Valery Kharshats

Senior Frontend Developer

Senior Frontend Engineer with 10+ years of experience building scalable, high-quality web applications across fintech, gaming, and SaaS. Deep expertise in React, TypeScript, Next.js, and modern JavaScript, with a strong foundation in component architecture, state management, and performance optimization. Track record of setting engineering standards, maintaining shared component libraries, mentoring engineers, and raising code quality through reviews. Full-stack experience including Node.js, PostgreSQL, and Next.js server components. Daily user of AI-assisted development tools including GitHub Copilot and Cursor.

Experience

  1. Frontend DeveloperNiyaSoft Canada Inc.
    Oct 2023 – Mar 2026Canada (Remote)
    • Built and maintained full-stack features using React, TypeScript, Next.js (server and client), Node.js, and PostgreSQL — focused on performance, accessibility, and reliability.
    • Drove Lighthouse score improvements through bundle optimization, code splitting, and eliminating unnecessary re-renders using React DevTools Profiler and React Scan.
    • Migrated state management from Redux Thunk to Jotai and TanStack Query — having used Redux across three consecutive companies, led this modernization with deep understanding of the tradeoffs.
    • Implemented CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions, introduced E2E testing with Cypress and Playwright, and evaluated a self-hosted open-source feature flag solution.
  2. Frontend Team LeadCommon Wealth Retirement
    Apr 2022 – Oct 2023Canada (Remote)
    • Led frontend engineering for a financial SaaS platform — owned architecture decisions, component library, and code quality standards across the team.
    • Used LogRocket in production to debug user-reported issues — replayed sessions, mouse interactions, and Redux state changes locally to reproduce and resolve complex bugs.
    • Mentored engineers, enforced code standards, and collaborated closely with designers and backend engineers on delivery.
  3. Senior Frontend DeveloperStars Technologies (PokerStars)
    Sep 2017 – Mar 2022Richmond Hill, ON
    • Senior engineer on core platform and Web Cashier team — built high-traffic React applications serving millions of global users, including payment flows and fraud handling.
    • Built and maintained a shared component library used across multiple product teams; enforced standards via automated linting and documented best practices.
    • Optimized Lighthouse scores and bundle sizes; replaced heavy dependencies with lighter alternatives and implemented code splitting.
    • Wrote Jest and React Testing Library test suites; conducted code reviews and mentored engineers across the org.
  4. Senior Frontend DeveloperViber
    Jan 2015 – Dec 2017Israel
    • Established frontend architecture and UI standards for a new partner-facing product; served as de-facto Tech Lead as the team scaled.
    • Led full rewrite from AngularJS to Angular 2 with TypeScript and Webpack, modernizing the codebase and improving UI performance and maintainability.
  5. Software EngineerLTG Exam Prep Platform
    Jan 2014 – Dec 2015
    • Built cross-platform iOS and Android apps using Ionic (AngularJS/Cordova).
  6. Web DeveloperLadbrokes
    Jan 2013 – Dec 2014Israel
    • Developed large-scale gaming portal using Drupal 7/PHP and AngularJS SPAs with SASS/SCSS.
  7. Frontend DeveloperThe Nation Traffic
    Jan 2012 – Dec 2013
    • Developed gaming portals and landing pages with full cross-browser compatibility.
  8. Web DesignerPush Style Design Studio
    2008 – 2012Ashkelon, Israel
    • Co-founded a boutique design and development studio — designed and built client websites, bridging visual design with front-end implementation.
  9. Technical Support Specialist012 Telecom
    2005 – 2007Rishon Le Zion, Israel
    • Provided internet technical support, troubleshooting connectivity and service issues.

Skills

Languages & Markup
TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, SASS/SCSS, CSS-in-JS (Styled Components, Emotion, MUI Styled)
Frameworks & Libraries
React.js, Next.js, Redux, TanStack Query, Jotai, Angular, Node.js, MUI, GraphQL
Testing
Jest, React Testing Library, Vitest, Cypress, Playwright, Mocha
Performance & Observability
Lighthouse, React DevTools Profiler, why-did-you-render, React Scan, LogRocket, Bundle optimization, Code splitting, Cross-browser compatibility
Practices
Component architecture, State management, Performance optimization, Accessibility (WCAG), Cross-browser Compatibility, Feature flags, A/B testing, Code review, Mentoring, Agile/Scrum
Tools
Webpack, Vite, Babel, ESLint, Git, GitHub Actions, CI/CD, NX Monorepo, Docker, PostgreSQL, Figma, REST APIs, GitHub Copilot, Cursor

Education

  • Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD)2012

    Ashdod Management CollegeSpecialized in Web Development for ASP.NET

  • Diploma — Practical Engineer, Visual Communication Design2009

    Ashkelon Academic College

Languages

  • English — Full Professional Proficiency
  • Hebrew — Native
  • Russian — Native
  • Ukrainian — Professional Proficiency

Certifications

  • .NET Framework 4, Web ApplicationsMicrosoft2012
  • .NET Framework 4, Data AccessMicrosoft2012
  • Staying Sharp with Angular.js