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Sr. Front End Creative Developer (Freelance / Contractor)

Metajive
Encinitas, CA Contractor
POSTED ON 6/5/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 7/5/2026
Description

Metajive is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Sr. Front-End Creative Developer with deep expertise in modern JavaScript frameworks (Next.js, React) and a passion for creating exceptional user experiences. You will be the architect of our client-facing applications, responsible for transforming complex designs and back-end data into fast, robust, and engaging interfaces. Your primary focus will be on Next.js development and seamless integration with our headless Craft CMS.

  • This is a freelancer/contractor role, but could open doors to future work with us

Requirements

Responsibilities:

  • Lead the development of high-performance, responsive, and accessible user interfaces using Next.js and React.
  • Architect and implement seamless data consumption from our headless CMS APIs, with a strong focus on Craft CMS and GraphQL.
  • Collaborate closely with back-end developers (who manage the PHP/Craft CMS API) to define and refine API contracts, ensuring optimal front-end performance.
  • Translate UI/UX designs and wireframes into high-quality code (HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript/TypeScript).
  • Implement and maintain state management solutions for complex application logic.
  • Optimize front-end assets and code for maximum speed and scalability, focusing on Core Web Vitals and Lighthouse scores.
  • Contribute to setting up and maintaining front-end testing frameworks and CI/CD pipelines relevant to the front-end environment.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve front-end issues, bugs, and performance bottlenecks across various browsers and devices.

Qualifications

  • 5 years of professional experience in front-end development.
  • Deep expertise in modern JavaScript (ES6 ), HTML5, and CSS3/Sass/Tailwind.
  • Experience working with a creative agency is a huge plus!
  • Expert-level proficiency with Next.js and the broader React ecosystem (including Hooks, Context API, or Redux/Zustand).
  • Significant, hands-on experience integrating front-end applications with headless CMS platforms, specifically with Craft CMS.
  • GraphQL experience is a must, including proficiency in consuming and querying complex schemas.
  • Strong understanding of static site generation (SSG) and server-side rendering (SSR) principles in Next.js.
  • Proficiency in version control systems (Git) and collaborative development workflows.
  • Familiarity with consuming RESTful APIs.
  • Strong problem-solving, analytical, and proactive communication skills.
  • Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills with the proven ability to present to clients, mentor less-experienced developers, and manage project scope.
  • Pioneering Spirit: A proactive, solution-oriented mindset. You are comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment and are ready to build the playbook for agency-level agentic execution.

Bonus Points

  • Experience with front-end testing frameworks (e.g., Jest, React Testing Library, Cypress).
  • Familiarity with serverless functions (e.g., AWS Lambda, Vercel Functions).
  • Experience with deployment to platforms like Vercel or Netlify.
  • Working knowledge of modern authentication patterns (e.g., OAuth, JWT).
  • A security-first mindset in development practices.

Salary

This is a Freelance/Contractor role with potential for future project work.

Hourly Wage Estimation for Sr. Front End Creative Developer (Freelance / Contractor) in Encinitas, CA
$57.00 to $69.00
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