Careers

Full-Time Remote Backend Web Developer

Job Description

Arsenal Studios is growing and we are seeking a Backend Web Developer for a full time opportunity. The immediate objective is to assist in development of websites, web apps and integrations for our rapidly growing custom web design and development business in collaboration with our  with our in-house design, development and strategy teams. We are seeking a candidate to help create new solutions and improve / maintain existing solutions in support of long-term marketing campaigns.

Important: We are currently only able to hire US, Canadian, and Mexican residents. This is not a design position, though interest in interdisciplinary work will be supported and nurtured.

In this position, the selected candidate will be working with our in-house design, development and strategy teams to construct, customize and configure websites built in WordPress, HubSpot, and other Content Management systems as well as develop web applications using a multitude of different technologies as described below.

About Working for Arsenal Studios

Arsenal Studios is an ethical digital marketing company. Since 2008, we have experienced growth and success due to our reputation for delivering the highest quality solutions by creating honest and collaborative relationships with our clients. We regularly work with the same client on a multitude of projects due to our depth of knowledge and problem-solving skills.

Culture

You must be an honest, sincere, likable person and be adept at interacting with colleagues and clients through phone, email, video chat. Here are some values that we all share:

• Passion for learning: You must possess the mindset of an autodidact and have a zeal for knowledge sharing.
• Accountability: Our clients expect us to deliver on time and on budget as such we take our work seriously.
• Teamwork: Our team is only as strong as its weakest link. We prop each other up whenever possible.
• Agility: You will be working on a variety of projects for clients in varying industries and tech stacks.
• Positivity: We laugh way more than we grumble. Negative Nellies step back.
• Respect: We respect each other and our time by avoiding excessive meetings, and poorly defined requirements and by communicating proactively.
• Acceptance: We accept each other as we are, and work together towards our common goals, leaving personal differences behind.

Remote Workplace

We have been a fully remote workplace since our inception in 2008 and can hire candidates throughout North America. We work during regular East Coast business hours with some flexibility in start and end times if needed.

Role & Requirements

We are seeking a Full-Time Remote Web Developer with a strong background in PHP and JavaScript. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 2 years of professional web development experience and a passion for building maintainable and efficient web applications. Experience with Angular and/or NestJS is a bonus as is proficiency with CSS. If you are a proactive problem-solver with a keen eye for detail and the ability to work in a self-directed environment, we would love to hear from you.

We work as a team on multiple concurrent projects. Everyone meets together three times a week for stand-up style meetings with further breakout sessions as needed for specific projects. Once onboarding is complete you will be given coding assignments. Team members will be available for assistance and code review, but you will be expected to drive progress and communicate any needs efficiently.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop applications, APIs and other backend infrastructure using PHP and Javascript
• Maintain existing web applications using PHP and JavaScript
• Work on migrating older projects to modern infrastructure generally from PHP to JavaScript
• Participate in designing new build tooling, automated test tooling, and workflows for building projects
• Create custom marketing website functinality for our clients (typically by extending CMSs such as WordPress, Hubspot, Wagtail, etc.)
• Write and maintain clean, maintainable, and efficient code
• Write understandable and well organized documentation
• Participate in code reviews to ensure code quality and best practices both as reviewer and reviewee
• Communicate effectively with team members on progress and priorities, including communication through Slack, video conferencing, and via project management tools.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in web development with a focus on PHP and backend JavaScript. More experience is also welcome, compensation will be commensurate with experience.
• Very strong communication skills. The ability to provide clear updates on progress, challenges, and successes is crucial. Knowledge sharing is highly valued.
  Self-direction is a necessity as we are a small team. We all take responsibility for our own productivity.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail. You will have support from a very experienced team, but you are expected to solve problems with support.
• Writing skills sufficient for writing clear comments in code, updates on progress, as well as internal documentation.
• Familiarity with Git, Bash (or similar CLI), VS Code (or similar IDE)
• Basic understanding of RESTful and other API design patterns.

Nice to Have

Experience with the following technologies:

• Angular and/or NestJS
• Doctrine
• WordPress theme development
• Wagtail / Python / Django
• Node.js
• API Design and development
• Object-relational mapping (ORM) frameworks
• Modern build tools i.e. WebPack or SnowPack
• Building both web sites and web applications

Familiarity with:

• HTML, CSS and frontend JS
• SQL

Why We’re Awesome

We are a small, enthusiastic, and friendly team. We have amazing client and employee retention. We have some really unique and fun projects that may be unlike anything you have ever done before due to our roots in the education and nonprofit sectors.

This is a new, growth position. You will not be replacing anyone. We don’t hire often as our team is happy and stable, so this is a rare opportunity.

Also, in the intangible department, we are a friendly team that works closely together. We want the best for our employees. You will be treated with respect and your labor will not be abused. We truly care about the happiness and well-being of our team, and in turn, we all happily grow together.

A Safe and Supportive Workplace

Creating a diverse workplace has always been a priority at Arsenal Studios. As an agency delivering creative products for and marketing to a broad range of users, it is our responsibility to reflect our user base in our talent pool. Beyond that, we celebrate and encourage a workplace that is supportive of unique perspectives and backgrounds. We do not discriminate in any capacity including race, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, religious belief, thought and opinion, professional aspirations, and more.

Compensation & Benefits

One of the perks of being a small company is that we can tailor our benefits to your needs. We will offer a competitive salary for your region, we have high quality health insurance if you elect to participate, and you will get an annual tech fund to buy whatever you need, educate yourself, etc. Why don’t you just tell us what you want in your cover letter and we will work it out collaboratively? Maybe you want more vacation time in exchange for a little less pay or your partner already has health insurance for your family and you want more money instead. Just let us know! We want you to feel empowered and supported so that you stick around for a long time.

• Competitive salary
• 40 hrs / week with some flexibility in schedule
• Fully remote
• Supportive and inclusive culture
• Parental leave
• 25 days annual leave to start (2 weeks standard + 3 flex days + 12 bank holidays + additional paid vacation each year + negotiable additional time off)
• Stipend for technology purchases / office supplies
• Stipend for professional development & conferences
• Quality health insurance with employer contribution (or additional compensation in lieu of health insurance)

Application Process

1) Apply

If this opportunity sounds like it is for you, please reply to [email protected] with cover letter and attached résumé and portfolio / or links to résumé / portfolio plus any questions you may have.

2) Review & Code Screening

We will respond with initial follow-up questions and a take-home code challenge that should require 30 miniutes or less to complete. This will be your only code test / challenge in the interview process, and if we decide to advance you , we will even compensate you for the time spent on the challenge regardless of advancement beyond the second round. We require this challenge simply as a filter to avoid the various bots and scams that are all too common in the current job-search climate.

3) Initial Meeting

A brief meeting with leadership focused on culture and projects to make sure we are all happy with moving forward.

4) Direct Report Interview

Meet your direct reports: Dev leadership will provide you with a day-in-the-life, project previews and best-fit analysis based upon upcoming initiatives. We will ask you for code samples, project tours, and details related to your skillset.

5) Meet Your Peers

All-hands virtual roundtable where you get to meet our entire team and ask / answer questions until everyone is happy.