Professional Development & Contract Work
Duration: January 2023 - Present
Status: Contract Engineer / CS Student
The Context
After FightCamp, the job market for frontend engineers had shifted dramatically. The post-pandemic correction hit tech hard, and connected fitness (my most recent domain) was contracting fast.
Rather than take the first offer available, I used this period to stay sharp through contract work, formalize my CS education, and build a portfolio that demonstrates current best practices.
Contract: Logistics Dashboard (May - August 2023)
Client: Xander, former CEO at Winc
Duration: 3 months
Outcome: Venture folded before launch
A seed-stage logistics startup needed an MVP dashboard. I built the frontend infrastructure:
- Next.js + React + TypeScript application architecture
- AWS Cognito integration for authentication
- Role-based access control for different user types
- Visualization-ready components prepared for API integration
The backend hadn't been built yet; my work was ready for integration when the venture folded due to funding challenges. The project didn't ship, but it kept my skills current and maintained a relationship with someone who'd valued my work years earlier.
Contract: Non-Profit Website (September - December 2023)
Client: Loved Again Pets
Duration: 4 months
Outcome: Completed but not deployed by the client
A small non-profit needed a website redesign. I handled the full process:
- Discovery and wireframing
- Figma designs
- WordPress implementation
- Deployment and handoff documentation
The client ultimately chose not to deploy, an internal decision unrelated to the work quality. Not every project ships, but this one exercised a different muscle: working directly with non-technical stakeholders on design and UX, not just implementation.
Education: WGU Computer Science (May 2025 - Present)
Expected graduation: October 2026
Credits completed: 14+
After years of learning on the job, I enrolled in Western Governors University's CS program to formalize the foundations I'd built through 8+ years of production experience.
WGU is competency-based and self-paced, which fits how I learn. I dedicate 3 hours daily to coursework, a commitment I treat like any other professional obligation.
Completed coursework:
- Web Development Foundations
- Introduction to Computer Science
- Network and Security Foundations
- Version Control
- Scripting and Programming Foundations
Portfolio Rebuild (July - September 2025)
URL: danieljoffe.com
Duration: 3 months initially, now ongoing
I rebuilt my portfolio from scratch to demonstrate modern practices and prove I hadn't gone stale:
- NX monorepo architecture
- Next.js with App Router
- Full testing infrastructure: Jest for unit tests, Playwright for E2E, Lighthouse for performance
- Storybook documentation for all components
- GSAP animations: scroll-triggered, page transitions, infinite loops
- Quality automation: Husky pre-commit hooks enforcing all checks
- AI-assisted development: Used Cursor to accelerate development while maintaining code ownership
This project wasn't just about having a portfolio; it was about proving to myself (and future employers) that I could still build at a high level after time away from full-time work.
What This Period Taught Me
Not every season of a career is about climbing. Sometimes it's about consolidation, filling gaps, formalizing knowledge, and staying connected to the craft.
I could have taken a role I wasn't excited about just to avoid a gap on my resume. Instead, I used the time to become a more complete engineer. The CS degree fills in the gaps in the theory I'd learned ad hoc. The portfolio proves I'm current. The contract work maintained real-world reps.
I'm ready for what's next.
Tech Stack
Logistics Dashboard: Next.js, React, TypeScript, AWS Cognito
Non-Profit Site: WordPress, Figma
Portfolio: Next.js, React, TypeScript, NX, GSAP, Jest, Playwright, Storybook, Tailwind CSS, Vercel