Full-Stack Developer (Django/React) – Research Grade Network Visualization Platform

Full-Stack Django & React Developer – Interactive Network Mapping Platform *Project Overview* We are looking for an experienced Senior Full-Stack Developer to build a research-grade web application designed to help research participants explore, map, quantify, and visualize their cognitive identity networks. The application is built on a single backend codebase driving four distinct frontend user flows: 1. Adult Future Work Self Tool – Variant A (Guided Revision Flow): Baseline discovery mode (T1) and a longitudinal 2-step revision wizard (T2) where participants prune and top-up choices, outputting a side-by-side comparison report. 2. Adult Future Work Self Tool – Variant B (Redo Baseline Flow): Returning T2 participants complete the full baseline flow from scratch, but the system links their T2 data to T1 via parent_session_id to generate the same side-by-side comparison report. 3. Youth Career & Future Self Explorer: A bright, gamified, bilingual (English/French) tool tailored for school students (~12 years old). 4. Adult Leadership Identity Tool: An executive-grade diagnostic tool mapping leadership traits, behaviors, and values. Full technical brief, database schemas, flow diagrams, and pre-styled HTML/CSS report templates are fully prepared and ready for execution. *Project Readiness (Zero-Friction Build)* Everything is prepped and structured so you can focus 100% on clean execution: • Infrastructure Ready: Dedicated Hetzner Cloud server (EU/Germany) is already created and ready for Docker/Nginx deployment. • Templates 100% Styled: Feedback reports are fully designed in styled HTML/CSS—you just inject backend variables and SVG graph data. • Exhaustive Technical Brief: Complete specification brief ready on Day 1 (includes exact PostgreSQL schemas, session-linking logic, and mathematical scoring formulas). • Mapped UI Flows: Screen-by-screen user journeys fully mapped out. • Upstream Consent & Auth: Consent is collected in Qualtrics prior to launch—zero user registration, login modals, or password resets to build. Core Tech Stack & Architecture • Backend: Python 3.11+ / Django REST Framework • Frontend: React.js (Component-based interactive card decks, sliding trays, forced/guided choice matrix) • Database: PostgreSQL (Hosted on Hetzner Cloud EU - Nuremberg datacenter) • Graph Layout Engine: Backend NetworkX (calculates fixed-seed force-directed X,Y node coordinates and Louvain community modularity color clustering) • Data Visualization & PDF: React SVG graph rendering (with multi-line label text wrapping & collision avoidance), radar plots, and client-side browser PDF compilation via pre-styled HTML/CSS report templates (window.print / html2pdf.js). Zero server-side headless browsers (Puppeteer/Playwright) required. • Containerization & SSL: Docker, Nginx, Certbot (Let's Encrypt) Key System Highlights & Requirements • URL-Driven Session Initialization: Sessions initialize via Qualtrics URL parameters (?pid=[PID], ?tool=[TOOL_TYPE]), classroom codes, or 8-character Self-Generated Identification Codes (SGIC). No in-app account registration or consent modals. • Standardized Participant Journey: Phase 1 (Card Discovery Deck / Revision Wizard) - Phase 2 (Core Refinement) - Phase 3 (Importance Rating) - Phase 4 (Hub-and-Spoke Pairwise Synergy/Tension Network Mapping) - Phase 5 (Qualtrics Survey Redirect) - Phase 6 (Visual Feedback Report). • Session Persistence & Recovery: Real-time background auto-saving and crash recovery API (GET /api/v1/sessions/resume/) via PostgreSQL state tracking. • Data Exporter: Native Django Admin portal with a 1-click dynamic Wide CSV exporter (1 row = 1 participant session) structured for SPSS/R analysis. Project Scope & Fixed Budget • Fixed Budget: $6,500 USD (Strict grant cap across all milestones). • Estimated Timeline: 4 to 6 weeks of core development + testing. Proposed Milestone Structure ($6,500 USD): • Milestone 1 (20% | $1,300): Environment setup (Hetzner Docker/PostgreSQL/SSL), DB schemas (item_catalog, sessions), URL parameter parsing (?tool=, ?pid=), and auto-save/session recovery API. • Milestone 2 (30% | $1,950): Frontend UI journeys across all 4 flows (Variant A 2-step wizard, Variant B fresh baseline, Youth, Leadership) including card sorting, sliding trays, and mapping matrices. • Milestone 3 (20% | $1,300): NetworkX layout calculation, Louvain community color clustering, and React SVG graph rendering with text wrapping and collision avoidance. • Milestone 4 (20% | $1,300): HTML report data injection, client-side PDF generation, Django Admin portal, and dynamic Wide CSV exporter. • Milestone 5 (10% | $650): QA, mobile touch optimization, disconnect latency protection, and final codebase transfer. How to Apply Please start your proposal with the phrase "FUTURE SELF" so I know you have read the entire description. In your proposal, please provide: 1. A brief summary of your experience with Django REST Framework and React.js. 2. 1–2 links or examples of past projects involving interactive UI tools, SVG visualizations, or complex graph networks (e.g., D3.js, NetworkX, Canvas/SVG).