct projects demonstrating expertise in React and TypeScript component development.

• Include case studies that highlight the process of translating UX designs and requirements into functional UI elements, detailing challenges and solutions.

• Provide evidence of API integration, particularly with GraphQL, and how data was managed and displayed within the UI.

• Present examples of unit tests written for UI components, demonstrating a commitment to code quality and testability.

Process Documentation:

• For each portfolio project, outline the development workflow from initial requirement gathering through to deployment.

• Document the testing process, including the types of tests performed (unit, integration, regression) and the tools used (e.g., Vitest).

• Explain the version control and CI/CD processes utilized, specifically mentioning Git and Azure DevOps/Pipelines.

• Describe how UI components were integrated with back-end services and APIs, detailing any challenges encountered and resolved.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their projects, explaining their design choices, problem-solving approaches, and the impact of their work. Demonstrating a clear understanding of the development lifecycle and collaboration within a team setting is paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Care Plan: Includes medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.

• Retirement Plan: A 401k plan is offered, likely with employer matching contributions.

• Life Insurance: Basic and voluntary life insurance, along with Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous paid time off for vacation, personal days, and sick leave.

• Family Leave: Support for maternity and paternity leave.

• Disability Insurance: Both short-term and long-term disability coverage to provide financial security.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week. While the role is remote, adherence to core business hours for collaboration within the US time zones (particularly Eastern Time) will be necessary. Flexibility may be available, but consistent availability for team meetings and critical project phases is anticipated.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for similar roles in the US market, considering the experience level and remote nature. The benefits package is standard for a full-time position and should be confirmed directly with Aretum. The mention of "U.S. Work Authorization" and "This position does not offer sponsorship" implies a need for candidates to be legally authorized to work in the US.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Government Contracting. Aretum operates within the technology sector, with a significant focus on providing solutions and services to government clients, particularly within the federal civilian space. This implies a need for high standards of security, compliance, and reliability in all developed solutions.

Company Size: While the exact size isn't specified, Aretum is a growing technology firm, suggesting a dynamic environment where individual contributions can have a significant impact. This size often translates to opportunities for professional development and exposure to diverse projects.

Founded: Aretum was founded in 2015, indicating a relatively young but established company with a track record in its specialized markets. This provides a blend of established processes and the agility of a growing organization.

Team Structure:

• The UI Engineer will likely be part of a dedicated software development team, potentially organized around specific client projects or product lines.

• Reporting structure will probably involve a team lead or a project manager, with close collaboration expected with UX designers, business analysts, back-end developers, and QA testers.

Methodology:

• Data analysis and insights are fundamental, driving decisions for UI improvements and feature development.

• Workflow planning and optimization will be key, ensuring efficient development cycles and timely delivery of high-quality components.

• Automation and efficiency practices will be employed, leveraging tools like Azure DevOps and CI/CD pipelines to streamline development and deployment processes.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The "federal civilian client" context is crucial. Candidates should be aware of the potential for strict security protocols, background checks, and compliance requirements common in government contracting. Understanding the nuances of working with government agencies can be a significant advantage.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a mid-to-senior level position within the UI/Front-end Engineering discipline. It requires significant hands-on technical expertise and the ability to operate with a degree of autonomy, contributing to architectural decisions and best practices within the team. The focus is on deep technical contribution rather than broad management.

Reporting Structure: The UI Engineer will likely report to a Technical Lead or Project Manager within the engineering department. They will work closely with a cross-functional team, including UX designers, business analysts, and other engineers, fostering a collaborative and integrated development environment.

Operations Impact: The UI Engineer directly impacts the user experience of critical applications for federal civilian clients. Their work is instrumental in ensuring that these applications are intuitive, efficient, and meet the functional requirements of government users, thereby contributing to the client's mission success and Aretum's reputation for delivering high-quality solutions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced React patterns, performance optimization, accessibility standards, and emerging front-end technologies.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Gain exposure to back-end technologies (ASP.NET Core, PostgreSQL), cloud infrastructure (Azure, Kubernetes), and DevOps practices, potentially leading to full-stack capabilities.

