Developer Senior

Department: IT AS App Dev & Ops
Salary/Grade: ITS/81

Job Summary:

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Developer to oversee both application development and operations, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, scalable, and secure web applications.

The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of web development best practices, strong expertise in PHP, modern frameworks (such as Laravel), application integration, and cloud technologies (AWS preferred).This role requires a strategic thinker who can advises on architect and optimize application performance, and overseeing deployment and operational stability.

As a Senior developer, you will collaborate with your manager to provide technical expertise in the design, development, testing, and debugging of new and existing software. You will also handle complex operations tasks and assist with troubleshooting technical issues. Key responsibilities include guide junior staff on best practices in design, coding, and development and provide resource estimates, prioritize work for project work.

This is an exciting opportunity to be in a growing and thriving higher education environment.

Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning

• Provides application development leadership for new and existing software applications
• Partners with analyst and user in designing new features and functionality
• Provides recommendation on how to enhance systems for future growth
• Advises/recommends project and activities as related to system/architectural direction and strategy
• Stays informed about new technologies and changes to existing technologies

Development and Administration

• Designs, codes, tests, debugs and documents all phases of application development
• Assists with the development and deployment of code releases.
• Participates as an individual contributor in projects
• Develops and implements procedures for data security, management and compliance
• Delivers system presentations and overviews
• Evaluates feature/upgrade/change requests and recommends action
• Researches new technologies to enhance current system

Development Enablement & Operations

• Provides technical leadership on projects and perform code reviews
• Acts as subject matter expert (SME) in appropriate technologies and business domain
• Rapidly develops proof-of-concept for new system and technologies
• Codes software applications adhering to designs supporting internal business requirements or external user
• Develops and implements standards and best practices for application development including security, maintenance, logging, testing, deployment, compliance, etc
• Assists with troubleshooting complex technical challenges
• Determines project feasibility and how to integrate with systems
• Shares in operational and support duties

Supervises

• Provides work direction to team members
• Coaches and mentors 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:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major such as computer science, information technology, or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 3+ years of relevant experience required and significant hands-on experience in building and designing complex applications.

Enterprise Applications

• Cloud

Infrastructure

• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, Outlook
• NoSQL (DynamoDB, MongoDB, CouchDB)
• Service Orienteted Architecture (SOA)
• SQL/MySQL/Postgres

Programming Languages and Frameworks

• CSS
• HTML 5
• Java
• JavaScript
• JQuery
• Node.js
• PHP
• XML
• WEB API

Analytical

• critical thinking
• Debugging
• decision making
• enterprise architecture
• judgment
• metadata creation and management
• problem solving
• read & interpret technical drawings
• Troubleshooting
• use-case analysis

Project

• agile environment
• Code documentation
• collaboration and teamwork
• facilitate collaboration
• iterative & incremental development
• organizational skills
• planning
• workflow development & documentation
• write proposals and project charters

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

• Strong expertise in application development using programming languages and frameworks such as PHP, Java, Node.js, and Laravel.
• Proficient in web development best practices and front-end technologies, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, Vue.js, and React.
• Deep understanding of database management, including SQL (PostgreSQL, Oracle) and NoSQL solutions (DynamoDB)
• Ability to troubleshoot application performance and security issues, optimizing server configurations, and enhancing application scalability and reliability.
• Proven leadership in managing development teams, conducting code reviews, enforcing best practices, and mentoring junior developers.
• Experience managing multiple projects and coordinating cross-functional teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to make architectural, design, and development decisions that align with business objectives. Experience with strong monitoring and logging skills.
• Comprehensive understanding of software engineering best practices across the SDLC, including coding standards, source control, build processes, testing methodologies, and operational support.
• Excellent organizational, collaboration, and communication skills, with a proactive approach and teamwork.
• Strong familiarity with Unix/Linux operating systems, version control systems (Git), and automated testing strategies for ensuring software quality and reliability.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in higher education environment is highly desirable, with an understanding of industry-specific challenges and workflows.
• Strong expertise in Agile development methodologies, including experience with Scrum, Kanban, or other Agile frameworks, and the ability to lead Agile processes within development teams.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

Ability to adapt to a constantly changing environment and technologies.

• Proficiency in UX/UI principles, with a focus on user experience (UX) and customer experience (CX) in web application design.
• Ability to design and develop cloud-native applications, preferably on AWS.
• Experience with continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) systems, such as GitHub Actions, Terraform is desired.
• Experience with automated testing frameworks and tools for unit, integration, and end-to-end testing is highly desired.
• Hands-on experience with application integration, including RESTful APIs, event-driven architectures, and message queue technologies.
• Experience in project management, including cost-benefit analysis, resource evaluation, proposal writing, and drafting project charters.
• Experience in microservice architectural patterns and design
• Excellent presentation and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively engage with stakeholders, lead discussions, and present technical concepts

Target hiring range for this position will be between $99,825-104,000 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 University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.