{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"6a88d3744d06e156d5d17fa0","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/6a88d3744d06e156d5d17fa0","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/6a88d3744d06e156d5d17fa0","title":"Experienced React Native Engineer for Skill-Gaming Platform","description":"SummaryI'm building Artcade, a patent-pending peer-judged creative skill-gaming platform where people compete in drawing, photo, and writing contests, in 31-player cohorts, for real-money prizes. The mission is simple: incentivize imagination.The whole experience is generally built with AI prototyping. React/TypeScript, every screen from game selection through voting, results, wallet, and compliance. It was built fast and AI-native, and it's production-ish quality.Now I need a founding-level frontend/mobile engineer to help us on the last mile: convert it to a React Native iOS app and get a real build into TestFlight. That's the one thing that matters first. If you've shipped real mobile apps, you obsess over how a touch interface feels, and you're comfortable blending AI dev tools with strong engineering fundamentals, this role is for you.What You'll Do- Convert our React/TypeScript prototype into a React Native iOS app and get it live on TestFlight (the #1 priority. It unblocks everything downstream)- Stand up and manage TestFlight builds through a paced, compliance-gated cadence (build → cert gate → adjust → continue)- Own the drawing canvas end-to-end — multi-tool, touch optimization, responsiveness, performance. It's our signature surface and it has to feel great- Build the core game and voting flows (cohort fill, submission, the gated 5×6 → 5 → 1 voting flow, results) plus wallet, profile, progression, and responsible-gaming screens- Bring a real point of view on animation, transitions, and game feel — not just ship tickets- Use AI dev tools (Claude Code, Codex, similar) to move fast, and help systematize what works- Collaborate directly on product direction — this is a founding seat, not a ticket queueIdeal Candidate Experience- React Native Engineer (5+ years) with shipped mobile apps.- Real apps live on TestFlight / the App Store — React Native and/or native iOS (Swift/SwiftUI), not web-with-a-responsive-layout.- Strong React / TypeScript experience helpful.- UX craft on interactive, canvas, or touch-heavy surfaces.Mobile Expertise- React Native (Expo / bare workflow) and the iOS build + TestFlight pipeline- Touch handling, gesture systems, and 60fps performance on device- Animation depth — Framer Motion, Reanimated, or SwiftUI animationCraft & Canvas- Canvas / graphics / drawing-tool experience (Canvas API, WebGL, custom rendering)- A portfolio piece that's interactive and feels good to use — show us something you made- An eye for game feel, transitions, and micro-interactionsAI-Native Builder Profile (Must-Have Mindset)- You've recently vibe-coded and are comfortable with AI dev tools like Claude Code, Codex, Droid- You blend AI output with your own logic and refactors — fluent, not dependent- You think of AI as a collaborator that lets a small team ship like a big one- You love testing new workflows and systematizing what actually worksHighly Valuable- Mobile game experience — especially drawing / creative tools / rich touch interaction- Skill gaming, iGaming, or real-money gaming background (Skillz, Big Run, PrizePicks, etc.)- Real-time UX (WebSocket waiting rooms, live game state)- Design-fluent enough to pair tightly with a brand designerSoft Skills & Mindset- Operates like a founder — autonomous, pragmatic, fast- Runs from a prototype and a POV, doesn't wait for pixel-perfect specs- Communicates clearly and async-friendly- Comfortable with a paced, gated start-stop rhythm (the cert cadence is part of the job)- Cares how things feel, not just whether they workWhat You'll Get- A founding frontend seat on a product that's already built and ready to ship- Direct collaboration with the CTO on architecture and the CEO on product- 1099 contract-to-hire to start, converting to a full-time early-employee seat with equity on mutual fit- Real ownership of the surface users touch most — the draw tool is yours- The chance to define how an entire creative-gaming product feels on mobileOur Mission- We're building creative skill gaming that rewards imagination with real prizes.- The product is built. The job is to make it real on mobile, and make it feel incredible.- If you've shipped mobile apps you're proud of, you sweat the details of touch and motion, and you want to own a signature surface from day one, you'll fit right in.Note - This is U.S.