Senior Web Developer

Creativity needs room to breathe. At Agency Habitat, we’ll give you the space. There’s no one right way to live, work, create or sell, which is why we believe in a different kind of work environment. One that is inclusive and inviting to folks from all walks of life, no matter the intersecting identities you encompass. All we ask is that you bring new experiences to the table, share your talents and insights openly and learn as much as you can from the people you meet every day. We know that collaboration, open communication, accountability and a humble spirit drive us forward in our Habitat, and we’re looking to grow with you. We need team players who want to contribute to the greater success of our clients and community. We work hard. We play hard. We do life together with our clients and teammates, and we do it all through brand, content and media. Sound like the place for you? Keep reading.

Job summary:

As part of the Agency Habitat team, our Senior Web Developers bring web design and digital products to life for our clients. You’ll be responsible for developing websites in various platforms, helping spot-check work for other developers and working with art directors to ensure their designs are built to spec. Along with the day-to-day of working on websites, you’ll also get the chance to grow and learn as we explore new technologies together. As a team, we pool our well-honed skills to craft dynamic digital solutions that will impact our clients’ bottom lines. Your job is to make sure our agency continues to produce top-quality, high-performing, industry-leading work that lives up to the high standards we’ve set for ourselves.

Key Responsibilities:

Development

• Write well-designed, efficient code
• Create and maintain websites using modern best practices for HTML, CSS, JavaScript and PHP, or other languages, depending on the project codebase
• Communicate with colleagues in creative and account service departments to define, develop and deploy content that meets all business requirements
• Collaborate effectively with photographers, art directors and copywriters to deliver the best product
• Ensure clarity in estimates, timelines and expectations through communication with the account service team
• Research various platforms and technical options as solutions to project challenges
• Maintain and contribute to existing projects through new feature development and software updates
• Collaborate with other developers and anticipate possible problems with design mockups, and work with the team to address as necessary

Quality Assurance

• Review designs for development planning
• Test front-end work in various browsers to ensure intended design and functionality
• Review final product before launch to ensure compliance of ADA, GDPR and CCPA

Business Development

• Participate in discovery meetings to understand requirements for new projects
• Assist with estimates for project proposals
• Stay informed about evolving best practices and emerging technologies

Perform other tasks as assigned

Knowledge and Skillsets:

Core Technical Expertise

• Proficiency in Web Fundamentals:
  • HTML5: Deep understanding of semantic HTML, accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1+ AA/AAA, ARIA roles and attributes), and modern web standards.
  • CSS3: Expert-level knowledge of CSS, including responsive design principles (Flexbox, Grid), preprocessors (Sass, Less), and CSS-in-JS solutions.
  • Tailwind CSS: Strong proficiency and extensive experience with Tailwind CSS for rapid and consistent UI development.
  • JavaScript (ES6+): Advanced proficiency in modern JavaScript features, including asynchronous programming (Promises, Async/Await), destructuring, modules, and object-oriented principles.
• Front-End Frameworks/Libraries: Extensive experience with React and React Native. Familiarity with state management libraries (e.g., Redux, MobX, Vuex) and component-based architecture.
• API Consumption & Integration: Experience with consuming and integrating with RESTful APIs and GraphQL for fetching and manipulating data.
• Version Control: Expert-level proficiency with Git and common Git workflows (branching, merging, pull requests, code reviews).
• Testing & Debugging: Strong understanding of various front-end testing methodologies (unit, integration, end-to-end) and experience with relevant frameworks (e.g., Jest, React Testing Library, Cypress). Advanced debugging skills using browser developer tools.
• Familiarity with back-end concepts and technologies (e.g., PHP for WordPress, Node.js, Shopify Liquid) is a plus
• Basic understanding of databases (e.g., MySQL, Firebase, or PostgreSQL) and server-side rendering
• Comfort with deployment workflows, environment variables, and staging/production release management, kind of mention with Kinsta, but it’d be good if they understood Vercel, etc
• Working knowledge of web analytics tools (Google Analytics, GA4, Tag Manager) and technical SEO best practices (schema markup, page speed, mobile optimization)

Platform-Specific Expertise & Development Practices

• WordPress Development:
  • Deep understanding of the WordPress ecosystem, including themes, plugins, and custom post types.
  • Experience with Advanced Custom Fields plugin for WordPress.
  • Familiarity with optimizing WordPress performance and security.
  • Understanding of headless WordPress architecture is a plus.
  • Experience working with WordPress hosted on Kinsta or WP Engine.
• Shopify Development:
  • Proficiency in Shopify Liquid templating language.
  • Experience with Shopify Theme development, including customizing existing themes and building custom sections/blocks.
  • Understanding of Shopify’s Storefront API and Admin API for e-commerce functionality.
  • Knowledge of Shopify App development (if applicable to the role).
• Software Design Patterns: In-depth knowledge and practical application of common front-end design patterns.
• Clean Code & Best Practices: Commitment to writing clean, maintainable, scalable, and well-documented front-end code. Adherence to coding standards and best practices (e.g., SOLID principles, DRY).
• Performance Optimization: Proven ability to identify and resolve front-end performance bottlenecks (e.g., critical rendering path, image optimization, lazy loading, network requests). Familiarity with tools like Google Lighthouse and WebPageTest.
• Security Best Practices: Understanding of common front-end web security vulnerabilities (e.g., XSS, CSRF) and experience implementing secure coding practices.
• Scalability & Reliability: Experience designing and building highly scalable and reliable front-end web applications.
• Agile Methodologies: Strong experience working in Agile/Scrum development environments, including active participation in sprint planning, stand-ups, and retrospectives.

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Problem-Solving: Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot complex technical issues and propose effective solutions.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Proven ability to lead technical discussions, provide technical guidance, and mentor junior and mid-level developers.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders (e.g., designers, brand managers and project managers).
• Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams (designers, product managers, QA).
• Adaptability & Continuous Learning: Eagerness to learn new technologies, adapt to evolving industry trends, and continuously improve technical skills.
• Project Management Acumen: Understanding of project timelines, task management, and the ability to contribute to project planning and estimation for front-end deliverables.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree, or demonstrable experience in an intensive coding-specific training program
• Work experience: 5+ years of relevant web development experience via academic training and/or professional environment required; experience within an agency setting preferred
• Work requirements: Occasional overtime and travel required. May work some odd hours.

Relationships:

• Reports to: Interactive Creative Director and/or their designees
• External relationships: Clients, Vendors

Job Location:

• Remote or Hybrid. Must be willing to travel to Fort Worth office consistently for onboarding, continued training, team events and clients as needed.

We offer a friendly and creative work environment that fosters community, companionship and dynamic working relationships. We believe in the power of connection and collaboration, so we work mostly in our state-of-the-art office, but we understand life happens, and we have the flexibility to work from home when needed.  We offer a competitive salary with potential bonus opportunities based on company and individual performance, plus benefits, 401(k), ample paid time off, a festive holiday schedule, three coffee makers, an arcade and full bar. Are you ready to join our team? OK then, take the phrase, “that’s not my job” out of your vocabulary and apply below.