Matthew Balaam

Brighton and Hove

Hands-on frontend engineer able to assist in full-stack projects, has lead a team but thrives as an individual contributor. Loves CSS, TypesScript and web standards. Agile learner with a curiousness toward innovative problem solving.

10+ years React experience but framework agnostic; wants to use the platform where possible.

Speaks design language from previous background and loves creating great user experience. Web accessibility and automated testing.

See https://github.com/MattyBalaam/matthew-balaam.co.uk for the code behind this CV.

Technologies

HTML
TypeScript
React 19
CSS
Node
AWS
Github CI
Playwright, Vitest
React Router 7
Remix 2
Vite
And many more…

Experience

2021 – Current

Lead UI Engineer

Shieldpay

Hands-on code-focused technical lead for the UI stack managing and mentoring in a “chapter” of 4 inside larger cross-functional team. React Router 7 (Remix) SSR apps deployed to AWS infrastructure built using accessible (WCAG 2.1 AAA) component library.

React Router 7 SSR apps using shared platform hosted on Node functions in AWS Lambda calling microservices via REST API.
Themeable component library built using a mix of bespoke code and headless UI packages with a focus on web accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AAA) and performance.
Diagnosed and mitigated performance issues in relating to AWS IaC reducing app latency up to 10 times.
Successfully rolled out RBAC permissions for apps.
Introduced Zod-based schemas for forms, closing the contract circle with the backend to reduce potential for data or API errors.
Ensured timely delivery of new features pragmatically across the UI team balancing delivery and quality demands.
Migrated simulated component tests in Jest to browser-based Playwright tests with features like a mocked API layer using MSW for quick test development and easy DX.
Introduced visual snapshot testing for confidence against regressions across multiple browsers and automated web accessibility testing.

2018 – 2021

Software developer

Pure360

Building a React/Redux/Typescript SPA interfacing with the API layer using REST for handling customer creation and scheduling of multi-channel marketing campaigns. Migrated to Tanstack React Query for data fetching and state management. Working in an Agile/Scrum environment. See full details

2018 – 2018

JavaScript engineer

Simpplr

Building features on two React SPAs in the corporate intranet sector. An established product using React and Redux and a greenfield product using React with Apollo/GraphQL. See full details

2017 – 2018

Software developer

Filmstro

Building cross-platform adaptive-music desktop app Filmstro Pro: A React/Redux app inside Electron using a lower-level audio binary. See full details

2013 – 2017

Front-end developer

New Era Education Ltd.

Developed websites and e-learning courses for the education sector. See full details

2009 – 2013

Developer and designer

Freelance

Providing web design and development services to a variety of clients. See full details

2001 – 2009

Graphic designer

Newsquest Media

Design conception through to final artworking on a very broad range of print and digital projects. Working in a collaborative design team. Liaising with all departments, as well as external clients and printers. See full details

1997 – 2001

Artworker

Archant Media

Print and some digital work using applications including Illustrator, Photoshop, Fireworks and QuarkXPress in a time-critical daily newspaper work environment. See full details

Education

1993 – 1996

Southampton Solent

BA (Hons)

Media and Cultural Studies

The practical half of this degree covered web design, television and radio production, desktop publishing, journalism and photography. These creative practices were informed by studying strands of critical theory with an emphasis on how these can assist the creative process.