Developer

at  Northwestern University

The Media and Design Studio is seeking a creative, talented web developer to join our small but dynamic team. You’ll be at the forefront of using technology for humanistic and linguistic studies, creating innovative digital solutions for teaching, scholarship, and research. Developers with interest or ability in world languages will also have opportunities to put their multilingual talents to use.
This position develops rich interactive web applications using modern stack; writes clean, efficient code for both front-end and back-end; collaborates on cutting-edge projects involving AI, data science, and virtual reality; and participates in the full software development lifecycle, from concept to deployment in a unique academic environment.
Our latest applications are written using client-side frameworks such as Angular, React, and Next JS, with server-side programming in Python, Java, Node, Perl and/or PHP/Laravel. The programming team regularly combines and extends open-source software platforms, such as WordPress and Omeka S, into customized solutions for teaching and scholarship projects.
This position usually works with senior staff but may coordinate smaller or less complex projects independently and/or together with student staff. The developer will work to document and understand aesthetic and functional requirements for projects, translate requirements into descriptive tasks and work units that can be self-assigned or divided among the team, and monitored. The developer will prototype solutions to problems via proofs-of-concept and follow a development methodology based on agile principles and/or rapid application development, checking in frequently with fellow staff for feedback and quality control.
This developer position in the Media and Design Studio is a full-time position and typically works on-site three or more days per week.
The target hiring range for this position will be between $80,297 - $100,370 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.
This position is full-time eligible for some work to be performed remotely. As described, this position is initially expected to work onsite three days per week and up to two days remotely, with the option of more onsite days if preferred. Opportunities for more remote work may be possible at certain times of the academic calendar.
Applicants should provide a cover letter in addition to a résumé and/or CV. Work samples are preferred and may be requested of finalist candidates.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: (EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND ANY OTHER CERTIFICATIONS OR CLEARANCES)

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 2 years relevant experience; 4 years relevant experience for Senior Developer role

Strategic Planning

• Participates in the development of new goals and strategies based on interactions with constituent faculty and students
• Explores alternatives to existing products and services; identifies opportunities to improve procedures and practices
• Develops plans for software deployment on heterogeneous systems.
• Partners with users in designing features for technology.

Administration

• Responds to customer inquiries via phone, online, in-person, etc.
• Writes precise well-organized emails, letters, proposals, and other communications using appropriate vocabulary and grammar
• Creates code and process documentation in a knowledge base, such as Confluence
• Grants system access to new users.

• Creates and resolves issues and tickets within a tracking system

• • Evaluates feature/upgrade/change requests and recommends action.
• Participates in interview process for new hires.
• Identifies database and software performance issues, makes adjustments.

Development

• Designs, implements, and maintains client-side applications using frameworks such as jQuery, Angular, Vue, and/or React
• Designs, implements, and updates server-side applications and API services using frameworks such as PHP/Laravel, Node, and/or Spring in both classic and cloud-based hosting environments
• Understands and translates educator and researcher goals into design requirements for software projects
• Extends open-source software by authoring plugins, patches, or enhancements
• Organizes source code and supporting materials within a content repository, such as GitHub
• Prioritizes tasks within project in order to meet established deadlines
• Completes troubleshooting of issues and errors.
• Designs databases and data structures.
• Opens tickets with vendors.
• Other Duties
• Encodes instructional and research content according to schematic templates
• Assists with hardware deployments and light system administration duties in labs, classrooms, and studios
• Mentors colleagues and student workers within the Studio
• Other duties as assigned.