David Candelaria
Albuquerque,NM
Summary
Senior Frontend Engineer with a strong foundation in React, TypeScript, Next.js, and PHP, specializing in building scalable web applications, headless CMS architectures, and reusable component systems across a range of industries. Proven track record of delivering measurable results, from reducing deployment times and improving application performance to accelerating stakeholder alignment and driving user engagement. Experienced leading development teams, collaborating cross-functionally with designers, researchers, and architecting infrastructure solutions that prioritize reliability, security, and long-term maintainability. Equally comfortable in the codebase and in the room, bridging technical execution with business impact.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Mhp.si - Frontend Engineer
mhp.si
United States
07.2025 - Current
- Achieved 99.9% uptime across production environments by designing and managing a load-balanced DigitalOcean infrastructure with optimized server configuration.
- Reduced page load times by 30% across 10+ client projects by delivering full-stack web applications built with React, TypeScript, Next.js, Laravel, and Node.js.
- Improved site maintainability and development efficiency across 10+ projects by building custom themes, plugins, and reusable UI components, eliminating reliance on third-party plugin dependencies.
- Reduced deployment times by 70% and improved API performance by architecting CI/CD pipelines, managing DigitalOcean infrastructure, and implementing Valkey-based response caching across a full-stack backend.
- Centralized project management for 50+ employees across 5 departments by architecting a ‘Monday’ Work OS workspace with 8 cross-board automations via the ‘Make’ automation integration tool and GraphQL, eliminating daily context switching between Wrike and Advantage into a single source of truth.
Upwork - Frontend Engineer, Web
Upwork
United States
01.2025 - 07.2025
- Delivered 10+ custom web platforms across healthcare, e-commerce, finance, and lifestyle industries by building responsive, SEO-optimized sites using React, Next.js, and Tailwind CSS.
- Improved application performance by 30% across 10+ projects by architecting headless CMS solutions using WordPress and Statamic, integrated with React/Next.js frontends, Prisma-backed databases, and REST APIs.
- Led end-to-end development for multiple client projects, translating business requirements into scalable web solutions and managing deployments through production.
Pillar4 Media - Web Frontend Engineer
Pillar4 Media
United States
09.2023 - 01.2025
- Successfully delivered projects for 5 clients on time by leading a team of 5 developers building scalable WordPress and React platforms using TypeScript, React, PHP, and JavaScript.
- Reduced stakeholder revision cycles from 3 rounds to 1 across 5 cross-functional teams by translating business requirements into intuitive, feedback-aligned user interfaces.
- Reduced client page authoring time by 2 days by building 20+ custom and reusable blocks, themes, and plugins that enabled flexible, self-service content workflows.
ECS Federal (SNL) - Frontend Software Engineer
Sandia National Laboratories & ECS Federal
Albuquerque, New Mexico
06.2021 - 09.2023
- Delivered 20+ reusable front-end components and plugins for a multisite environment spanning 100+ sites and 100,000+ users by building scalable React and TypeScript solutions as part of a cross-functional development team.
- Accelerated development timelines by 2 days across 3 teams by building and maintaining a 20+ component custom design system for a government-grade multisite environment, reducing security risks associated with third-party UI dependencies.
- Increased user engagement by 20% and reduced revision cycles to a single round across 15+ stakeholders by translating UX research and product requirements into production-ready features through close collaboration with designers, researchers, and architects.
Skills
- Programming Languages: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, TypeScript, PHP
- Frameworks & Libraries: React, Nextjs, Nodejs, Laravel, Tailwind CSS, Alpinejs, SASS, Bootstrap
- CMS Platforms: WordPress, Statamic
- Dev Tools: Docker, DigitalOcean, Cloudflare, SupaBase, Vercel, CI/CD, Redis, Azure, Git, Figma, Claude, GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, AI/ML components, S3, OAuth2, JWT, API
Timeline
Mhp.si - Frontend Engineer
mhp.si
07.2025 - Current
Upwork - Frontend Engineer, Web
Upwork
01.2025 - 07.2025
Pillar4 Media - Web Frontend Engineer
Pillar4 Media
09.2023 - 01.2025
ECS Federal (SNL) - Frontend Software Engineer
Sandia National Laboratories & ECS Federal
06.2021 - 09.2023
Passion Project
Autism Support App (MVP) - React, TypeScript, Next.js, Tailwind CSS, Supabase, Prisma, Vercel
- Built a web application (MVP) that allows neurodivergent children to log emotional states and sensory overwhelm through a simple, mobile-friendly check-in interface.
- Building a feature that notifies parents when a child signals distress, improving communication and enabling faster support.
- User actions are logged and used to generate rich insights
- Integrating AI that will detect patterns in routines and emotional signals to provide parents with early warnings and actionable insights.