Žygimantas Jūrelė

Freelance Front-End Developer

• Discovered passion for web development at 15, accumulating over 20 years of experience with a strong focus on front-end technologies.
• Led the development of www.purevegeta.net, an anime-themed website, driving its growth to accommodate a relatively large user base. This project was pivotal in honing my skills in PHP, my first programming language, and in web design, leading to a deep engagement with user experience enhancements.
• Regularly designed and iterated on website aesthetics, demonstrating a keen eye for web design through monthly redesigns of www.purevegeta.net, enhancing user engagement and satisfaction. This experience was crucial in mastering web design principles and tools such as Photoshop.
• Successfully executed numerous freelance projects, including:
• Studabir.lt: A job portal designed to connect students with employment opportunities, showcasing my ability to develop and implement user-friendly interfaces.
• Karkar.lt: Developed a comprehensive online presence for a cable park in Klaipėda, Lithuania, emphasizing my skills in creating engaging and responsive designs.
• Visikuponai.lt: Engineered a group shopping platform, further proving my expertise in developing scalable web solutions that cater to higher traffic demands.
• Committed to continuous learning and professional development in web technologies, consistently staying on top of the latest trends and best practices in front-end development.

Skills & Technologies

Web Developer

As a technical partner for a US-based online sunglasses e-shop, I managed the website's development on the Magento platform, overseeing the project from inception to launch. My responsibilities included not only the project set up and creation of the site's UI design but also the development of custom plugins and widgets tailored to the e-commerce framework, enhancing the shopping experience and operational efficiency. This role was significant in deepening my expertise in e-commerce solutions, project management, and the technical challenges associated with middle-to-large scale projects.

Key contributions include:

• UI Design & Development: Design and implementation of the user interface, focusing on usability, aesthetics, and responsive design to ensure an engaging customer experience across devices.
• E-commerce Integration: Developed and integrated custom plugins and widgets to extend Magento's capabilities, addressing unique business needs and improving site functionality.
• Project Management: Managed the entire project lifecycle, from requirements gathering and planning to deployment and optimization, ensuring timely delivery and quality standards.

Skills & Technologies

Web Developer

As a Web Developer at Nettfaktor, I was responsible for the end-to-end development of several in-house projects as well ass representational websites, serving a diverse client base. My role required a hands-on approach to all stages of web development, from initial client consultations to the deployment of the final product.

Key responsibilities and projects included:

Client Engagement & Planning:

Client Meetings & Requirements Gathering: Conducted meetings to understand client needs, translating discussions into actionable development plans.

Proposals & Wireframing: Prepared detailed proposals and crafted wireframes and mockups using Photoshop, setting the foundation for successful website designs.

Full Stack Development:

Front-End Development: Leveraged CSS (Sass) and jQuery to create responsive and interactive website interfaces, ensuring a seamless user experience.

Back-End Development: Utilized Wordpress and PHP for backend functionality, creating custom themes and plugins to meet specific client requirements.

Notable Projects:

CCar: Developed a car-sharing platform with a focus on user-friendly experience and robust functionality.

Aduko: Built an advertising platform with custom ad management features and analytics integration.

Sender.lt: Created a mailing marketing platform with advanced campaign tools and user segmentation capabilities.

Representational Websites: Designed and developed dozens of representational websites, each tailored to the unique branding and operational needs of the client.

Skills & Technologies

Languages & Frameworks: Proficient in HTML, CSS (Sass), jQuery, and PHP, with the ability to create dynamic and responsive designs.

CMS & Platforms: Extensive experience with Wordpress, developing custom themes and plugins to enhance website functionality and user engagement.

Design & Prototyping: Skilled in creating wireframes and high-fidelity mockups in Photoshop, ensuring that design aligns with user experience and client vision.

Project Management: Effective in managing project deliverables, timelines, and client expectations, ensuring the successful completion of web projects.

During my tenure at Nettfaktor, I not only honed my technical skills but also developed a keen understanding of client relations and project management, delivering bespoke web solutions that drove client satisfaction and business success.

Web Developer

At WiseIntegration, my tenure as a Web Developer involved front-end development and UX/UI design for several ambitious projects, including a large-scale site-builder platform and an IT recruitment and contracting platform. My role was instrumental in both the creative and technical realms, delivering user-centric design coupled with robust front-end development.

Key projects and responsibilities included:

Dynify (Digital Garden Site-Builder Platform):

Front-End Architecture: Collaborated in developing the platform using Backbone.js, creating a dynamic and scalable MVC architecture suitable for a drag-and-drop site builder.

UX/UI Design: Designed the user experience and interface from the ground up, ensuring intuitive navigation and aesthetic appeal.

Collaborative Development: Worked in a tight-knit team alongside a back-end developer to bring the site-builder to life, later enhancing the platform with an improved v2.0

Hitcontract (IT Recruitment and Contracting Platform):

Design: Initially responsible for the UX/UI design and front-end implementation, I recently executed a comprehensive redesign to update and modernize the platform.

Technical Implementation: Leveraged Backbone.js and Sass to develop a responsive and user-friendly front-end, integrating seamlessly with the Laravel PHP backend.

Custom Representational Websites:

Diverse Web Development: Created dozens of custom websites for various clients, handling UX/UI design, front-end development, and either custom simple PHP back-ends or WordPress integrations.

