
Joel Santos
Senior Frontend Engineer · React · Next.js · TypeScript · Node.js
I've spent 8+ years building web products — at health tech, fintech, and SaaS companies.
The best software isn't the most beautiful or complex. It's the kind that truly understands the people using it.
I'm a software engineer from Brazil with 8+ years of experience building production web applications for startups and scale-ups. I specialize in React and Next.js, with full-stack experience across TypeScript, Node.js, and Ruby on Rails.
I've shipped features across health tech (Moderna, Youper), fintech (BV Bank), insurtech (Boxx Insurance), and SaaS (PetScreening) — working both as an embedded engineer and through consulting contracts.
work
During my career, I've had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects and teams, each with its own unique challenges and opportunities for growth. Here are some of the highlights from my professional experiences.

Senior Frontend Engineer
PetScreening
Sep, 2024 - Present
Senior Frontend Engineer
PetScreening
Building and shipping React + Next.js features for a SaaS platform that powers pet profile screening for thousands of property management companies across the US
Collaborating closely with backend engineers on Ruby on Rails API integrations, ensuring smooth data flow between frontend components and server-side logic
Improving code quality through component architecture reviews, TypeScript adoption, and test coverage improvements
Modernizing legacy React and Ruby on Rails applications by following modern patterns and tools, allowing for more scalability


Senior Frontend Engineer
Moderna / Surgo Health (via act digital)
Jan, 2024 - Sep, 2024
Senior Frontend Engineer
Moderna / Surgo Health (via act digital)
Developed internal web tooling with React used by scientists at Moderna and Surgo Health to streamline pharmaceutical research and data workflows
Built Node.js backend services and RESTful APIs consumed by React frontends in a proprietary, regulated tech environment
Worked in an agile team delivering features under tight pharmaceutical industry compliance requirements

Fullstack Web Developer
Youper Inc.
Nov, 2021 - Jan, 2024
Fullstack Web Developer
Youper Inc.
Modernized the frontend tech stack of an AI-powered mental health app with thousands of active users worldwide, improving performance and long-term maintainability
Integrated LLM (Large Language Model) APIs into the app's CBT therapy chat feature via RESTful endpoints, enhancing the quality of AI-driven therapy sessions
Collaborated with product and UX/UI teams to deliver new features improving user engagement and retention
Ensured app stability and reliability for a global user base through testing, monitoring, and backend service integrations


Frontend Software Engineer
BV Bank (via Cwi Software)
May, 2021 - Nov, 2021
Frontend Software Engineer
BV Bank (via Cwi Software)
Contributed to Angular-based micro-frontends for internal financial operations dashboards, collaborating closely with backend teams.
Implemented unit tests with Jest to raise confidence and reduce regressions; optimized performance and accessibility.

Flutter Developer
Bootmod3
Jan, 2020 - Aug, 2021
Flutter Developer
Bootmod3
Developed and maintained a Flutter app that enables BMW enthusiasts to configure, monitor, and manage vehicle performance—used by thousands worldwide.
Delivered end-to-end features, improved UX responsiveness, and supported releases across iOS and Android.


Full Stack Software Engineer
Boxx Insurance (via Upplify)
Dez, 2017 - May, 2021
Full Stack Software Engineer
Boxx Insurance (via Upplify)
Built MEAN-stack web applications (Angular 2+, Node.js, SailsJS, MongoDB, MySQL) to streamline digital insurance sales and servicing.
Delivered a quoting portal to sell and customize digital insurance; partnered with clients to gather requirements, plan scope, and onboard new developers.
Replaced manual Excel-based workflows with a secure web tool providing PDF generation and pricing calculations—adopted by dozens of brokers to deliver digital insurance products.