Data Visualization Lead

Job Description:

Position Summary:

We are seeking a highly experienced and technically skilled Senior Front-End Engineer – Data Visualization Lead to design, architect, and develop advanced, interactive data visualizations. This role involves building scalable and responsive visual tools that transform complex geospatial and temporal data into meaningful visual insights. The ideal candidate will also provide technical leadership to a team of visualization engineers, ensuring code quality, guiding best practices, and driving innovation within the team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Architect and Develop Visualizations:
  Lead the end-to-end design and development of dynamic and high-performance data visualizations using React.js and Deck.gl, focusing on usability, interactivity, and scalability.

• Technical Leadership and Team Management:
  Provide mentorship, perform code reviews, and offer technical direction to a team of engineers specializing in data visualization. Foster a collaborative, high-performing engineering culture.

• Requirements Gathering and Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  Partner closely with product managers, designers, data scientists, and engineers to collect business requirements and transform them into visually compelling and informative graphics and dashboards.

• Performance Optimization:
  Enhance rendering efficiency for large datasets—particularly geospatial and time-series data—to ensure smooth user experiences even with complex visual layers.

• Responsiveness and Accessibility:
  Ensure all visual components are accessible, device-responsive, and intuitive, adhering to industry standards for usability and inclusive design.

• Codebase and Best Practices:
  Build and maintain a robust, scalable codebase using modern development practices. Ensure high standards for performance, test coverage, maintainability, and code documentation.

• Industry Awareness and Innovation:
  Stay current with the latest trends and innovations in front-end development and data visualization technologies. Apply new tools and methods to drive innovation and maintain a competitive edge.

Required Qualifications:

• Extensive Development Experience:
  A minimum of 8 years in front-end software development, with at least 2 years dedicated to data visualization.

• React and Deck.gl Expertise:
  Proven proficiency with React.js and Deck.gl, including advanced use of Layers, Views, and integrations with Carto or similar geospatial platforms.

• Core Technical Skills:
  Strong command of modern JavaScript (ES6+), HTML, and CSS, along with an understanding of graphical rendering using WebGL and Canvas.

• Data Handling:
  Experience working with large datasets and using libraries such as D3.js, Lodash, or similar tools for data manipulation and formatting. Comfortable with APIs and asynchronous data flows.

• Geospatial Knowledge:
  Familiarity with geospatial data formats such as GeoJSON, TopoJSON, vector tiles, and an understanding of coordinate systems and projections.

• Project and Team Leadership:
  Demonstrated ability to lead projects or manage small engineering teams, ensuring timely delivery and high technical standards.

• Communication and Storytelling:
  Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a strong ability to transform data into clear and engaging narratives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Design System Experience:
  Proficiency with Figma, Storybook, or similar tools used for design systems and component libraries.

• Domain Knowledge:
  Background in geographic information systems (GIS) or working with urban and spatial datasets.

• State Management & Build Tools:
  Familiarity with tools such as Redux, Zustand for state management and Vite or Webpack for module bundling and build optimization.

• Performance Tuning:
  Experience using profiling and debugging tools to optimize rendering performance and memory usage.

• Agile Environment:
  Previous experience working in a fast-paced, agile development environment with frequent iteration and delivery.