As a Principal Frontend Engineer in the Client Platform group at Canva, you will lead the technical direction for frontend systems, focusing on scalable, high-performance rendering and AI-powered video features. You'll shape Canva’s frontend architecture to support rapid development, maintainability, and cross-platform reuse across a codebase used by hundreds of engineers and over 250 million monthly users.
What You'll Do
- Architect and lead the technical direction for Canva’s frontend systems, making key design decisions that balance performance, scalability, and user experience.
- Collaborate with senior Principal and Staff Engineers to establish technical standards and best practices, while progressively taking ownership of architectural decisions.
- Solve complex technical challenges across data consumption, bundling, and performance optimisation, applying deep expertise in React and frontend architecture to maximise both technical excellence and business impact.
- Define and communicate a technical vision and roadmap for a future-proof architecture that supports rapid feature development, maintainability, and cross-platform code reuse.
- Mentor and guide engineers on architecture-related projects, sharing your expertise in React, systems design, and large-scale frontend ecosystems.
- Lead the technical direction for video technology that powers millions of daily exports.
- Architect scalable, high-performance rendering systems.
- Pioneer AI-powered video features.
- Work alongside talented engineers to tackle complex problems and push the boundaries of browser-based video creation.
What We're Looking For
- Extensive web frontend experience with a proven record of building sustainable, scalable architectures.
- Deep expertise in React, JavaScript runtimes, and React Native, with hands-on experience building large-scale systems.
- Strong systems architecture and technical leadership skills, ideally in environments supporting hundreds of engineers.
Nice to Have
- Industry connections and open-source contributions in frontend technologies like React, demonstrating engagement with the broader technical community.
Technical Stack
- React
- TypeScript
- MobX
- JavaScript runtimes
- React Native
Team & Environment
- Over 600 frontend engineers
- Client Platform group providing systems, libraries, and frameworks that power Canva's frontend foundations
- Reporting to senior technical leaders including Principal and Staff Engineers
Benefits & Compensation
- Equity packages — we want our success to be yours too
- Inclusive parental leave policies supporting all parents & carers
- An annual Vibe & Thrive allowance supporting wellbeing, social connection, and office setup
- Flexible leave options empowering you to recharge and thrive
- Equity packages
Work Mode
- Remote across ANZ
- You have a choice in where and how you work—we trust our Canvanauts to find the balance that empowers them and their team to achieve their goals.
When you apply, please share your pronouns and any adjustments you might need during the interview process. We celebrate all kinds of skills and backgrounds — even if you don’t tick every box, we want to hear from you! Interviews are conducted virtually.
