Senior Front end Developer

WMS Secure; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

WMS Secure is searching for a Senior Front-End Developer in Johannesburg, South Africa. The role entails designing high-performance web applications, ensuring responsive and SEO-optimized interfaces. Candidates must have 5–8+ years of experience in front-end development, with strong skills in HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. Knowledge of modern frameworks such as React or Angular, as well as SEO principles, is essential for this position. The role emphasizes collaboration with UX/UI designers and backend developers.

Qualifications

• 5–8+ years of front-end development experience.
• Strong proficiency in JavaScript (ES6+) and modern frameworks.
• Proven experience with SEO principles and web performance optimization.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain scalable, high-quality web applications.
• Translate UI/UX designs into functional, interactive interfaces.
• Optimize page speed and overall performance.

Skills

HTML5

CSS3

JavaScript (ES6+)

Responsive Design

SEO Principles

Version Control (Git)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, IT, or related field

Tools

React

Vue

Angular

Job description

Role Purpose

The Senior Front-End Developer is responsible for designing and developing high-performance, user-centric web applications. This role focuses on creating responsive, accessible, and SEO-optimized interfaces using modern front-end technologies, while collaborating closely with UX/UI designers, backend developers, and digital marketing teams.

Key Responsibilities

1. Front-End Development
   • Build and maintain scalable, high-quality web applications
   • Develop responsive, mobile-first interfaces using modern CSS frameworks and methodologies
   • Write clean, efficient, and reusable code using JavaScript (ES6+)
   • Ensure cross-browser compatibility and consistent user experience
2. UI/UX Implementation
   • Translate UI/UX designs into functional, interactive interfaces
   • Collaborate with designers to improve usability and accessibility
   • Implement design systems and component libraries
3. SEO & Performance Optimization
   • Apply technical SEO best practices (semantic HTML, structured data, meta tags)
   • Optimize page speed, Core Web Vitals, and overall performance
   • Ensure proper indexing, crawlability, and accessibility standards
   • Work with marketing teams to align front-end delivery with SEO strategy
4. Code Quality & Best Practices
   • Enforce coding standards, version control, and documentation
   • Conduct code reviews and mentor junior developers
   • Implement testing strategies (unit, integration, UI testing)
   • Ensure security and data protection best practices
5. Collaboration & Agile Delivery
   • Work within Agile/Scrum teams to deliver features iteratively
   • Collaborate with backend developers to integrate APIs and services
   • Participate in sprint planning, stand-ups, and retrospectives
6. Continuous Improvement & Innovation
   • Stay updated with emerging front-end technologies and trends
   • Propose and implement improvements to architecture and performance
   • Drive adoption of modern frameworks and tooling

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Page load speed and Core Web Vitals performance
• SEO performance (organic traffic, rankings, crawlability)
• Code quality and defect rates
• Delivery timelines and sprint velocity
• User engagement metrics (bounce rate, session duration)
• Accessibility compliance (WCAG standards)

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, IT, or related field
• 5–8+ years of front-end development experience
• Strong proficiency in:
  • HTML5, CSS3 (Flexbox, Grid, preprocessors like SASS/SCSS)
  • JavaScript (ES6+) and modern frameworks (React, Vue, or Angular)
• Solid understanding of responsive and mobile-first design
• Proven experience with SEO principles and web performance optimization
• Experience with version control systems (Git)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with frameworks like Next.js, Nuxt.js, or similar SSR technologies
• Familiarity with technical SEO tools (e.g., Google Search Console, Lighthouse)
• Experience with headless CMS and API integrations
• Knowledge of web accessibility standards (WCAG)
• Exposure to CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices

Key Competencies

• Strong problem-solving and analytical thinking
• Attention to detail and design sensitivity
• Effective communication and collaboration
• Mentorship and leadership skills
• Adaptability and continuous learning mindset

Nice-to-Have Skills

• TypeScript
• Web animations (GSAP, Framer Motion)
• Progressive Web Apps (PWA)
• Basic backend knowledge (Node.js, APIs)
• SEO Principles
• HTML, CSS
• Testing & Debugging