Staff Engineer, Front End (Desktop)

Job Description

MZLA Technologies Corporation (MZLA) is a wholly owned, for-profit subsidiary of the Mozilla Foundation and home to Thunderbird, our flagship open-source email and productivity platform empowering more than 20 million people around the world. While part of the Mozilla portfolio of companies, MZLA operates independently in both identity and organizational structure from the Mozilla Foundation and Mozilla Corporation.

Everything we build at MZLA is open source, developed transparently and in collaboration with a global community of contributors. This open approach shapes not only our products but also how we work: collaboratively, inclusively, and with a shared commitment to building technology that puts users first. We believe privacy and productivity should coexist, and that people deserve powerful digital tools without surrendering control of their data.

MZLA is a small but growing team of 50+ people distributed across seven countries. As we evolve Thunderbird from a single application into a suite of privacy-respecting productivity tools, we’re introducing new products and services that remain independent of big tech ecosystems. Our unique revenue model combines community donations that keep Thunderbird freely available with subscriptions for new cloud-based services, allowing us to grow and innovate while remaining independent and true to our values.

To learn more, visit www.thunderbird.net

The Opportunity:

As a Staff Software Engineer, Front-End, you’ll serve as a domain expert who deeply understands the complexities of shaping seamless, user-focused interfaces and delivering high-quality front-end solutions that align with product strategy. You’ll join a team of talented front- and back-end engineers who bring deep expertise to the development and maintenance of our flagship desktop application, cherished by millions of users worldwide for over 20 years.

You’ll work closely with engineers and cross-functional partners to tackle ambiguous problems in user experience, performance optimization, and architectural design. The ideal candidate has a strong focus on front-end architecture, user experience, and performance, and demonstrates technical leadership, sound judgment, and a collaborative approach to problem solving.

You’ll play a vital part in translating strategy into action by influencing technical direction, mentoring engineers at multiple levels, and ensuring that technical decisions align with MZLA’s mission and the objectives of the Thunderbird Project, particularly in delivering exceptional user experiences.

This is a full-time, remote position working with colleagues across multiple regions and time zones.

What you’ll do:

• Lead complex, ambiguous technical initiatives requiring cross-team and cross-organization coordination
• Own and deliver projects spanning new features, code quality improvements, tooling, and process optimization
• Partner with senior engineers and product managers to define and execute technical strategy, reduce technical debt, and improve long-term maintainability
• Collaborate closely with UX Engineers to ensure accessibility and usability are built in from the start (WCAG, ARIA)
• Establish and promote scalable front-end architecture through shared frameworks and guidelines
• Write high-quality, testable, and maintainable code; contribute to code reviews, testing, regression triage, and patch integration
• Mentor and support engineers across the team, fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement

What you’ll bring:

• 10+ years of experience in front-end software development, building scalable, maintainable, and user-focused systems.
• Extensive knowledge of modern vanilla JavaScript concepts (module patterns, async and promises, custom elements and shadow DOM), and up to date knowledge with the most recent ECMAScript specification.
• Strong command of modern JavaScript frameworks such as React, Vue, or similar, and experience transitioning legacy codebases to new technologies.
• Deep knowledge of HTML5 structures and advanced accessibility patterns and Deep knowledge of modern CSS patterns and methods.
• In-depth understanding of system architecture, design patterns, and software engineering best practices, with a focus on performance, scalability, and maintainability.
• Proven ability to act as a technical lead and mentor, providing guidance on complex technical problems and supporting the growth of other engineers.
• Experience developing and testing applications across multiple platforms (Windows, macOS, and Linux), with expertise in Git or Mercurial and modern version control workflows.
• Excellent communication and documentation skills, a collaborative approach to cross-functional work,
• A strong commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

Bonus points for:

• Experience contributing to or leading open-source projects
• Experience with Python or other programming languages
• Ability to engage with and support a global community of developers, including managing feedback and fostering an inclusive and productive ecosystem
• Proficiency in French, German, Japanese, or another language in addition to English

Work Environment:

You’ll work with our passionate staff and open-source community members from all over the globe to support the mission and objectives of MZLA Technologies Corporation.

This is a remote position. Strong communication and documentation skills are essential for effective collaboration across time zones and disciplines.

What you’ll get:

We benchmark our base salaries to local markets and target the 60th percentile of the peer market. The salary ranges for this role are:

• US: $150,000 - $175,000 USD

We may consider candidates with strong skills but less than the required experience. Title, level and compensation will be determined based on qualifications and experience.

In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your whole self, outlined below.

Work & Career

• Fully remote work & schedule flexibility
• Latest Laptop
• Discretionary Annual Bonus Program
• Monthly Remote Work Stipend
• Annual Professional Development Stipend
• Access to Udemy Learning Platform
• Industry Conferences
• Company All Hands

Rest & Play

• 24 days PTO per year (prorated)
• Your Birthday
• Year-end Company Shutdown
• 9 Wellbeing Days
• Public Holidays
• Other Paid Leave
• Quarterly Wellbeing Stipend for Personal / Family Activities

Health & Family

• 401(k) Contributions
• Health, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Sick Days

Work Eligibility:

Applicants must reside in and have permanent work authorization for the country location(s) specified in the posting. We are unable to consider applicants outside of these markets at this time. And, we do not provide visa sponsorship.

How to Apply:

Please apply directly through our career page. We carefully review every cover letter and screening question, so take the time to answer each fully. We also value authenticity. We want to hear your perspective, not a bot’s. It's fine to use AI to polish your writing, but not to write your answers. Candidates who submit unoriginal AI generated answers will be disqualified from further screening.

MZLA Technologies Corporation (MZLA) Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

MZLA believes in the value of diverse creative practices and forms of knowledge, and knows diversity, equity and inclusion are crucial to and enrich the company’s core mission. We encourage applications from everyone, including members of all equity-seeking communities, such as (but not limited to) women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race (including hairstyle and texture), religion (including religious grooming and dress practices), gender, gender identity, gender expression, color, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, domestic partner status, disability, sexual orientation, age, genetic predisposition, medical condition, marital status, citizenship status, military or veteran status, or any other basis covered by applicable laws. Mozilla will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics or any other unlawful behavior, conduct, or purpose.

We will ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, as appropriate. Please contact us at [email protected] to request accommodation.