Senior Front-End Engineer React AWS - $80/hr Contract in Columbus
Career & Market Insight
Compensation Benchmark: At up to $80/hr W2 (~$160K annualized) or $88/hr C2C (~$176K), this is competitive for a senior front-end engineer in the US market, where mid-to-senior React/TypeScript roles typically range from $130K–$180K annually. The C2C rate accounts for self-employment taxes and benefits overhead — factor that in when comparing.
Skills You'll Develop: This role is a strong resume builder. You'll work with a modern, high-demand stack:
- React + TypeScript on production-scale, high-traffic platforms
- AWS-integrated front-end architecture (CloudFront, Lambda, API Gateway)
- GraphQL, streaming data, and real-time analytics UI — increasingly rare and valuable skills
- AI-assisted development tools (Cursor, Claude Code) — forward-looking and marketable
Green Flags: The mention of election and analytics platforms suggests a high-visibility, meaningful product domain. Working independently with minimal oversight is a strong signal for senior autonomy. The "nice to have" AI/LLM interface experience points to a team actively modernizing.
Red Flags / Watch Points:
- 12-month contract with no mention of conversion — clarify renewal/FTE pathways before accepting.
- "Rapid development timelines" may signal crunch culture; probe in interviews.
- No benefits mentioned for W2 — confirm whether the employer provides health insurance or a stipend.
Onsite/Hybrid/Remote: Remote (EST Work Hours)
Duration: 12 Months to start with
Rate Range: Up to $80/hr W2 or $88/hr C2C
Work Authorization: GC, USC, H1B — All valid EADs except OPT, CPT
Must Have:
- 5+ years of professional front-end software development experience
- Strong React and TypeScript experience
- HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript
- AWS experience with CloudFront, S3, ECS or Lambda, and API Gateway
- REST and GraphQL API integration
- Front-end testing with Jest, React Testing Library, Cypress, or Playwright
- CI/CD experience using GitHub Actions, AWS CodePipeline, or similar
- Experience building scalable and production-grade front-end applications
- Web performance optimization and accessibility standards
- Experience working on customer-facing applications
Responsibilities:
- Build and enhance front-end applications using React and TypeScript.
- Revamp and modernize existing UI experiences for internal high-visibility applications.
- Develop new front-end capabilities for election and analytics-focused platforms.
- Collaborate with UX designers, product managers, and engineering teams to deliver scalable user experiences.
- Integrate front-end applications with AWS services, REST APIs, GraphQL APIs, and streaming data services.
- Improve usability, search, navigation, and workflow efficiency across applications.
- Write clean, maintainable, and scalable production-ready code.
- Participate in testing, deployment, troubleshooting, monitoring, and optimization activities.
- Support rapid development timelines and work independently with minimal oversight.
Qualifications:
- 5+ years of non-internship front-end engineering experience.
- Strong hands-on expertise with React, TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
- Experience deploying and supporting applications in AWS environments.
- Understanding of component architecture, state management, rendering performance, and browser behavior.
- Experience working in agile product and engineering teams.
- Ability to quickly ramp up and contribute to existing applications and codebases.
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
Nice to Have:
- Experience with AI-assisted or LLM-integrated interfaces.
- Familiarity with Cursor, Claude Code, or similar AI development tools.
- Familiarity with machine learning concepts.
- Databricks exposure.
- Experience with data visualization libraries such as D3.js, Recharts, or Chart.js.
- Experience with Next.js or server-side rendering frameworks.
- Experience with CloudWatch, Datadog, or similar observability tools.
- Prior experience supporting high-traffic media, news, or real-time analytics platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this role fully remote or are there onsite requirements?
This position is fully remote. However, candidates must be available to work Eastern Standard Time (EST) hours.
What is the pay rate and contract structure?
The rate is up to $80/hr on a W2 basis or $88/hr on a Corp-to-Corp (C2C) basis. The initial contract duration is 12 months.
Who is eligible to apply based on work authorization?
The role is open to US Green Card holders, US citizens, H1B visa holders, and valid EAD holders — except OPT and CPT. This is a US work-authorization-only position.
What are the core technical skills required?
Candidates must have 5+ years of front-end experience with strong proficiency in React, TypeScript, HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript, along with AWS services (CloudFront, S3, Lambda, API Gateway) and REST/GraphQL API integration.
Are there any preferred bonus skills that could strengthen my application?
Yes — experience with AI-assisted development tools (Cursor, Claude Code), data visualization libraries (D3.js, Recharts), Next.js, or prior work on high-traffic media/news/analytics platforms are all listed as nice-to-haves.
