WordPress Developer

Quick Facts

• Role: WordPress Developer

Description

Build and maintain fully custom WordPress themes and plugins using native WordPress functionality, without relying on ACF, Elementor, or other third-party page builders. Own responsive, accessible front-end implementation (including translating approved Figma designs) and implement custom WordPress features such as custom post types, taxonomies, metadata, and REST APIs. Independently assess unfamiliar codebases, troubleshoot production issues, perform security assessments, and remediate vulnerabilities with secure, maintainable code and thorough documentation.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and enhance custom WordPress themes and plugins

• Build WordPress websites from the ground up using native WordPress APIs and functionality

• Implement custom post types, taxonomies, metadata, admin interfaces, and content-management functionality

• Create reusable templates/components using hooks, filters, and REST APIs

• Follow WordPress Coding Standards and PHP/JavaScript best practices; write clean, secure, maintainable, well-documented code

• Review existing implementations and recommend improvements to architecture, performance, and maintainability

• Translate Figma designs into production-ready WordPress UI

• Develop responsive, accessible front-end with HTML5, CSS3, SCSS, and JavaScript; optimize assets for performance

• Implement accessibility aligned with WCAG 2.1/2.2

• Debug PHP errors, JavaScript issues, plugin conflicts, database/API failures; perform root cause analysis

• Refactor and remediate legacy code without unnecessary rewrites

• Perform application security assessments and remediate vulnerabilities (e.g., XSS, SQL injection, CSRF, insecure file handling)

• Apply secure coding practices (validation, sanitization, escaping, nonces, capability checks)

• Review Composer/dependencies for vulnerabilities and compatibility

• Maintain technical documentation and run development/regression testing

• Provide progress updates, risk/escalation communication, and technical handoffs

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of professional WordPress development experience with extensive hands-on custom development

• Advanced PHP proficiency (OOP and modern practices)

• Experience developing custom WordPress themes from scratch

• Proven ability to develop custom WordPress functionality without ACF or third-party page builders

• Strong experience authoring custom WordPress plugins

• Deep understanding of WordPress core architecture (template hierarchy, hooks/filters, custom post types, metadata, REST APIs)

• Proficiency in JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3, SCSS, and responsive front-end development

• Experience with Node.js tooling, npm, and customized Bootstrap implementations

• Strong understanding of WordPress Coding Standards and secure coding practices

• Experience with Composer, PHP namespaces, autoloading, and modern PHP architecture

• Ability to independently assess unfamiliar code, debug complex issues, and perform root cause analysis

• Practical security assessment, vulnerability identification, and remediation experience

• Hands-on experience supporting WordPress sites hosted on WP Engine

• Proficiency with Git-based development and deployment workflows

• Working knowledge of technical SEO, structured data, and AEO

• Experience documenting custom development, technical findings, and deployment procedures

• Excellent communication, organization, problem-solving, and collaboration skills

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or equivalent training

Benefits

• Engagement: Contractor role (6-month+)