Staff Engineer, Front End (Desktop)

About the Role

The role is part of a talented team of front- and back-end engineers who bring deep expertise to the development and maintenance of Thunderbird. You will have the opportunity to mentor engineers at multiple levels and ensure that technical decisions align with the company's mission and objectives.

Mozilla is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Mozilla Foundation and operates independently in terms of identity and organizational structure. The company is committed to building technology that puts users first, with a focus on privacy and productivity.

What You Will Do

• Lead complex, ambiguous technical initiatives requiring cross-team and cross-organization coordination
• Own and deliver projects spanning new features, code quality improvements, tooling, and process optimization
• Partner with senior engineers and product managers to define and execute technical direction
• Develop and maintain high-quality, user-focused front-end solutions
• Collaborate with engineers and cross-functional partners to tackle ambiguous problems in user experience, performance optimization, and architectural design
• Influence technical direction and ensure that technical decisions align with Mozilla's mission and objectives
• Mentor engineers at multiple levels and provide technical guidance and oversight
• Ensure that technical decisions align with the company's mission and objectives
• Work closely with the product management team to define and execute product strategy
• Collaborate with the design team to develop and maintain a consistent user experience

What We Are Looking For

• 5+ years of experience in front-end engineering, with a focus on user experience and performance optimization
• Strong technical leadership and collaboration skills
• Experience with front-end architecture, user experience, and performance optimization
• Strong understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
• Experience with modern front-end frameworks and tools
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Experience with agile development methodologies
• Strong understanding of user-centered design principles

Nice to Have

• Experience with Thunderbird or other Mozilla products
• Familiarity with open-source development and community engagement
• Experience with cloud-based services and subscriptions
• Knowledge of privacy and security concerns in software development
• Familiarity with Canadian labor laws and remote work regulations

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Opportunity to work on a flagship desktop application with a global user base
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment
• Flexible working hours and remote work options
• Professional development and growth opportunities
• Access to the latest tools and technologies
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits
• Generous paid time off and vacation policy

• Familiarize yourself with Thunderbird's open-source codebase and contribute to it before applying, to demonstrate your skills and enthusiasm for the project.
• Highlight your experience with desktop front-end development and how you've handled complex, large-scale applications, as this is a key aspect of the Staff Engineer role at MZLA.
• Prepare to discuss your approach to collaborative and transparent development, and provide examples of how you've worked with global communities of contributors in previous roles.
• Create a portfolio that showcases your front-end development skills, including examples of desktop applications you've built, and be prepared to walk the interviewer through your design and coding decisions.
• Research MZLA's and Mozilla's commitment to openness and inclusivity, and be prepared to discuss how you've promoted these values in your previous work, such as through open-source contributions or community engagement.
• Be prepared to negotiate salary based on industry standards for remote work in Canada, and research MZLA's benefits and perks, such as flexible working hours or professional development opportunities, to ensure you're getting a comprehensive compensation package.