Client Engagement: Conducted end-to-end development, from initial meetings and requirement gathering to the final deployment and client training.

Skills & Technologies

Languages & Frameworks: Proficient in JavaScript (Backbone.js), PHP (Laravel), and CSS pre-processing with Sass.

CMS & Platforms: Extensive experience with WordPress for content management system-based sites, customizing themes and plugins as needed.

Design & Prototyping: Skilled in all phases of the design process, from wireframes to final visual design, using modern UX/UI practices to meet and exceed client expectations.

Project Management: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, delivering high-quality work within deadline-driven environments.

Throughout my five years at WiseIntegration, I successfully blended the roles of a developer and designer, consistently delivering high-performance web solutions that balanced functionality with design.

Lead Senior Frontend Developer

As a Lead Senior Frontend Developer at Devbridge, a 600-person IT consulting firm, I played a dual role in contributing to project success and fostering the growth of a ~60-member Frontend community. My responsibilities spanned from hands-on coding and UI design to leading community initiatives that enhanced our collective expertise, streamlined hiring processes, and promoted knowledge sharing.

Key contributions include:

Project Contributions:

• Coding & UI Design: Delivered high-quality, maintainable code and user-centric designs for various projects, ensuring alignment with client needs and industry best practices.
• Technical Leadership: Provided technical direction on frontend technologies, advocating for modern development practices and tools to enhance project efficiency and outcomes.

Community Leadership:

• Initiatives & Workshops: Launched and led a series of workshops and training sessions aimed at upskilling the Frontend community in the latest frontend technologies, design patterns, and development methodologies. Developed comprehensive documentation to standardize technical levels and best practices across the team.
• Hiring & Onboarding: Streamlined the hiring process for frontend developers, from conducting interviews to establishing onboarding programs that accelerated new hire ramp-up time and integration into the team.
• Knowledge Sharing: Established a culture of open communication and continuous learning within the Frontend community through regular knowledge-sharing sessions, contributing to the overall technical excellence and cohesiveness of the team.

Skills & Technologies

• Frontend Development: Advanced proficiency in modern frontend frameworks (React, Vue.js, Angular) and technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, TypeScript), with a strong emphasis on creating scalable and responsive designs.
• UI/UX Design: Skilled in UI/UX design principles and tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD), ensuring that all projects deliver an intuitive and engaging user experience.
• Community Engagement: Demonstrated leadership in building and nurturing technical communities, with a focus on professional development, technical excellence, and collaborative growth.
• Hiring & Mentoring: Experienced in talent acquisition and development, with a track record of successfully hiring and mentoring frontend developers to foster a high-performing development team.

This role underscored my dual expertise in driving technical project success and leading community initiatives that strengthened the frontend development capabilities and culture at Devbridge.

Frontend Practice Lead

Elevated to Frontend Practice Lead, I led the strategic direction and daily operations of Devbridge's Frontend practice, nurturing a talented community of professionals and leading innovative initiatives. My role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, from hands-on coding and UI design to shaping the practice's future through leadership, mentoring, and public representation.

Key contributions include:

Strategic Leadership & Community Engagement:

• Community Meetings: Organize monthly and yearly meetings, including planning sessions and retrospectives, to foster a collaborative and forward-thinking culture.
• Mentoring & Support: Provide project and individual-level support, including 1:1 mentoring sessions, to encourage professional growth and technical excellence.
• Competence Development: Oversee the creation of a competence matrix, defining roles and responsibilities to clarify career paths and expectations within the Frontend practice.

Talent Acquisition & Development:

• Onboarding & Hiring: Revamp the onboarding process, introducing comprehensive documentation, interview guides, and an onboarding playbook tailored to Frontend technical roles.
• Sourcery Academy Leadership: Played a pivotal role in the annual Sourcery Academy, from organizing and curating material to mentoring students, significantly contributing to talent pipeline growth.

Technical Leadership & Innovation:

• Frontend Initiatives: Launched internal projects such as the DB components library and Frontend megarepo, establishing best practices and standardizing development approaches.
• Knowledge Management: Created a knowledge center database, documenting recommended project setups, coding best practices, and study programs to enhance team capabilities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & External Representation:

• Cross Competence Initiatives: Initiated cross-competence collaborations, including design handoff checklists and retros between product design and Frontend.
• Public Representation: Actively represented the Frontend practice through articles, public speaking engagements, and client-side workshops, elevating the practice's visibility and impact.

Skills & Technologies

• Technical Proficiency: Advanced expertise in modern frontend technologies, UI/UX design principles, and project architecture, with a focus on creating scalable and maintainable codebases.
• Leadership & Management: Strong leadership skills in community building, talent development, and strategic planning, with a proven ability to inspire and empower team members.
• Mentoring & Coaching: Experienced in mentoring professionals and students, with a track record of guiding individuals to excel in their Frontend careers.
• Collaboration & Communication: Strong skills in ability tofacilitate cross-functional collaboration and articulate technical concepts to diverse audiences.

As Frontend Practice Lead, my role is to ensure the continuous growth and excellence of our practice, driving innovation, and upholding our commitment to delivering exceptional value to our clients and the broader community.