Ken Downey

I’m a Senior Frontend Engineer passionate about crafting scalable, accessible design systems and future-forward UI frameworks. With 20+ years in web development and a focus on React, Storybook, and headless CMS platforms, I’ve built performant digital experiences for everyone from federal agencies to Fortune 100 companies. Most recently, I’ve led frontend modernization efforts at the City of Portland, building a React component library and token system to standardize UX across government platforms. My past roles include work on U.S. Health and Human Services tools, American Express’s design system, and Intel’s internal component libraries — all emphasizing accessibility, performance, and elegant architecture. Now, I’m exploring the intersection of frontend engineering and AI: integrating retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) agents, local LLMs, and workflow automation with tools like Ollama and n8n. I believe the next era of development will combine creativity with intelligent tooling. I bring a builder’s mindset, a systems thinker’s discipline, and a deep respect for end-user experience. Whether leading a component library rollout, migrating to headless architecture, or prototyping AI copilots, I’m here to help organizations scale thoughtfully.