My Journey as a Frontend Engineer

Hey, I’m Oleksandr Antoniuk, a Senior Frontend Engineer with a deep passion for crafting visually appealing and high-performing web applications. My journey to becoming a programmer reflects my dedication and adaptability.

After earning my Master’s degree in Financial and Economics from Kyiv National Economic University in 2015, I initially pursued careers as a law consultant and later as a bank worker. However, I soon realized that these fields did not align with my interests. Determined to change my career path, I dedicated a year to intensive learning and self-study to break into the IT field.

My hard work paid off, and in 2017, I secured my first job as a programmer, marking the beginning of my journey in web development.

With over 7 years of industry experience, I have honed my skills in JavaScript and TypeScript and specialized in modern frontend frameworks such as Vue.js, Nuxt.js, Astro.js, and React.js. My career path is marked by a series of progressive and impactful roles, each contributing to my growth as a developer.

Professional Experience

LoveCrafts.com

Currently, I serve as a Senior Frontend Engineer at LoveCrafts.com, a global online retailer for knitting, crochet, and other craft supplies. At LoveCrafts, we cater to customers all over the world, offering a vast array of products with diverse attributes. My primary responsibility has been to take part in the migration of our frontend from an outdated stack to a modern, composable architecture.

Our previous backend relied on Magento 1, with frontend components implemented using plain HTML and CSS. To modernize our stack, we transitioned to a headless backend using services like Commerce Tools for e-commerce, Akeneo for product storage, Amplitude for analytics, and Prismic for content management. The frontend was rebuilt using Vue.js with the Composition API and Nuxt.js for server-side rendering. This comprehensive overhaul was executed meticulously, migrating the project page by page and service by service, with each new feature undergoing rigorous A/B testing.

Key achievements in this role include:

• Successfully migrating the checkout and payment systems, integrating Apple Pay and Google Pay.
• Integrated a new payment provider.
• Developed new content pages.
• Improved search, product, and catalog pages.
• Implemented unit tests with Jest and end-to-end tests with Cypress to ensure quality and reliability.
• Participated in architectural decisions and conducting code reviews.
• Implemented Cross-Site Request Forgery protection.
• Implemented backend services with Node.js, Express.js AWS services such as EC2, Lambda, SQS, RDS, S3, Cognito, CloudFormation, and others.
• Completed frontend migration and implemented multi-brand support.

OneReach.ai

Before joining LoveCrafts, I worked as a Software Engineer at OneReach.ai (USA - remote) from December 2019 to December 2020. At OneReach.ai, my focus was on automating development processes, deployment, and integrating code into the platform. I developed subprojects such as a content builder and data transformers, contributed to the UI library, and worked on serverless applications. This role allowed me to refine my skills in automation and enhance the efficiency of our development workflows.

Vintage Web Production

I have 2 years of experience in Vintage Web Production (Ukraine) as a Frontend Developer. In this role, I was responsible for creating and maintaining websites for clients across various industries. I worked on projects from inception, collaborating closely with designers and backend developers to deliver high-quality websites. This experience significantly enhanced my skills in frontend development and provided a robust foundation in web development.

One of our key achievements was developing a frontend starter template based on Vue.js and Nuxt.js to optimize performance and streamline the frontend team’s workflow. Our hard work was recognized with awards for several projects, including the prestigious SITE OF THE DAY on Awwwards..

Labtop.digital agency

My journey in web development began at Labtop.digital agency in Ukraine, where I created several corporate sites from scratch. I also developed a starter template for the frontend team to enhance performance and streamline workflow processes. Working closely with clients, I gained valuable experience in understanding business requirements and collaborating with designers and backend developers. I took full responsibility for the frontend aspects of projects, learning to integrate various APIs seamlessly.

This experience at Labtop.digital was a pivotal start to my career in web development.

Skills and Expertise

Throughout my career, I have developed a robust set of skills that enable me to excel in frontend development:

• Frontend Development: Proficient in Vue.js, Nuxt.js, Astro.js, React.js, HTML, and CSS.
• Programming Languages: Expert in JavaScript and TypeScript.
• E-commerce Solutions: Skilled in using VueStoreFront, Commerce Tools, and Prismic.
• Testing and Deployment: Experienced with Jest, Cypress, A/B Testing, and Vagrant.
• Backend Services: Knowledgeable in Node.js, Express.js, and AWS Services.
• Other Tools: Proficient with GraphQL.

Let’s Build Something Cool

I am always on the lookout for new opportunities, especially those from product companies that offer challenging projects aimed at solving user issues or enhancing customer experiences. Additionally, I have a keen interest in crafting sophisticated UIs for agencies. If you have an intriguing project, let’s collaborate and create something exceptional.

Feel free to reach out for proposals or discussions on exciting new ventures.