Full-Stack WordPress Developer

Aquent is partnering with a leading organization dedicated to providing comprehensive benefits education, serving as a vital information hub for employees nationwide. This mission-driven client is committed to delivering high-quality, accessible content and a seamless user experience through their web platforms. As a strategic partner, Aquent is seeking exceptional talent to contribute to this impactful work.

Are you a seasoned WordPress expert with a passion for optimizing complex web environments and a knack for full-stack problem-solving? We are seeking a highly skilled individual to join a dynamic web team and make a profound impact on the stability, performance, and future architecture of a critical benefits education website. This is an exciting opportunity to lead efforts in technical debt reduction, enhance site performance, and contribute to strategic architectural decisions, including a potential platform migration. Your expertise will be instrumental in enhancing user experience, operational efficiency, and supporting a collaborative team environment.

To be considered for this role, you must:

• Be authorized to work in the United States
• Not require sponsorship of any kind for the duration of the assignment
• Be able to work on a W-2 basis. C2C or 1099 is not permitted for this position

What You'll Do:

• Identify, analyze, and significantly reduce technical debt within a large, existing WordPress site.
• Optimize site performance, security, and overall stability through the application of backend development best practices.
• Develop, maintain, and customize robust WordPress themes and plugins using PHP.
• Collaborate closely with UX Designers and Front-end Developers to seamlessly translate design mockups into functional WordPress pages.
• Provide essential front-end development support (JavaScript, HTML, CSS) to assist with workload and ensure timely monthly content deployments.
• Contribute to high-level architectural discussions and strategic planning for site upgrades, new features, and long-term platform evolution.
• Assist in the planning and execution of a potential platform migration to a new content management system in the future.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex backend and occasional frontend issues, ensuring site integrity.
• Ensure the website adheres to current web standards and accessibility guidelines.

Must-Have Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in WordPress development with a strong focus on backend expertise.
• Deep expertise in PHP, including custom WordPress theme and plugin development.
• Proven track record of identifying, analyzing, and successfully resolving technical debt on large, complex WordPress sites.
• Strong understanding of WordPress architecture, database structures, and performance optimization techniques.
• Proficiency in JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, with demonstrated experience translating UI/UX designs (e.g., from Figma) into functional web elements.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git).
• Excellent problem-solving skills, particularly with legacy codebases, and a keen attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to articulate complex technical issues to diverse stakeholders.
• Proactive, collaborative, and adaptable, with a desire to work closely with designers, other developers, and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to work primarily within East Coast business hours, with some flexibility.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications:

• Experience with database queries (SQL) for data manipulation and optimization.
• Familiarity with Kanban or Agile development methodologies.
• Experience or exposure to platform migration projects (e.g., to AEM).

The target hiring compensation range for this role is $90.00 to $100.00 an hour. Compensation is based on several factors including, but not limited to education, relevant work experience, relevant certifications, and location

About Aquent Talent:

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world's biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.

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