Freelance Full Stack Developer React Python Jobs in Chicago, IL

Job Title: Senior Full Stack Software Engineer

Industry: Hospitality

Location (City, State): Chicago, IL

Assignment Type: Contract through the end of the year

Pay: $65/hr - $75/hr W2

Work Schedule: Hybrid schedule with 2-3 days onsite work in Chicago

Benefits: This position is eligible for medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).

Job Description:

We are seeking an experienced Full Stack Software Engineer to design, build, deploy, and support modern cloud-based applications. This role requires a true full-stack developer who is equally comfortable creating responsive user interfaces and developing the backend services that power them.

The selected engineer will take ownership of complete application features, including front-end development, API and service-layer engineering, cloud infrastructure, testing, deployment, and production support. Candidates whose experience is primarily limited to backend API development will not be the right fit.

This is a highly visible initiative involving frequent collaboration with other technology and business teams. Candidates must be located in the Chicago area and comfortable working onsite in a hybrid capacity.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and deliver end-to-end cloud applications using React, TypeScript, Node.js, Java, and AWS technologies.
• Build responsive, accessible, and maintainable user interfaces using React, HTML, CSS, and modern JavaScript or TypeScript.
• Develop reusable front-end components and manage application state, rendering behavior, and user interactions.
• Create and support backend APIs, serverless services, and application integrations.
• Own full-stack features from initial design and prototyping through development, testing, deployment, and production support.
• Implement cloud-native solutions using a serverless-first and managed-services-first approach.
• Develop solutions using AWS services such as Lambda, API Gateway, S3, CloudFront, SQS, EventBridge, and DynamoDB.
• Define and maintain cloud infrastructure through Infrastructure-as-Code tools such as Terraform, CloudFormation, or Serverless Framework.
• Create clean, reusable, well-tested code that follows established software engineering standards.
• Maintain automated build, testing, and deployment pipelines using Git, Jenkins, GitLab, or comparable CI/CD tools.
• Partner with UX designers and product managers to convert business and user requirements into functional digital experiences.
• Collaborate with backend, infrastructure, security, operations, and business teams on highly visible initiatives.
• Support application modernization and cloud migration efforts by refactoring legacy systems and integrations.
• Participate in architecture reviews, technical planning, code reviews, and Agile development ceremonies.
• Troubleshoot complex application and production issues across both front-end and backend systems.
• Mentor other engineers and help establish development standards and reusable technical patterns.
• Use analytics, production insights, and user feedback to improve application functionality and performance.

Qualifications:

• At least 8 years of professional experience developing full-stack software applications.
• Demonstrated experience building complete user-facing applications—not solely backend services or APIs.
• Strong hands-on experience developing modern web interfaces using React and TypeScript or JavaScript.
• Advanced knowledge of React concepts such as hooks, functional components, component composition, context, state management, and rendering lifecycles.
• Strong experience with HTML and CSS.
• Extensive backend development experience using Java, Go, Node.js, TypeScript, or JavaScript.
• Proven experience designing and integrating RESTful APIs and distributed services.
• Strong knowledge of AWS cloud architecture and serverless application development.
• Experience with AWS services such as Lambda, API Gateway, S3, CloudFront, SQS, EventBridge, DynamoDB, ECS, or Fargate.
• Experience with event-driven, service-oriented, and microservices-based architectures.
• Hands-on experience with Git and automated software build and deployment tools.
• Experience building or maintaining CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, GitLab, or similar technologies.
• Experience with Infrastructure-as-Code tools such as Terraform, CloudFormation, or Serverless Framework.
• Familiarity with Docker and containerized application environments.
• Experience supporting production applications and resolving issues across the full technology stack.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work directly with technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience working in an Agile software development environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Snowflake, Redshift, DB2, DynamoDB, or other cloud and relational database technologies.
• Understanding of dimensional modeling and modern data architecture concepts.
• Experience with Snowpark Container Services.
• AWS certifications such as Solutions Architect, Developer, or DevOps Engineer.
• Snowflake certification.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, information systems, or a related discipline; equivalent professional experience may also be considered.

Additional Details:

• Candidates must be local to the Chicago area and able to work onsite in a hybrid capacity.
• The project is highly visible and requires significant collaboration with multiple business and technology groups.
• Candidates must demonstrate genuine hands-on ability across both front-end and backend development.
• The interview process will include technical evaluation of the candidate’s individual coding knowledge and communication skills.
• Candidates should be prepared to discuss specific applications and user interfaces they personally designed and developed.
• Background check required before the start date.
• Fast-moving interview process with an anticipated start within approximately two weeks.

Perks:

• Opportunity to own complete application features across the user interface, backend, cloud infrastructure, and deployment lifecycle.
• Work with modern technologies including React, TypeScript, Java, Node.js, AWS, Terraform, and serverless architecture.
• Contribute to a highly visible digital initiative with exposure across multiple areas of the organization.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, designers, architects, engineers, and business stakeholders.
• Gain hands-on experience with cloud modernization, event-driven systems, and enterprise-scale applications.
• Opportunity to provide technical leadership and influence engineering standards and architecture decisions.