WordPress Developer (React,js/Next.js)

Job Description This is a remote position. Work Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM AEST (flexible ±1 hour overlap) Employment Type: Permanent (Remote) Experience Required: 3+ Years Role Overview We are seeking a highly detail-oriented and performance-driven Front-End Developer to join a fast-paced Australian digital agency working with enterprise and government-level clients. The company is progressively shifting toward a React-first architecture. Strong React competency is mandatory. While WordPress remains part of the current ecosystem, the long-term direction is modern front-end frameworks and custom CMS solutions. This role requires a self-sufficient engineer who can produce production-ready code without heavy internal QA buffers. Code is expected to be clean, scalable, well-structured, and deployment-ready upon first submission. You will work under a structured engineering hierarchy led by a Lead Engineer who enforces strict standards. The ideal candidate is adaptable, quality-driven, and comfortable integrating into an existing system rather than redefining it. Key Responsibilities Develop and maintain modern front-end applications using React (primary focus), Next.js, or Vite.js Translate Figma designs into pixel-perfect, responsive interfaces Deliver highly polished UI with exceptional attention to spacing, typography, hierarchy, and motion Implement advanced animations using GSAP or similar libraries while maintaining Lighthouse performance scores above 90 Optimize bundle size, rendering performance, and Core Web Vitals Maintain clean, modular, scalable, and well-documented code Follow strict naming conventions, architecture guidelines, and deployment standards Conduct thorough self-QA before submission (cross-browser, responsive, accessibility, performance) Collaborate closely with designers and backend developers Support WordPress front-end customisation and ACF integration when required Use AI tools (Copilot, Claude, etc.) responsibly to accelerate development while maintaining architectural integrity Technical Requirements Must Have 3+ years of professional front-end development experience. Strong React.js competency (mandatory). Solid production experience with Next.js or Vite.js. Strong proficiency in HTML, CSS, and modern JavaScript (ES6+). Hands-on experience with GSAP or modern animation frameworks. Advanced understanding of performance optimization and Core Web Vitals. Experience integrating REST APIs. Clean code architecture and documentation discipline. Experience working with Git-based workflows (clean commits, structured PRs). Ability to deliver production-level builds without reliance on QA. Comfort using AI-assisted development tools responsibly. Nice to Have Exposure to large-scale, enterprise, or government-level projects Experience working under strict engineering review structures WordPress custom theme and ACF integration experience Headless CMS experience Basic backend exposure (Node.js or PHP) Experience optimizing large bundle builds Familiarity with Agile/Scrum environments Cultural Fit Comfortable in a fast-paced agency environment Highly detail-oriented and quality-obsessed Adaptable and trainable (not rigid or process-imposing) Comfortable working under a strong Lead Engineer structure Strong ownership mentality with client-first mindset Passionate about modern tooling and AI-assisted workflows