• Leadership Potential: Progress into a Senior UI Engineer role, mentoring junior developers, leading UI architecture discussions, and taking ownership of significant feature development.

• Client Engagement: Develop stronger client-facing communication skills and gain experience in understanding and translating federal client needs into technical solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path here leans heavily towards technical mastery and specialized contributions. While management opportunities may exist, the immediate focus is on becoming an expert UI/Front-end engineer within the context of government technology solutions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position, offering the flexibility to work from any location within the United States.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the company headquarters or a primary client presence is in McLean, Virginia. This may influence some team coordination efforts and potentially opportunities for occasional on-site collaboration if desired or required for specific client engagements.

Workspace Context:

• The remote nature fosters an independent work environment, requiring self-discipline and effective time management.

• Collaboration will primarily occur through digital channels, utilizing tools like Azure DevOps, Git, and various communication platforms.

• Access to modern development tools and technology stacks is a given, supporting efficient and effective UI development.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) are expected.

• While remote, availability during core business hours, particularly within the Eastern Time Zone (ET), is crucial for effective collaboration with the team and client stakeholders.

• Occasional flexibility may be accommodated, but consistent availability for daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and critical project deadlines is essential.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote aspect requires a high degree of self-motivation and proactive communication. Candidates should be adept at managing their own schedules and ensuring they are accessible and responsive to team needs.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Technical Interview(s): One or more interviews focused on assessing core UI engineering skills, including React, TypeScript, API integration, and testing. Expect live coding exercises or problem-solving scenarios.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, discussing specific projects, their role, technical challenges, and solutions. This is a critical step for demonstrating practical application of skills.

• Team/Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager and potentially team members to evaluate collaboration style, problem-solving approach, and alignment with team dynamics and company culture.

• Final Interview/Offer: Potentially a final discussion with senior leadership or a formal offer presentation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Select Projects: Choose projects that best showcase your React, TypeScript, and GraphQL integration skills, particularly those with complex UI challenges or significant user impact.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your specific contributions, the technologies used, the challenges faced, and the solutions implemented. Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., improved load times, reduced error rates).

• Highlight Collaboration: If possible, demonstrate how you worked with designers, back-end developers, or other stakeholders. Explain your role within a team context.

• Prepare for Technical Deep Dives: Be ready to discuss your code, architectural decisions, testing strategies (Vitest), and API integration patterns in detail.

• Showcase Problem-Solving: Emphasize instances where you encountered significant technical hurdles and how you overcame them.

Challenge Preparation:

• Coding Challenges: Practice common front-end coding challenges focusing on algorithms, data structures, and JavaScript/TypeScript proficiency.

• Component Design: Be prepared to design and implement a React component from scratch based on a given set of requirements.

• Debugging Scenarios: Familiarize yourself with common debugging techniques for front-end applications and be ready to diagnose and fix provided code snippets.

• API Integration Problems: Practice scenarios involving fetching, displaying, and manipulating data from APIs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is a prime opportunity to differentiate yourself. Candidates should view this as a chance to tell a compelling story about their technical journey and problem-solving capabilities, supported by tangible project examples.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

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

• TypeScript: A superset of JavaScript that adds static typing, enhancing code quality and maintainability.

• GraphQL: A query language for APIs, enabling efficient data fetching and manipulation.

• Vitest: A fast and modern unit testing framework for JavaScript and TypeScript projects.

• Git: The standard distributed version control system for code management and collaboration.

• Azure DevOps: A suite of development services for planning, managing code, tracking work, and deploying applications.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Azure Pipelines: Part of Azure DevOps, used for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) of applications.

• Kubernetes & Helm: For container orchestration and managing complex application deployments.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with the specified tools is essential. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience level with each, providing specific examples of how they have utilized them in previous projects. Familiarity with the broader Azure ecosystem and containerization technologies is a significant plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence: A commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable, and performant software solutions.