-based and work-authorized (1099 → W-2 path). Rate is $50-70/hr depending on experience, negotiable up for strong mobile-game or drawing-tool backgrounds. We'll start with a short paid sprint on the actual codebase to align on pace and quality, then scale from there.Looking forward to building together.","company":"Downshift","rawCompany":"downshift","city":"Los Angeles","state":"CA","isRemote":false,"isActive":false,"createdAt":"2026-06-07T11:37:29.204Z","occupations":[{"code":"15-1252.00","title":"Software Developers","slug":"software-developers"},{"code":"15-1254.00","title":"Web Developers","slug":"web-developers"},{"code":"15-1255.00","title":"Web and Digital Interface Designers","slug":"web-and-digital-interface-designers"}],"industries":[{"code":"513210","title":"Software Publishers","slug":"software-publishers"},{"code":"541511","title":"Custom Computer Programming Services","slug":"custom-computer-programming-services"},{"code":"541512","title":"Computer Systems Design Services","slug":"computer-systems-design-services"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Experienced React Native Engineer for Skill-Gaming Platform","description":"SummaryI'm building Artcade, a patent-pending peer-judged creative skill-gaming platform where people compete in drawing, photo, and writing contests, in 31-player cohorts, for real-money prizes. The mission is simple: incentivize imagination.The whole experience is generally built with AI prototyping. React/TypeScript, every screen from game selection through voting, results, wallet, and compliance. It was built fast and AI-native, and it's production-ish quality.Now I need a founding-level frontend/mobile engineer to help us on the last mile: convert it to a React Native iOS app and get a real build into TestFlight. That's the one thing that matters first. If you've shipped real mobile apps, you obsess over how a touch interface feels, and you're comfortable blending AI dev tools with strong engineering fundamentals, this role is for you.What You'll Do- Convert our React/TypeScript prototype into a React Native iOS app and get it live on TestFlight (the #1 priority. It unblocks everything downstream)- Stand up and manage TestFlight builds through a paced, compliance-gated cadence (build → cert gate → adjust → continue)- Own the drawing canvas end-to-end — multi-tool, touch optimization, responsiveness, performance. It's our signature surface and it has to feel great- Build the core game and voting flows (cohort fill, submission, the gated 5×6 → 5 → 1 voting flow, results) plus wallet, profile, progression, and responsible-gaming screens- Bring a real point of view on animation, transitions, and game feel — not just ship tickets- Use AI dev tools (Claude Code, Codex, similar) to move fast, and help systematize what works- Collaborate directly on product direction — this is a founding seat, not a ticket queueIdeal Candidate Experience- React Native Engineer (5+ years) with shipped mobile apps.- Real apps live on TestFlight / the App Store — React Native and/or native iOS (Swift/SwiftUI), not web-with-a-responsive-layout.- Strong React / TypeScript experience helpful.- UX craft on interactive, canvas, or touch-heavy surfaces.Mobile Expertise- React Native (Expo / bare workflow) and the iOS build + TestFlight pipeline- Touch handling, gesture systems, and 60fps performance on device- Animation depth — Framer Motion, Reanimated, or SwiftUI animationCraft & Canvas- Canvas / graphics / drawing-tool experience (Canvas API, WebGL, custom rendering)- A portfolio piece that's interactive and feels good to use — show us something you made- An eye for game feel, transitions, and micro-interactionsAI-Native Builder Profile (Must-Have Mindset)- You've recently vibe-coded and are comfortable with AI dev tools like Claude Code, Codex, Droid- You blend AI output with your own logic and refactors — fluent, not dependent- You think of AI as a collaborator that lets a small team ship like a big one- You love testing new workflows and systematizing what actually worksHighly Valuable- Mobile game experience — especially drawing / creative tools / rich touch interaction- Skill gaming, iGaming, or real-money gaming background (Skillz, Big Run, PrizePicks, etc.)- Real-time UX (WebSocket waiting rooms, live game state)- Design-fluent enough to pair tightly with a brand designerSoft Skills & Mindset- Operates like a founder — autonomous, pragmatic, fast- Runs from a prototype and a POV, doesn't wait for pixel-perfect specs- Communicates clearly and async-friendly- Comfortable with a paced, gated start-stop rhythm (the cert cadence is part of the job)- Cares how things feel, not just whether they workWhat You'll Get- A founding frontend seat on a product that's already built and ready to ship- Direct collaboration with the CTO on architecture and the CEO on product- 1099 contract-to-hire to start, converting to a full-time early-employee seat with equity on mutual fit- Real ownership of the surface users touch most — the draw tool is yours- The chance to define how an entire creative-gaming product feels on mobileOur Mission- We're building creative skill gaming that rewards imagination with real prizes.- The product is built. The job is to make it real on mobile, and make it feel incredible.- If you've shipped mobile apps you're proud of, you sweat the details of touch and motion, and you want to own a signature surface from day one, you'll fit right in.Note - This is U.S.-based and work-authorized (1099 → W-2 path). Rate is $50-70/hr depending on experience, negotiable up for strong mobile-game or drawing-tool backgrounds. We'll start with a short paid sprint on the actual codebase to align on pace and quality, then scale from there.Looking forward to building together.","datePosted":"2026-06-07T11:37:29.204Z","dateModified":"2026-06-07T11:37:29.204Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Downshift","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Los Angeles","addressRegion":"CA","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"6a88d3744d06e156d5d17fa0"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/6a88d3744d06e156d5d17fa0"}}