Frontend Team Lead

About Us: Collaborative autonomy is how self-tasking teams of machines will solve hard human problems, and HavocAI is an unquestioned leader in collaborative autonomy. We set the standard for autonomous surface vessels for a wide range of defense and commercial maritime missions. Success requires us to grow quickly, and we’re looking for teammates who are passionate about solving hard problems, about pushing the envelope, and about preventing conflict and saving lives. Ambition is welcome to apply within. About the Role HavocAI is seeking a Frontend Team Lead to lead the development of the user interfaces that power our platform. This role combines hands-on frontend engineering with technical leadership, team mentorship, architecture ownership, and cross-functional execution. In this role, you will lead a frontend team focused on building high-performance, data-driven web applications, including map-based and visualization-heavy interfaces. You will work closely with backend, platform, product, design, and autonomy teams to deliver reliable, scalable frontend systems that support real-time data, complex workflows, and mission-critical operations. The ideal candidate is deeply technical, performance-focused, and excited to lead a team building interfaces that operate in real-world environments. You should be comfortable setting technical direction, mentoring engineers, making architectural decisions, and still contributing directly to the codebase. What You’ll Do Lead Frontend Engineering Lead the design and development of scalable, performant user interfaces using React and modern frontend technologies Set technical direction for frontend architecture, state management, data flow, and component design Build complex workflows and UI components for data-rich, operational applications Develop interfaces that support real-time data, situational awareness, and operator decision-making Contribute directly to implementation while guiding the team through technical tradeoffs and execution Team Leadership & Mentorship Mentor frontend engineers and help raise the technical bar across the team Lead code reviews, design discussions, sprint planning, and technical planning for frontend work Help break down ambiguous product and technical requirements into clear execution plans Promote engineering best practices around performance, testing, maintainability, accessibility, and reliability Partner with engineering leadership to support team growth, hiring, onboarding, and development Data Integration & Performance Integrate frontend systems with backend services via REST, GraphQL, and real-time data interfaces Optimize rendering performance for large datasets, map-based views, streaming data, and real-time updates Ensure responsive, reliable performance across devices, browsers, and operating environments Identify and resolve frontend performance bottlenecks across the platform Build systems that remain usable and dependable in mission-critical workflows Architecture & Maintainability Own and evolve frontend architecture, including state management, data flow, build tooling, testing strategy, and component organization Build and maintain reusable component libraries, design systems, and shared UI patterns Ensure frontend systems are scalable, maintainable, testable, and easy for other engineers to extend Establish patterns that support multiple products, mission workflows, and customer-facing applications Drive technical consistency across frontend codebases and applications Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with backend, platform, autonomy, product, and design teams to deliver end-to-end features Collaborate with UX/design to ensure high-quality implementation and operator-focused user experiences Translate complex operational requirements into intuitive, reliable frontend workflows Work with stakeholders to balance speed, usability, performance, and technical quality Represent frontend engineering in product planning, architecture reviews, and roadmap discussions What We’re Looking For 7+ years of frontend engineering experience, including experience leading frontend projects or teams Strong expertise in React and modern JavaScript or TypeScript Experience building data-driven, high-performance web applications Strong understanding of frontend architecture, state management, data flow, and performance optimization Experience working with APIs, asynchronous data flows, and real-time or frequently updating data Experience building reusable component libraries, design systems, or shared UI frameworks Ability to mentor engineers, lead technical discussions, and drive frontend best practices Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across engineering, product, and design Ability to work in a fast-paced, mission-driven, highly collaborative environment Strong ownership, technical judgment, and willingness to remain hands-on Nice to Have Experience building map-based or geospatial applications using Mapbox, Leaflet, Deck.gl , or similar tools Familiarity with WebGL or advanced visualization frameworks Experience with automated testing frameworks such as Jest, Cypress, Playwright, or similar tools Understanding of design systems, accessibility, and reusable component architecture Experience with real-time systems, data streaming applications, or operational dashboards Experience supporting defense, autonomy, robotics, maritime, aviation, or mission-critical software environments Experience leading frontend teams in a high-growth startup environment What Success Looks Like in 12 Months A high-performing frontend team with clear technical standards, strong execution, and growing ownership Scalable, high-performance frontend systems supporting real-world operations Reliable, intuitive interfaces for complex data, maps, workflows, and mission-critical decision-making Improved frontend performance, responsiveness, maintainability, and system consistency Strong collaboration across engineering, product, design, autonomy, and platform teams Reusable UI components, design patterns, and frontend systems adopted across the platform A frontend architecture that can scale with HavocAI’s products, customers, and operational needs Benefits: 100% Employer paid Health, Dental and Vision Insurance for you and your families Life Insurance (Employer Paid) Ability to participate in the companies 401k program (Matching) Unlimited PTO policy with an enforced 2 week minimum Equity Package Work / Home Office Stipend Global Entry 16 Week Paid Parental Leave Monthly Health and Wellness Stipend Our Values: Innovation: We are driven to break new ground. Every day presents an opportunity to challenge the status quo, think boldly, and deliver advanced solutions that transform the future of defense technology. Integrity: We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards, ensuring transparency, accountability, and trust in all our actions and partnerships. Mission-Driven: We are focused on achieving impactful outcomes that align with our core mission—protecting lives through innovation. Forward-Leaning: We continuously seek out new opportunities and remain at the forefront of technological advancements. We embrace change and anticipate the challenges of tomorrow with confidence and creativity. Ownership of All Tasks: At HavocAI, no problem is too complex or too trivial. We believe that greatness comes from tackling the hardest challenges, but also in handling the smallest, sometimes thankless, tasks with the same level of commitment and care. Servant Leadership: We lead by serving others, whether it’s supporting our employees, partners, or the broader community. Empowering those around us is key to achieving long-term success and making a lasting impact. HavocAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.