We’re hiring a Junior Full Stack Web Developer (Backend)

Junior Full Stack Web Developer (Backend):

GreatNews.Life, publishers of Valpo.Life, Portage.Life, LaPorteCounty.Life, and NWI.Life, is seeking a full-time, in-office, junior web developer to join our team at the company's Valparaiso office. The ideal candidate for this position would be someone who holds a great deal of passion for web development, codes for fun, and is looking to hone their craft.

This is an entry-level position and involves working in a variety of IT situations. It requires attention to detail, the ability to balance multiple projects at once, and the flexibility to wear many hats as needed. Must have the willingness and ability to learn new things as technology continues to change and evolve.

Primary responsibilities:

• Assist in the development and implementation of new features, enhancements, and content on existing WordPress websites
• Maintain and extend existing WordPress plugins along with regular updates to website frameworks and databases
• Develop, modify, and debug WordPress implementations
• Maintain PHP/SQL-based backends
• Build and extend APIs
• Assist in the discovery of technical requirements for business applications and tools that integrate with the front-end experience
• Assist in systems maintenance and tech troubleshooting
• At times, this position involves updating content and addressing emergencies outside of business hours and weekends

Minimum qualifications:

• Proficient in PHP or similar server-side languages
• Experience working with SQL (MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, etc.) or a non-relational DBMS (MongoDB, DynamoDB, Firebase, etc.)
• Experience developing for WordPress (creating plugins, themes)
• Ability to create + consume RESTful APIs
• Understanding of asynchronous request handling
• Proficient in user input validation and sanitization
• Knowledge of object-oriented programming (OOP) principles
• Experience with git version control
• Ability to shift focus between multiple ongoing projects
• Effective time management skills

Preferred but not required qualifications:

• Familiarity with C#, C++, Java, or similar strongly-typed, object-oriented languages
• Basic understanding of Vue or similar JavaScript frameworks (React, Svelte, Angular, etc)
• Working knowledge of CSS or experience using a CSS framework (Tailwind, Bootstrap, etc)
• Knowledgeable in JavaScript ES6+ syntax
• Exposure to GraphQL
• Foundation in SOLID design principles
• Experience using a CI/CD pipeline
• A knack for task automation
• Unit testing experience
• Contribution to open-source projects

Quality of applicants:

• Adaptable to a changing environment
• Ability to find creative solutions to problems
• Ability to work on a small team, think on your feet, and complete tasks in a fast-paced environment 
• Quick to learn
• Able to build reusable, testable code and libraries for future use
• Considers the user experience as it relates to a piece of technology
• Passionate and enthusiastic about their work
• Ability to take constructive feedback
• An eagerness to take on a variety of tasks aiding workflows and scalability of our sites
• Flexibility in a role that is consistently changing, ability to work on occasional nights and weekends

Submit an application here.