Staff Front End Engineer – Portable Platform

Canva

Staff Front End Engineer designing Canva's Portable Platform for shared React and React Native development. Building cross-platform abstractions and guiding hundreds of frontend engineers through the migration.

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

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in designing and implementing frontend architectures using React and React Native, with a focus on performance optimization and cross-platform codebases. Capable of leading teams through documentation and collaboration while maintaining hands-on coding practices.

Highest-signal resume keywords

React ExpertiseCross-Platform Codebase DevelopmentServer-Side RenderingPerformance OptimizationAI Tooling Experience

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

ReactReact NativeServer-Side RenderingFrontend Architecture DesignComponent LibrariesDesign SystemsCode StandardsDocumentationPerformance GainsCross-Runtime Engineering

Soft Skills

CollaborationInfluencing TeamsCode ReviewsMentoring

Tools & Technologies

AI ToolingDesign Prototypes

Industry Keywords

Frontend DevelopmentOpen-Source ContributionsPortable PlatformReact Server Components

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

AndroidiOSReactReact Native

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Design and ship the frontend architecture for the Portable Platform across web and React Native
Lead Canva's transition from React Web to React Web plus React Native
Build web implementations of shared Portable Platform abstractions for iOS, Android, and browser
Support the upskilling of 600+ frontend engineers through code standards, documentation, design reviews, and collaboration
Reason about server-side rendering and React Server Components in the portable frontend architecture
Stay hands-on by writing code, design documents, and production commits
Own the architecture layer and establish reusable patterns and defaults for Canva's frontend organisation
Collaborate with the Principal Engineer and mobile-focused engineers
Deliver a frontend layer that enables React engineers to write once across web and React Native

Requirements

What you’ll need

Deep experience with React, including reconciliation, rendering, and the server component model
Experience driving measurable performance gains on complex frontend products
Experience with portable or cross-platform codebases spanning multiple runtimes
Understanding of React Native's 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 and a perspective on its impact on frontend development
Familiarity with server-side rendering and React Server Components
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

Benefits

Comp & perks

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