Assistant Frontend Developer Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Role Summary

Journey Payroll is looking for a Frontend-Focused Full Stack Developer to join the team and support the ongoing development of our payroll and HR web application.

This role is best suited to a junior-to-intermediate developer with strong frontend development skills, especially with Vue.js, who is comfortable working in an existing application and gradually growing into broader full stack responsibilities over time.

The primary focus of the role will be frontend feature development, application maintenance, bug fixing, staging support, and supporting the existing frontend development workload.

The developer will work within a multi-repository application environment and will be expected to follow established development patterns, coding standards, review processes, and release workflows.

This role does not require ownership of backend architecture, infrastructure, production environments, major system design decisions, or complex backend migration work.

Key Responsibilities

Build, maintain, and improve frontend application features using Vue.js.

Work with existing frontend components, pages, workflows, and application patterns.

Assist with the delivery of user-facing features across payroll, HR, employee management, time, PTO, and related workflows.

Implement assigned frontend tasks based on provided requirements and technical guidance.

Refactor and clean up assigned frontend code where approved by the technical leads.

Ensure frontend changes follow existing application patterns and integrate correctly with the current application structure.

Support the current frontend developer by assisting with assigned tasks and helping reduce the frontend development workload over time.

Help improve frontend maintainability by identifying areas where components, pages, or logic can be simplified under guidance.

Application Support and Existing System Understanding

Learn how the existing application is structured across multiple repositories.

Develop an understanding of how frontend screens, data structures, workflows, and backend-driven behavior connect.

Work with existing schemas, configuration files, and data-driven workflows under guidance.

Assist with small, reviewed application changes where required for assigned tasks.

Inspect application behavior and data flows when troubleshooting bugs.

Escalate complex backend, data, payroll, HR, workflow, or architectural concerns before making changes.

Document findings where existing behavior, dependencies, or workflows are unclear.

Development Environment and Tooling

Work in a Mac or Linux-based development environment, or a suitable Linux-compatible setup.

Use the command line for development setup, repository management, debugging, and running project scripts.

Work with Docker as part of the local development workflow.

Work across multiple repositories as assigned, with a primary focus on frontend tasks.

Use Git and GitLab for source control, branches, merge requests, and code review processes.

Follow existing setup scripts, development workflows, and team documentation.

Testing, Staging, and Release Support

Test assigned changes locally and in staging environments.

Support staging testing before releases.

Assist with identifying, reproducing, and reporting issues found during staging review.

Learn the established release process under supervision.

Follow release instructions provided by the technical leads.

Escalate deployment, infrastructure, or production-related issues to the responsible technical team members.

Bug Fixing and Application Support

Investigate and resolve assigned frontend and application bugs.

Reproduce reported issues and document findings clearly.

Assist with troubleshooting issues across frontend screens, data structures, and application workflows.

Escalate complex backend, pipeline, database, infrastructure, or production issues where needed.

Provide clear notes on bugs fixed, areas changed, and any risks identified during development.

Collaboration and Communication

Work within Projentry to manage assigned tasks, tickets, updates, and priorities.

Communicate clearly with the development team about progress, blockers, questions, and risks.

Participate in planning, task review, and technical discussions as required.

Ask questions early when requirements, existing code, or implementation details are unclear.

Follow direction from the relevant project and technical leads.

Work closely with the current frontend developer and support continuity of frontend development work.

Required Skills and Experience

Experience with Vue.js frontend development.

Good understanding of JavaScript and modern frontend development practices.2

Ability to work with existing codebases and follow established patterns.

Comfortable using the command line.

Basic Docker knowledge or willingness to work with Docker-based development workflows.

Familiarity with Git-based development.

Ability to work across multiple repositories.

Ability to troubleshoot bugs and investigate application behavior.

Good communication skills and willingness to ask questions when needed.

Ability to follow technical guidance and work within existing development processes.

Beneficial Skills

GitLab experience, including branches, merge requests, and basic pipeline awareness.

Experience working in Mac or Linux development environments.

Experience with shell scripts or command-line setup scripts.

Exposure to payroll, HR, employee management, time tracking, PTO, or benefits systems.

Experience working with staging environments.

Basic database knowledge.

Understanding of APIs and how frontend applications interact with backend services.

Experience working in an existing application with multiple repositories or services.

Interest in growing into broader full stack development responsibilities over time.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a practical, detail-oriented developer who is strongest on the frontend but willing to grow into broader full stack responsibilities over time.

They should be comfortable working in an existing application, reading unfamiliar code, asking questions, following established patterns, and helping deliver reliable frontend and application features.

This person should not need to lead architecture or make major system decisions, but should be able to complete assigned development tasks with guidance and gradually build a stronger understanding of the full application.

The role would suit someone who wants to grow from frontend development into a more rounded full stack position while working on a real payroll and HR platform.

Role Expectations

The successful candidate will be expected to:

Deliver assigned frontend and application development tasks.

Support the current frontend development workload.

Learn the existing system and follow established patterns.

Assist with small application changes where required and reviewed.

Test their own work locally and in staging.

Communicate blockers and risks early.

Avoid making high-risk changes without guidance.

Escalate complex backend, data, infrastructure, or production concerns.

Contribute to maintainable, reliable feature delivery over time.