Staff Front End Engineer – Portable Platform

Canva

Staff Front End Engineer designing Canva's portable React platform across web and React Native. Leading architecture, migration, shared components, and frontend enablement for hundreds of engineers.

Posted 8/12/2026full-timeRemote • 🇦🇺 AustraliaLeadWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates deep expertise in React and React Native, with a focus on building portable frontend architectures and optimizing performance across multiple platforms. Capable of leading teams through documentation, design reviews, and hands-on coding to deliver high-quality frontend solutions.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Deep React ExpertisePerformance OptimizationCross-Platform Codebase ExperienceHands-On React Native ExperienceOpen-Source Contributions

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

ReactReact NativeServer-Side RenderingPerformance OptimizationCross-Platform DevelopmentComponent LibrariesDesign SystemsAI ToolingFrontend ArchitectureCode Standards

Soft Skills

CollaborationDocumentationDesign ReviewsInfluencing TeamsDirect Communication

Industry Keywords

Frontend DevelopmentPortable PlatformRendering ModelReconciliationCross-Runtime EngineeringOpen-SourceFrontend Ecosystem

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

AndroidiOSReactReact Native

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Design and ship the frontend architecture enabling React engineers to write once and run across web and React Native
Lead the transition from a pure React Web codebase to React Web plus React Native
Build web implementations of shared Portable Platform components across iOS, Android, and browser
Support the upskilling of 600+ frontend engineers through code standards, documentation, design reviews, and direct collaboration
Integrate server-side rendering and React Server Components considerations into the portable frontend layer
Stay hands-on by writing production code, design documents, and reviews
Own the architecture layer of Canva's Portable Platform transition
Establish patterns and defaults for Canva's frontend organisation
Collaborate with the Principal Engineer and mobile-focused engineers
Deliver a frontend layer in use within 12 months

Requirements

What you’ll need

Deep React expertise, including reconciliation, rendering model, and server component model
Experience making decisions below the framework surface
Proven performance optimization experience on a complex frontend product with measurable gains
Experience with portable or cross-platform codebases spanning multiple runtimes
Understanding of React Native differences from React Web and cross-runtime engineering considerations
Experience influencing multiple teams through documentation, prototypes, and direct collaboration
Hands-on day-to-day coding with recent commits, design documents, and reviews
Experience using AI tooling in real engineering work
Familiarity with SSR and React Server Components patterns
Hands-on React Native experience is a plus
Open-source contributions to React, React Native, or the broader frontend ecosystem are a plus
Experience building shared design systems or component libraries across rendering environments is a plus
Must provide pronouns and any reasonable interview adjustments when applying

Benefits

Comp & perks

Equity packages
Inclusive parental leave policy that supports all parents & carers
Annual Vibe & Thrive allowance to support wellbeing, social connection, office setup & more
Flexible leave options
Virtual interviews