Zunaib Imtiaz
Lead Frontend Engineer · AI Pipeline Engineer
“I build the layer between human intent and machine execution.”
I don't just build features.
I build the foundations other engineers build on.
I have been building software for over seven years, working with teams across the UK, US and Pakistan. Frontend architecture is where I live, but over time that has stretched further, into AI pipelines, developer tooling, and anything else where I can see a problem worth solving.
I have a compulsion to make things. Outside of client work I build open source tools and publish npm packages, not because it is required but because sitting on an idea that could exist feels worse than just building it. AI has accelerated that instinct: it is how I prototype ideas before they are half-formed, ship open source tools faster, and move through UI work that used to take days. When a new model drops I weigh it against what I already use before I commit to it, but when it earns its place it goes straight into the workflow.
I work best when I am close to product and design. Not because I blur the lines, but because the sharpest engineering decisions come from actually understanding the person on the other end. After seven years that has not changed; if anything it has become the part I care about most.
Certifications · 2026
Google AI Professional Certificate
Google · March 2026
Google Prompting Essentials
Google · Feb 2026
Emperia Brand Experiences
Led the UI for 20+ virtual brand experiences: global luxury, retail, hospitality, and art, built for some of the world's most recognisable names.
Walmart Realm
A network of 3D interactive ecommerce shops, each one auto-deployed from an in-house UGC tool and powered by a custom recommendation engine.
Emperia Creator Tools
From fully manual space deployments to a microservices-driven, JSON-configurable platform with a live UI editor.
AI Product Placement Pipeline
Eliminated Unreal Engine re-renders from every product update. AI synthesizes the panorama directly.
Five steps. Every project.
Understand
I question whether the feature should exist before touching code. Close collaboration with product and design to surface the real need.
Architect
System design before solution design. The right component boundaries, data flow, and API surfaces chosen early make the implementation almost write itself.
Build
Typed, precise, built for the engineer who comes next. Component libraries, AI pipelines, distributed services — quality is non-negotiable regardless of scale.
Accelerate
AI earns its place here: compressing repetitive work, prototyping before specs solidify, automating workflows that shouldn't need a human in the loop.
Ship & Evolve
Production is the starting line. I monitor, optimise, and iterate on what real users do, not what planning assumed. Ready for the next version of the problem.
Available for project-based and retainer engagements.
Frontend Architecture
I audit your frontend, redesign the architecture, and migrate it. The output is working code and typed APIs, not a recommendations deck. I phase the delivery so product never stops.
AI Pipeline Engineering
I design and build AI pipelines that replace real manual workflows. I reduced a 48-hour process to minutes in production. I know where these pipelines break under load and how to build them so they do not.
LLM Product Integration
I design the prompt system, the tool use layer, and the UI that makes AI feel native. I build in streaming, error handling, and cost monitoring from day one, not as an afterthought.
Component Library Design
I build your component library from the token layer up: base components, composition patterns, Storybook docs, and CI visual regression. Delivered as a versioned npm package.
Fractional Technical Leadership
I provide senior engineering judgment without the full-time hire. I set code standards, run architecture reviews, mentor engineers, and own the frontend roadmap. 10-20 hrs/week.
Performance Audit
I do a deep-dive on your React or Next.js app and deliver a prioritised fix list with working code patches, not just a Lighthouse report.
Technical Consulting
I give direct technical opinions on architecture decisions, AI strategy, tech selection, or a codebase at a crossroads. Grounded in production reality. If it is not worth building, I will say so.
Code Review & Mentoring
I embed in your review workflow with one goal: leave your team permanently stronger. I set review culture and standards, not just leave comments on PRs.
Not sure which engagement fits?
Send me a one-liner about what you're building. I'll tell you honestly if I can help.
Frontend Systems Architecture
Component systems that scale across teams, not just screens.
AI Pipeline Engineering
Production pipelines that replace real manual workflows. Not demos.
Distributed SaaS Architecture
Event-driven, multi-tenant, real-time. Built to survive production.
Performance Engineering
Bundle budgets, GPU compositing, sub-second LCP. Measurable or it does not count.
Engineering Leadership
Setting standards, mentoring engineers, owning the architecture across teams.
Zunaib was a foundational member of Emperia and one of the key people who helped build the company from the ground up. I had the pleasure of working with him for four years and saw him grow from an individual contributor into a capable team lead. He consistently aimed for perfection while balancing time constraints, ensuring projects were delivered on schedule without compromising quality. As the leader of the front-end department, he set standards, established best practices, and created processes that elevated the entire team. Beyond his technical and leadership skills, his long-term commitment made a huge impact. Sticking with the team through the formative years, he helped shape the culture and stability of the company. Zunaib is the kind of professional who combines skill, vision, and dedication in a way that few can match.
Simonas Holcmann
CTO · Emperia
Context
Managed Zunaib directly at Emperia
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Let's build something that matters.
I'm based in Lahore, PKT (UTC+5). Typically responds within 24 hours. Remote-first, open to senior engineering and AI architecture roles.