Yonela
Yonela Johannes
Full Stack Engineer
Architecting high-performance digital ecosystems and scalable storefronts for global industry leaders.
Based in South Africa
Available for opportunities
PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION
FULL STACK SYSTEMS
NODE.JS • TYPESCRIPT • GRAPHQL
GLOBAL
Brand Portfolio
ABOUT
About
Engineer. Problem solver.
Craftsman.
/Who I Am
I'm a full stack engineer with a genuine interest in how software is built, not just that it works. Over the years I've worked across the stack — from polished React interfaces to structured Node.js APIs — developing a preference for code that's easy to reason about, maintain, and grow.
/Expertise
My strongest ground is the TypeScript ecosystem — React, Next.js, and Node.js, where I've spent the most time building production systems. On the back end, I work with REST APIs, GraphQL, and SQL, with experience integrating data layers that hold up under real usage. I've also shipped cross-platform mobile work with React Native.
/Philosophy
I care about delivery — not just writing code, but understanding what's being built and why. I find the most value in work where engineering and product thinking overlap, where technical decisions connect directly to the experience someone has on the other end. I've had the opportunity to contribute to projects serving globally recognised brands, including Vans, Crocs, Under Armour, and Birkenstock — work that reinforced the importance of getting the details right at scale.
/Beyond the Code
Outside of work I'm drawn to things that require attention — whether that's understanding a system more deeply, exploring a new technology, or just building something for the sake of learning. I'm at my best when the problem is interesting and there's room to think through it properly.
Yonela Johannes
Full Stack Engineer
Full Stack · TypeScript · React · Node.js · Enterprise Delivery
Based in South Africa
WORK
Work
Things I've built
from scratch.
A mix of personal projects, client work, and experiments — each one built end to end with a focus on real delivery over demos.
Status
Live · In Progress
Mango
Real-Time Social & Communication Platform
Mango is a cross-platform mobile and web application built around live communication. It combines messaging, calling, social features, and group spaces into a single cohesive product — architected for real-time performance from the ground up.
Features
Full Stack · Mobile & Web
Live · In Progress
EXP
Experience
Where I've worked
and what I built.
Three roles across product agencies and SaaS environments — each one adding a different layer to how I think about building software.
Timeline
2024 – Present · WBWR
2023 – 2024 · Digital Hype
2022 – 2023 · Project Codex
WBWR
Full Stack Developer
Building and deploying production-ready web and mobile applications for globally recognised brands. Working within fast-paced sprint cycles in a distributed, remote-first team.
Key Contributions
Built and deployed Shopify Hydrogen storefronts for global brands including Vans, Crocs, and Birkenstock
Developed scalable frontend systems using Next.js and TypeScript, optimising performance and user experience
Collaborated with designers, QA testers, and product teams to deliver consistent, high-quality user experiences
Delivered production-ready applications within 2–3 week sprint cycles in high-pressure environments
Contributed to architecture decisions and code quality standards across a distributed team
Stack Used
3 Roles · Agency · SaaS · Product · Remote-First
Currently at WBWR
SKILLS
Skills
A toolkit built for delivery,
not just checklists.
My skill set spans front-end, back-end, APIs, delivery workflows, and practical debugging — shaped by real project work in enterprise environments. Comfortable working across the stack with technologies and tools that support product delivery, maintainability, and team collaboration.
Front-End Engineering
Building responsive, maintainable interfaces with a strong focus on usability, structure, and developer-friendly implementation.
Back-End Engineering
Designing APIs, business logic, and data-backed services that are practical, dependable, and easy to evolve over time.
Source Control & Delivery Flow
Working comfortably across version control, work tracking, and technical documentation to support healthy team delivery.
Testing & Debugging
Using practical testing and debugging workflows to investigate issues, validate changes, and improve reliability.
STACK
Tech Stack
Depth of experience
across the stack.
These are the technologies I've spent the most time with in professional environments, shaped by real delivery work rather than isolated experimentation.
My strongest depth sits in modern front-end development, with growing back-end and data experience across enterprise systems. I prefer being honest about where I've built the most confidence and where my experience is broader but lighter.
React, Next.js, TypeScript, JavaScript, GraphQL, HTML & CSS
~5 yearsJune 2020 – Present
This is where I've built the most depth — especially in scalable React/ Next.js applications, modern TypeScript architectures, and production frontend systems connected through REST and GraphQL APIs.
Node.js, Express & SQL
~4 yearsJanuary 2022 – Present
A strong part of my back-end and data foundation, used across enterprise systems where reliability, scalability, and clean architecture matter most.
React Native (Expo)
~4 yearsDecember 2022 – Present
Experience building cross-platform mobile apps, strengthening my understanding of reusable components, real-time features, and scalable architecture across platforms.
MongoDB, PostgreSQL
~4 year2022 – Present
Exposure to infrastructure, databases, and deployment tooling that helped me understand full production environments beyond just feature development.
BLOG
Writing
Thoughts on
engineering.
Occasionally I write about things I've learned, patterns I find useful, or ideas worth thinking through properly.
1 post · Engineering · Delivery · Architecture
Written by Yonela Johannes
CONTACT
Contact
Let's build something
meaningful.
I'm open to opportunities where I can contribute as a thoughtful, product-minded engineer and continue growing through meaningful work. Available for roles where strong engineering, clean product thinking, and real-world delivery all matter.
johannesyonela@gmail.com
Location
Cape Town, South Africa
Relocation
Open to relocation
Exploring roles with sponsorship support.
Ready to connect?
Send me an email
Response time
Within 24 hours
Available now
Open to remote · Hybrid · On-site · Relocation
Cape Town, South Africa