Josh is available for hire
Hire JoshJosh McDannel
Verified Expert in Engineering
Front-end Engineer and Developer
Cascade, United States
Toptal member since October 6, 2026
Bio
Josh has spent 25+ years building digital platforms and applications across technology, finance, and retail for clients such as IBM, Accenture, and Motley Fool Wealth Management. His toolkit centers on TypeScript, React, and Next.js. While at IBM, Josh cut report generation times from up to 10 minutes to under 10 seconds by replacing legacy systems with custom LWC components.
Portfolio
Track and Trestle Technology
Node.js, Firebase, MQTT, WebSockets, Vue, Next.js, Vercel, Single Sign-on (SSO)...
Motley Fool Wealth Management
Cursor AI, Claude Code, Codex, GraphQL, AWS Lambda, Next.js, React, Node.js...
Wolverine Worldwide
Lit, Storefront Reference Architecture (SFRA), Preact...
Experience
- JavaScript - 20 years
- React - 8 years
- Node.js - 8 years
- TypeScript - 7 years
- Tailwind CSS - 5 years
- Lightning Web Components (LWC) - 4 years
- Next.js - 2 years
- Claude Code - 1 year
Work Experience
Developer | Founder
2026 - PRESENT
Track and Trestle Technology
- Architected a real-time control platform connecting cloud data to microcontrollers using a Node.js server bridging Firebase state to MQTT, WebSocket, and serial transports, driving embedded devices such as ESP32, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi Pico W.
- Designed and built a suite of Vue apps, including a throttle app to control trains, turnouts, and signals, a Cloud data app to manage layout devices, inventory, and connections, and a monitor app for real-time observability.
- Developed an interactive Node.js CLI to handle authentication, installation, and server management.
- Deployed Next.js and Vue 3 apps to Vercel with SSO authentication, per-device CLI tokens, storage, AI gateway, image optimization, and Node.js functions.
- Developed the entire platform AI-natively using agentic workflows across Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex, evaluating each new model and tool release against real production work.
Technologies: Node.js, Firebase, MQTT, WebSockets, Vue, Next.js, Vercel, Single Sign-on (SSO), Claude Code, Cursor AI, Codex
Senior Front-end Engineer
2024 - 2026
Motley Fool Wealth Management
- Served as lead front-end engineer on a senior team, developing personalized AI-assisted investing products within a regulated financial organization. Explored AI model capabilities to assist, improve, and co-author code using Cursor and Claude Code.
- Developed components, GraphQL queries, and AWS Lambda functions for a greenfield recommendation engine that pairs personalized stock picks with LLM-generated rationale. Built the onboarding flow, financial information components, and a gamified UI.
- Developed React components for a streaming AI ChatBot to assist users with understanding Motley Fool Asset Management and ETFs.
- Tested and optimized prompts and models, ensuring adherence to guidelines and guardrails, and compiled the ChatBot into a web component.
- Modernized CAPS, a social platform for stock prediction scoring, using React 19, Vite, and TanStack. Resolved critical bugs and enhanced navigation UI, enabling rapid user growth.
Technologies: Cursor AI, Claude Code, Codex, GraphQL, AWS Lambda, Next.js, React, Node.js, Tailwind CSS, Vite, TanStack
eCommerce Front-end Architect
2023 - 2024
Wolverine Worldwide
- Architected global front-end solutions for 8+ brands across dozens of countries on the Salesforce B2C Commerce Cloud, providing oversight and code reviews for an offshore delivery team.
- Developed and presented code standards. Introduced new component architecture and modernized npm package management to the development team.
- Built next-generation headless prototypes with Lit-based web components. Provided platform upgrade options for SFRA, Salesforce Headless Commerce API, and PWA kit capabilities.
- Enhanced product detail and checkout experiences, including expedited payments with Preact and platform components.
- Introduced new frameworks and component architecture to an in-house promotion development team to improve their workflow and modernize their skillsets.
