Quick Summary
This is a remote position, open to candidates beyond Pittsburgh, PA. Our fully remote team primarily operates from New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, serving clients nationwide. Team members should be available for collaboration during 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Eastern Time, with some flexibility.
Makeway is a digital experience agency dedicated to making an impact with visionary brands. We empower clients to see possibilities in their challenges and deliver precise creative and technical solutions to achieve their goals.
What Are We Looking For?
We are seeking an experienced Full-Stack Web Developer with strong expertise in PHP, WordPress, and modern JavaScript. In this role, you will build and support high-performing websites and digital experiences, engaging in both back-end and front-end development.
A significant portion of this position involves custom WordPress development, including themes, plugins, Gutenberg blocks, integrations, performance optimization, security, accessibility, and ongoing support. You will also contribute to projects utilizing modern JavaScript frameworks and other platforms.
As a small, collaborative team, we value flexibility and a proactive attitude. The ideal candidate communicates openly, takes ownership, adapts to shifting priorities, and actively assists teammates. We appreciate professionals who are confident in their skills without being rigid about their responsibilities.
How We Use AI
AI integration is a standard and mandatory aspect of working at Makeway. We leverage AI to enhance expertise, improve quality, and accelerate thoughtful work, not to replace jobs. Team members are expected to regularly use approved AI tools for development, troubleshooting, research, documentation, QA, and workflow improvement. Accountability for accuracy, security, privacy, and sound human judgment remains paramount. Applicants should be comfortable adapting to new AI-assisted workflows as tools evolve.
Requirements
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Build, maintain, and improve responsive websites and digital experiences, primarily using WordPress and PHP.
- Develop custom WordPress themes, plugins, Gutenberg blocks, and Advanced Custom Fields implementations.
- Build modern front-end interfaces using semantic HTML, CSS, JavaScript or TypeScript, and frameworks such as React, Vue, Next.js, or comparable technologies.
- Integrate third-party platforms and services through REST APIs, webhooks, and other data exchanges.
- Translate designs into accurate, accessible, responsive, and maintainable interfaces.
- Troubleshoot complex issues across the front end, back end, hosting environment, and connected services.
- Participate in technical discovery and project scoping by estimating effort, identifying dependencies, and surfacing risks early.
- Review code, contribute to shared standards, and use Git-based workflows for collaboration and release management.
- Manage work across multiple client projects while communicating progress, blockers, and tradeoffs clearly.
- Collaborate closely with developers, designers, strategists, and project managers; step in where needed to help the team deliver.
- Use AI tools regularly and responsibly to accelerate development and strengthen the quality of the work.
- Continue learning as technologies, platforms, and best practices evolve.
Technical Requirements
- Strong professional experience with PHP, including object-oriented programming and modern development practices.
- Strong WordPress experience, including custom themes, plugins, Gutenberg, Advanced Custom Fields, and the WordPress data model and APIs.
- Strong proficiency with modern JavaScript and front-end development, including at least one current framework or library such as React, Vue, or Next.js.
- Strong knowledge of HTML, CSS or Sass, responsive design, and cross-browser implementation.
- Experience with SQL and relational databases, especially MySQL or MariaDB.
- Experience integrating REST APIs, webhooks, and third-party services.
- Comfort with Git, code review, package managers, build tools, and modern local-development workflows.
- Working knowledge of website performance, security, accessibility, technical SEO, and browser debugging.
- Ability to produce maintainable, well-documented code and make sound technical decisions within real project constraints.
- Excellent problem-solving, communication, organization, and remote collaboration skills.
These are the core requirements, but we encourage you to share any additional skills and your comfort level with them.
Nice-to-Have Experience
- Drupal, Shopify, BigCommerce, or other content-management and commerce platforms.
- Cloud and managed hosting environments such as AWS, Pantheon, WP Engine, or similar services.
- Automated testing, continuous integration and deployment, containerized development, or DevOps practices.
- Agency or client-services experience, including balancing multiple projects and communicating with nontechnical stakeholders.
Education and Experience
At least 5 years of related professional experience is required. A bachelor’s or associate degree is preferred but not mandatory; demonstrated ability, sound judgment, and relevant experience are prioritized over a specific educational background.
Benefits
One of the primary benefits is the opportunity to work with exceptional colleagues and clients daily.
In addition, we offer:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance, with employee premiums covered at 100%.
- 401(k) plan with a generous company match.
- Ten days of paid time off and five sick days per year; ten paid holidays, plus a company-wide shutdown between Christmas and New Year’s.
- Six weeks of paid parental leave.
- A strong commitment to work/life balance.
- An annual continuing-education fund for personal and professional development, including online training, conferences, trade shows, books, and other learning resources.
- A company-provided laptop, extra monitor, and computer accessories, plus an annual stipend for additional office expenses or supplies.
- Flexibility to work from wherever you’d like.
Equal Opportunity
Makeway is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, identities, perspectives, and experiences. Reasonable accommodations are available throughout the application and employment process.