Developer Senior - Hybrid (3 Day On-Site)

Department: MCC Information Technology

Salary/Grade: ITS/81

Job Summary:

Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering is seeking a talented and inquisitive Senior Web Developer to join our team of digital professionals. The candidate will play a pivotal role within our web development team, focusing on crafting and supporting both internal and external-facing websites and web applications.

Responsibilities encompass acting as a technical expert engaged in the design, development, coding, testing, and debugging of new software or substantial enhancements to existing software across multiple platforms. This role involves developing websites and implementing features within the Cascade content management system, creating and updating web templates, conducting web application development and maintenance, and performing complex system integration tasks. Additionally, the role requires promptly addressing enhancement requests, bugs, and technical issues to ensure optimal functionality and user experience.

All development efforts will rigorously adhere to web accessibility and usability standards, ensuring that digital content is accessible and user-friendly. The individual will also provide guidance and advice to junior staff, manage complex projects independently, and contribute to the estimation and planning of future development work. This comprehensive approach to software development and web design emphasizes both technical proficiency and a commitment to quality and accessibility in digital environments.

The ideal candidate possesses robust PHP/MVC development experience, technical and analytical skills, complemented by exemplary communication and customer service abilities. They must be team-oriented, displaying an ability to seamlessly integrate and collaborate with marketing specialists, fellow developers, key stakeholders, and content managers to determine requirements, update specs, develop templates and applications, and provide technical support.

This is a three day on-site, two day remote hybrid position.

Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning

• Provides application development leadership for new and existing software applications.

• Partners with user in designing features for technology.

• Provides recommendation on how to enhance system for future growth.

• Advises/recommends project and activities as related to system/architectural direction and strategy.

Administration

• Develops and implements procedures for data security, management and compliance

• Creates and maintains code documentation.

• Creates ad hoc administrative reports.

• Delivers system presentations and overviews.

• Evaluates feature/upgrade/change requests and recommends action.

• Researches new technologies to enhance current system

Development

• Provides technical leadership on projects.

• Acts as subject matter expert (SME) in appropriate technologies and business domain.

• Designs, codes, tests, debugs and documents all phases of applications development.

• Codes software applications adhering to designs supporting internal business requirements or external user.

• Troubleshoots complex, difficult issues.

• Designs databases and data structures.

• Provides recommendations on how to enhance the system to meet full business requirements.

• Determines project feasibility and how to integrate with current system.

Supervises

• Provides work direction to team members.

• Supervises staff such as team members, subordinates, contractors, vendors, students, etc.

• Coaches and mentor's staff.

• Manages projects ensuring timelines and deliverables are met and meet expectations.

• Provides input to staff assignments.

• Provides input to performance evaluations for junior team members.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or higher degree in a major such as computer science, information technology, or related field; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 4 years relevant experience required.

Enterprise Applications

• PeopleSoft Campus Solutions (SES)
• Cascade

Infrastructure (extends across applications)

• Apache

• Code Repositories (Git, Subversion)

• identity management/provisioning

• LDAP

• Linux Operating System

• SQL/MySQL/Postgres

Programming Languages and Frameworks

• HTML 5
• JavaScript
• JQuery
• PHP
• XML
• Laravel

Compliance

• FERPA

Analytical

• critical thinking

• database design/ data structure

• Debugging

• judgment

• problem solving

• Troubleshooting

Project

• Code documentation
• collaboration and teamwork
• facilitate collaboration
• iterative & incremental development
• workflow development & documentation

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Experienced PHP application development with MVC frameworks (Laravel or similar) and PostgreSQL/MySQL.

• Understanding of relational databases including relationship types, ideal data storage formats and index performance.

• Knowledge of modern browser front-end development using language features of the latest HTML, CSS and JavaScript specifications, including draft specification features using progressive enhancement techniques.

• Working knowledge of software version control system (VCS), preferably a DVCS like Git

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency in: PHP, MVC Frameworks (preferably Laravel), HTML, CSS, Cascade (CMS) or similar large scale CMS products, XML, XSLT, JavaScript, Data Structures, JSON, Responsive Web Development, Web Accessibility, and PostgreSQL/MySQL.

• Experience in responsive website/application development and best practices.

• Knowledge of application/data security, usability, and accessibility issues.

• Familiar with web accessibility guidelines and tools, ensuring that websites meet WCAG guidelines for accessibility.

• Experience documenting application specifications and source code.

• Experience with the Cascade Server Web Content Management System or similar large-scale CRMs, equivalent skills (XML processing using XSLT)

• Experience with RubyOnRails application development a plus.

• Experience handling end-user support issues though IT ticketing systems.

• Working knowledge of common and typical Apache web server configuration

• Knowledge of LDAP and/or other federated authentication system mechanisms

• Working knowledge of GNU command line tools and UNIX filesystem navigation.

• Familiarity with Vue.js

• Familiarity with Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.

• Ability to manage multiple complex tasks, work independently,

• Ability to apply critical thinking to understand projects from business, customer, and technical perspectives.

• Proficiency in front-end/back-end development and troubleshooting.

• Adept at explaining technical concepts to a non-technical audience.

• Collaborative mindset with a penchant for excellence and innovation.

• Prior experience in higher education environments or highly decentralized corporate environments with career emphasis on customer service.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $96,917 - $136,290 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:

Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.

We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:

Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

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