Technologies: Lit, Storefront Reference Architecture (SFRA), Preact, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, TypeScript, PNPM, JavaScript
Salesforce Front-end Engineering Manager
2021 - 2023
IBM
- Led the front end of a connected-vehicle support platform on the Salesforce Service Cloud for a large automotive manufacturer, integrating a React navigation system to power a large call center requiring advanced Webpack and DevOps configurations.
- Built custom LWC components for a fintech insurance and annuities platform and replaced a legacy Apex reporting system with LWC components and a custom objects engine, cutting report generation from 3 to 10 minutes to under 10 seconds.
- Delivered call center features, including remote vehicle unlock and navigation assistance by integrating React into Salesforce Service Cloud with custom Webpack builds.
Technologies: Salesforce Service Cloud, React, Webpack, DevOps, Lightning Web Components (LWC)
Front-end Developer
2020 - 2021
7Summits
- Developed LWC components and Apex Themes for Salesforce Experience Cloud Orgs for clients across technology, healthcare, education, fintech, and other industries.
- Architected and delivered rich branded data applications using LWC, React, Salesforce, SOQL, Apex, LDS, and GraphQL Wire Service.
- Recruited and mentored a fast-growing team, fostering a culture of growth and learning.
- Served as sole front-end developer on a HIPAA-compliant telehealth patient portal in Salesforce Experience Cloud with scheduling, video visits, provider chat, and health records.
Technologies: Lightning Web Components (LWC), React, SOQL, Apex, Salesforce Experience Cloud, GraphQL
Senior Front-end Developer
2018 - 2020
Appdetex
- Built React components using TypeScript, Bootstrap, REST APIs, GraphQL, AWS, and Puppeteer for a brand protection platform automating the enforcement of trademark and copyright infringements.
- Architected and developed React components to enable performant, advanced search of digital market data.
- Refactored or rewrote components to quickly adapt them to new markets, allowing rapid expansion of product offerings to clients.
- Built a reusable component suite that lets analysts run many enforcement workflows in parallel, making interfaces faster and easier to use.
Technologies: React, TypeScript, Bootstrap, REST APIs, GraphQL, AWS IoT, Puppeteer
Front-end Development Manager
2013 - 2018
Accenture Interactive
- Provided technical leadership across technology, hospitality, travel, energy, telecom, retail, and healthcare clients, developing rich, accessible, performant front-end applications integrated with Adobe AEM, SAP Commerce Cloud, and Mulesoft.
- Led delivery teams of 2 to 12 developers onshore, nearshore, and offshore, delivering React, Angular, and Backbone.js apps integrated with enterprise platforms.
- Hired, managed, mentored, and grew a nationwide team of front-end developers.
- Led instruction for a modern web technology education program delivering in-class curriculum covering DevOps, web development, Angular, and React.
- Led a team of nearshore and onshore developers, including training all 8 nearshore developers in React, to deliver a mobile phone provider's customer portal, including phone activation, onboarding, account management, and billing management.
- Developed new features as part of Walmart.com's Search and Browse team, enhancing product list features, promotions, and optimized images.
- Led a team of developers to deliver 3 modern web apps in Backbone.js with a Mulesoft API layer for a utility company to manage commercial landlord residential accounts.
Technologies: SAP Commerce Cloud, MuleSoft, React, Angular, Backbone.js
Senior Front-end Developer
2012 - 2013
Acquity Group
- Built a Backbone.js plus Adobe Scene7 office-chair configurator in SAP Commerce Cloud with realistic image rendering and quote order management.
- Integrated HTML, CSS, and JavaScript into SAP Commerce Cloud for a bulk custom design gift card system with accurate previews and print files for a large food and beverage retailer.
- Built a stylized, responsive, internationalized, including RTL, product hero page for a phone manufacturer's flagship device with scroll-based and SVG animation.
