Job Profile:
Applications Developer 4Job Family:
IT ApplicationsTime Type:
Full timeMax Pay – Depends on experience:
$100,000.00 USD AnnualApply before 11:59 PM Arizona time the day before the posted End Date.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree and seven (7) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.Job Description:
Position Salary Range: $94,300 - $100,000 per year, DOE
Arizona State University (ASU) is the nation’s most innovative university, recognized by U.S. News & World Report for 9 consecutive years. The Knowledge Enterprise (KE) drives research, innovation, and global impact at ASU, and the Research Technology Office (RTO) delivers the digital infrastructure, systems, and services that enable that mission at scale.
The Lead Website Development Engineer (Drupal & WordPress) plays a critical leadership role in shaping and advancing KE’s web ecosystem, including enterprise websites and web properties. This position is responsible for technical strategy, governance, and development standards across KE’s web systems, with a focus on Drupal and WordPress.
This role collaborates with the marketing and communications, UX, and engineering teams, researchers, stakeholders, and the Office of Project Management & Operations (OPMO) to design, develop, and scale accessible, secure, and high-performing websites and digital experiences. The Lead Website Development Engineer will also supervise and mentor other developers, guide architectural decisions, and drive modernization efforts aligned with RTO prioritization, OPMO delivery frameworks, and ASU’s evolving research administration needs.
Leads architecture, design, and development standards for Drupal and WordPress web properties across KE
Defines and enforces best practices for website development, security, performance, and scalability
Evaluates and recommends improvements to KE’s web ecosystem, including modernization strategies and emerging technologies
Oversees and contributes to the development of custom Drupal modules and WordPress plugins, themes, and integrations
Designs and implements content models, site architectures, and templating systems for websites and web applications
Leads integration efforts across APIs, data systems, and third-party tools supporting web properties
Ensures high-quality code through code reviews, testing strategies, and CI/CD practices
Guides troubleshooting and resolution of complex technical issues
Champions web accessibility (WCAG 2.1) and inclusive design practices across all web properties
Ensures compliance with university, state, and federal digital accessibility requirements
Promotes and operationalizes UX and content standards across distributed web teams
Partners with marketing and communications, UX, research, engineering teams, and the Office of Project Management & Operations (OPMO) to align technical solutions with project intake, prioritization, and delivery processes
Collaborates with OPMO to ensure accurate scoping, estimation, and execution alignment across web initiatives
Serves as a key technical partner to OPMO, aligning architecture decisions with delivery timelines and project goals
Translates complex technical concepts into clear recommendations for stakeholders and project teams
Works across KE and ASU to support a distributed web governance model
Provides technical leadership and mentorship to other web services developers within the team
Supports skill development, knowledge sharing, and adoption of best practices
Contributes to hiring, onboarding, and building a high-performing engineering culture
Helps remove blockers and align team efforts with strategic priorities
Manages priorities across multiple initiatives, ensuring alignment with RTO and KE goals
Contributes to process improvement, documentation, and service maturity
Supports the implementation of enterprise tools such as analytics, tag management, and monitoring solutions
Fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Takes responsibility for fostering culture, advancing our values, and championing engagement across teams
Advances ASU and KE values through collaboration and leadership
Significant experience with Drupal (8/9/10+) and WordPress development, including theme and module/plugin development
Demonstrated experience in a technical leadership or lead developer role
Strong understanding of website architecture, CMS governance, and web ecosystem strategy
Experience working in large-scale, multi-site, or enterprise web environments
Experience in higher education or similarly complex organizations
PHP (8.x+), modern JavaScript (ES6+), and/or frameworks such as React
HTML5, CSS3, and responsive design
API integrations (REST, GraphQL)
Git/GitHub with multi-branch workflows
Experience with core principles of CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices
Secure web development practices
Experience with Cloudflare is a plus
Google Tag Manager, Google Analytics, and SEO best practices
Experience with JIRA, Azure DevOps, or similar ticketing systems
Experience with WP Engine and Acquia web hosting
Accessibility & UX
Deep understanding of WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards
Experience implementing accessible, user-centered digital experiences
Strong problem-solving skills with a focus on outcomes and impact
Ability to manage multiple initiatives and stakeholders simultaneously
Excellent communication and collaboration skills
Experience in supervising, mentoring, and developing team members
Ability to foster an inclusive and psychologically safe team environment
ASU is an inclusive enterprise with a wide variety of work and learning modes, locations, and a commitment to sustainability, innovation, and employee work-life balance. We are determined to maintain our position as an employer of choice in a competitive labor market, as such the following options may be offered dependent on department needs:
Alternative work schedules can include four, 10-hour workdays in a workweek; a nine-day, 80-hour schedule over two workweeks for exempt employees only; and staggered start and stop times.
Hybrid work is an arrangement where employees spend a minimum of 60% of their regular workweek at their primary ASU work location. Dean or vice president-level approval is required.
Remote work is an arrangement where the employee spends less than 60% of their regular workweek at a regularly assigned ASU work location. Executive vice president-level approval is required.