Remote Lead Frontend Developer (React)

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Provident fund

Remote-first culture

Flexible work from home

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Frontend Developer to lead a remote development team across South Africa. You will architect and implement advanced React-based interfaces, mentor developers, and drive frontend best practices in a remote-first environment.

You will collaborate with product and design teams to deliver scalable, high-performance web applications while championing accessibility and security. Strong leadership and communication are essential for guiding a distributed team.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of frontend experience with 2+ in lead roles.
• Proven expertise in React, hooks, and state management.
• Strong JS, HTML5, CSS3 fundamentals.
• Experience with modern build tools and package managers.
• Familiar with RESTful APIs and asynchronous requests.
• Experience with automated testing and CI/CD.
• Excellent communication and leadership for remote teams.
• TypeScript experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of complex frontend features using React.
• Architect scalable frontend solutions aligned with business goals.
• Mentor junior/mid developers and ensure code quality.
• Conduct code reviews and enforce performance, security, and accessibility.
• Collaborate with backend, product, and design to define tech requirements.
• Optimize performance across devices and browsers.
• Drive adoption of new frontend technologies.
• Resolve complex technical issues and contribute to frontend roadmap.
• Champion remote-first culture and cross-team collaboration.

Skills

React

JavaScript

TypeScript

HTML/CSS

Leadership

Remote teamwork

REST APIs

Testing (Jest)

CI/CD

Tools

Webpack

Vite

npm

Yarn

Jest

React Testing Library

Git

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading global SaaS provider, is revolutionizing the industry with its cutting-edge platform. We are on the hunt for an exceptional Lead Frontend Developer to spearhead our remote development team. This is a fully remote position, offering the freedom to work from anywhere within South Africa. You will be responsible for architecting and implementing sophisticated user interfaces using React, driving best practices in frontend development, and mentoring a talented group of developers. If you are passionate about building high-performance, scalable, and user-friendly web applications, and thrive in a collaborative, remote-first environment, this is the opportunity for you. Join us in shaping the future of our product from the comfort of your home office in Cape Town, Western Cape or elsewhere.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of complex frontend features using React and modern JavaScript frameworks.
• Architect scalable and maintainable frontend solutions that align with business objectives.
• Mentor and guide junior and mid-level frontend developers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and collaboration.
• Conduct code reviews, ensure code quality, and implement best practices for performance, security, and accessibility.
• Collaborate with backend developers, product managers, and designers to define technical requirements and deliver seamless user experiences.
• Optimize application performance for maximum speed and scalability across various devices and browsers.
• Drive the adoption of new frontend technologies and methodologies within the team.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues in a timely manner.
• Contribute to the overall technical strategy and roadmap of the frontend architecture.
• Champion a remote-first development culture, ensuring effective communication and collaboration across distributed teams.

Requirements

• 5+ years of professional experience in frontend development, with at least 2 years in a lead or senior role.
• Proven expertise in React, including hooks, context API, and state management libraries (e.g., Redux, Zustand).
• Strong understanding of JavaScript (ES6+), HTML5, and CSS3.
• Experience with modern frontend build tools (e.g., Webpack, Vite) and package managers (e.g., npm, yarn).
• Familiarity with RESTful APIs and asynchronous request handling.
• Experience with automated testing frameworks (e.g., Jest, React Testing Library).
• Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and best practices for deployment.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and debugging skills.
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire a remote team.
• Experience with TypeScript is highly desirable.

Benefits

This fully remote role offers a highly competitive salary and benefits package, including medical aid and a generous provident fund. You will have the opportunity to work on challenging and impactful projects with a global reach. Our client provides extensive professional development opportunities, including access to online courses and conferences. Enjoy the flexibility and autonomy of working from home, with a supportive and collaborative team culture. We believe in work-life balance and encourage our team members to thrive both professionally and personally. The position is open to candidates located anywhere in South Africa, truly embodying the spirit of a remote-first opportunity, extending beyond just Cape Town .