Technologies: Backbone.js, SAP Commerce Cloud, Adobe Scene7, JavaScript, HTML5, CSS
Application Developer
2006 - 2012
Drake Cooper
- Developed custom CMS, eCommerce, and data management systems with ASP.NET (C#), enabling digital transformation of client businesses.
- Built and maintained dozens of ASP.NET websites for clients in government, real estate, and food and beverage sectors.
- Developed REST APIs and web services that served tourism data to statewide tourism entities.
- Architected normalized SQL database designs and built complex views, stored procedures, and user-defined functions for client data applications.
- Built a code generation tool that output C#, SQL, and HTML to rapidly produce data management applications.
- Served as lead technical developer across interactive projects, providing estimates and technical responses for RFPs and business development.
Technologies: C#, Microsoft SQL Server, JavaScript, Google Maps API, ASP.NET
Web Application Developer
2004 - 2006
AB Positive
- Built dozens of client websites featuring content management, eCommerce, data management, authentication, and image processing.
- Managed 6 to 12 concurrent projects in a fast-paced agency environment, with timelines ranging from a few hours to several months.
- Continued in role through AB Positive's 2006 acquisition by Drake Cooper, carrying client websites and projects forward.
Technologies: ASP.NET, C#, Microsoft SQL Server, JavaScript, HTML5
Application Developer
2000 - 2003
Wirestone
- Delivered 1 of the first live public web applications built on ASP.NET shortly after the framework's official release.
- Built an ASP.NET loyalty application for a large printer manufacturer to track print-product purchases and reward customers.
- Built custom web applications for a wide range of clients across industries, demonstrating versatility and technical range.
Technologies: ASP.NET, C#, JavaScript, HTML5
Experience
DEJA.js | Cloud Control Platform for Model Railroads
https://dejajs.comA full-stack control platform for DCC-EX model railroads that I designed and built end-to-end as the founder of Track and Trestle Technology. A Node.js server bridges Firebase cloud state to MQTT, WebSocket, and serial transports, driving embedded devices such as ESP32, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi Pico W in real time.
On top of it, I built a suite of Vue apps:
• A Throttle app for driving trains and controlling turnouts and signals
• A cloud app for managing layout devices, inventory, and connections
• A monitor app for real-time observability
I also built an interactive Node.js CLI that handles authentication, installation, and server management, as well as a Next.js site deployed on Vercel.
The platform is used by model railroad hobbyists and is launching a subscription model.
On top of it, I built a suite of Vue apps:
• A Throttle app for driving trains and controlling turnouts and signals
• A cloud app for managing layout devices, inventory, and connections
• A monitor app for real-time observability
I also built an interactive Node.js CLI that handles authentication, installation, and server management, as well as a Next.js site deployed on Vercel.
The platform is used by model railroad hobbyists and is launching a subscription model.
Education
1997 - 2000
Associate's Degree in Software Engineering
Idaho State University - Pocatello, ID, USA
Skills
Libraries/APIs
Node.js, React, Vue 3, Vue, Lit, REST APIs, Preact, Puppeteer, Backbone.js, Google Maps API
Tools
MQTT, Claude Code, Webpack, Codex
Languages
TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML5, CSS, GraphQL, SOQL, Apex, SQL, C#
Frameworks
Next.js, Tailwind CSS, Bootstrap, Angular, ASP.NET
Paradigms
REST, DevOps
Platforms
Firebase, Vercel, AWS Lambda, Salesforce, AWS IoT, SAP Commerce Cloud, MuleSoft, HubSpot, Salesforce Experience Cloud
Storage
MongoDB, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Microsoft SQL Server
Other
Lightning Web Components (LWC), Software Engineering, Vite, TanStack, CI/CD Pipelines, Monorepos, WebSockets, Single Sign-on (SSO), Cursor AI, Storefront Reference Architecture (SFRA), Salesforce Service Cloud, GCP, Chatbots, PNPM, Adobe Scene7
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