React Engineer — xCharts - MUI

MUI is looking for a React Engineer to join the xCharts team. You will help form the team, build ambitious and complex new features, solve strategic technical problems, and drive open-source and commercial adoption.

Details of the Role

• Location: Remote (strong preference for UTC-6 to UTC+5).
• Type of Work: Full-time (contractor or employee depending on location/circumstances).
• Level: IC4 or above.
• Work Culture: Asynchronous-first communication over real-time meetings.

About MUI

MUI's story began in 2014 with Material UI, the most successful React implementation of Google's Material Design. Today, Material UI stands as one of the most popular open-source libraries on GitHub and has paved the way for MUI (founded in 2019), which boasts an ever-expanding ecosystem of React UI products.

We are a remote team of 35+ people as of early 2024 and growing.

The Products

MUI maintains three core component libraries:

• Material UI: Flagship component library implementing Material Design.
• Base UI: Headless component library.
• Pigment CSS: Zero-runtime CSS-in-JS styling engine.

Beyond core libraries, MUI X offers advanced components like the Data Grid, Date and Time Pickers, and Charts for complex data visualization and user interactions. We are also building Toolpad, a low-code admin builder tool.

The Culture

MUI is a fully remote company with a global team. The majority of our work is asynchronous, relying on written communication. Nearly all work happens in public GitHub repositories. Each contributor has the freedom to decide how and when they work, taking full ownership of their tasks.

Why We're Hiring

The xCharts team (part of MUI X) needs your help. The component is off to a strong start, but there is significant potential left to unlock.

Short-to-mid-term goals include:

• Tighter integration with the rest of the MUI ecosystem (Material UI, MUI X Data Grid).
• Faster iteration cycles compared to open-source alternatives like Recharts and Chart.js.
• Reaching 30% download share of alternative React charting libraries.
• Providing paid commercial features on top of an open-core MIT base.

In the long term, MUI envisions using the pro-code charting API as a distribution channel for low-code and AI charting primitives.

Key Responsibilities

• Guide Architectural Decisions: Drive public RFCs and GitHub issues to determine the architectural direction of xCharts.
• Ship Features and Refactors: Build deep, complex features and component architecture using SVG, Canvas, and React.
• Reduce Friction: Refine APIs, fix top bugs, write clear documentation, and improve developer experience.
• Collaborate with the Community: Review community PRs, triage issues, and support open-source contributors.
• Take Ownership: Scope and deliver features from initial concept and mockups to live deployment.
• Support Developers: Interact regularly with developers using MUI X Charts, handling inbound technical support and feature requests.

Role Challenges

• Shifting Context: You will frequently jump between different areas of the codebase and competing priorities.
• Fast Cadence: MUI ships early and often, prioritizing quick feedback loops over 100% complete edge-case coverage in early iterations.
• Large Codebase: Navigating a massive, unique, and highly used open-source codebase.
• High Volume of Feedback: Managing continuous streams of bug reports and community requests.

Requirements

• JavaScript/TypeScript Expertise: Deep experience with ES2021+, TypeScript, React, Next.js, Node.js, and build tools (Webpack/Babel).
• Product & API Design Sense: Track record of building intuitive APIs, clean interfaces, and solving root-cause issues.
• Production Engineering: Experience building and shipping well-tested, performant code in a team environment.
• Graphics / Drawing Technologies: Knowledge of or strong interest in SVG and Canvas APIs for web charting.
• Strong Communication: Excellent written communication skills for public RFCs, documentation, and async collaboration.
• Milestone-Driven Work: Ability to break monolithic features into clear, incremental deliverables.

Nice to Have

• Prior experience building chart libraries or integrating complex charts into applications.
• Experience working on enterprise design systems or headless UI components.
• Track record of maintaining active open-source repositories or contributing to MUI products.