• Integrity: Upholding ethical standards in all work, particularly important when supporting government clients.

• Collaboration: Fostering a team-oriented environment where knowledge sharing and mutual support are encouraged.

• Innovation: Embracing new technologies and methodologies to continuously improve processes and solutions.

• Client Focus: Prioritizing the needs and success of the client through effective communication and delivery.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile & Iterative: Working within an Agile/Scrum framework, emphasizing iterative development and continuous feedback.

• Cross-Functional: Actively engaging with designers, business analysts, and back-end engineers to ensure holistic project development.

• Transparent Communication: Maintaining open lines of communication regarding progress, challenges, and potential risks.

• Problem-Solving Oriented: A collective approach to tackling technical challenges and finding effective solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's emphasis on "excellence, integrity, and equal opportunity" suggests a professional and ethical work environment. For a federal contracting company, integrity and client focus are likely paramount values.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complex Requirements: Navigating intricate requirements from federal civilian clients, which may involve strict compliance and security protocols.

• Integration with Legacy/Diverse Systems: Seamlessly integrating modern front-end components with potentially older or diverse back-end systems (e.g., ASP.NET Core, PostgreSQL).

• Maintaining High Code Quality: Consistently delivering robust, well-tested UI components within fast-paced development cycles.

• Remote Collaboration: Effectively collaborating and communicating within a distributed team environment, ensuring alignment and productivity.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Technical Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in React, TypeScript, GraphQL, and related front-end ecosystem tools.

• Cloud & DevOps Exposure: Gaining hands-on experience with Azure services, Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines, expanding skill sets beyond pure front-end development.

• Industry Best Practices: Learning and applying best practices in UI/UX design, accessibility, and performance optimization relevant to enterprise and government applications.

• Mentorship: Potential for mentorship from senior engineers and architects within Aretum.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a strong opportunity to grow within the government contracting technology space, combining cutting-edge front-end skills with exposure to critical back-end and cloud infrastructure technologies.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex UI component or feature you developed using React and TypeScript. What were the key challenges, and how did you solve them?" (Focus on problem-solving, technical depth, and component design).

• "How do you approach integrating a GraphQL API into a React application? Can you walk me through the process and any considerations for error handling or data caching?" (Assess API integration skills and understanding of GraphQL patterns).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working with federal civilian clients, and what do you see as the unique challenges or rewards of this sector?" (Gauge understanding and interest in government contracting).

• "How do you typically collaborate with UX designers and back-end developers to ensure a cohesive product?" (Assess collaboration and cross-functional communication skills).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with Impact: Begin by highlighting the most impressive or relevant projects that demonstrate your core skills.

• Tell a Story: For each project, structure your explanation as a narrative: problem, solution, your role, technologies, and outcomes.

• Be Technically Specific: Be prepared to dive into code snippets, architectural decisions, and specific challenges you overcame.

• Quantify Results: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the positive impact of your work (e.g., performance improvements, user satisfaction gains).

• Engage and Ask Questions: Treat it as a collaborative discussion rather than a monologue. Ask clarifying questions about their technology stack or project goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare specific examples that align with the job description's requirements, especially regarding React, TypeScript, GraphQL, Vitest, Azure DevOps, and Agile methodologies. Demonstrating an understanding of the government client context will be a significant advantage.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UI Engineer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume prominently features your experience with React, TypeScript, GraphQL, Vitest, Azure DevOps, and Git. Highlight specific achievements and quantify your impact where possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate your best UI projects that showcase your skills in component development, API integration, and testing. Be ready to present and discuss these in detail.

• Research Aretum: Familiarize yourself with Aretum's mission, services, and their work with federal civilian clients to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural alignment.

• Practice Interview Questions: Review common UI engineering interview questions, particularly those related to React, TypeScript, testing, and API integration, and prepare thoughtful, example-driven answers.

⚠️ 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.