Django/Python Web Developer

National Journal • Washington, DC

3d • $100,000 - $100,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

National Journal is seeking a mid-level Django/Python Web Developer to join their digital team in Washington, DC. The role involves building and refining digital products and services for members, utilizing a platform rich in election data, demographic information, and journalism. The team focuses on creating user-friendly tools to access these resources, operating with a frequent release cycle and modern development practices, including LLM-based coding tools. The position offers full-time telework/remote options for US candidates in DC, Maryland, Virginia, or California, with an in-person option (3 days/week) for local candidates in Washington, DC.

Requirements

• At least 1 year of web development experience in a professional setting using Python (preferably with Django)
• Clean HTML, CSS, and JavaScript skills
• Proficiency with Git
• Experience with government and elections data (campaign finance data, election visualizations, politics)
• Experience with medium-sized to large projects, demonstrating ability to do quality work under a deadline
• Understanding of good software architecture
• Demonstrated best practices for software development and promoting quality within a team
• Familiarity with writing documentation, doing peer code review, crafting automated tests, watching performance, and using tools that maintain consistent code
• Good communication and collaboration skills, both written and verbally
• Ability to provide accurate time and effort estimates and work to ensure team deadlines are met
• Comfort working with product and project managers to plan weekly sprints
• Ability to prioritize and undertake multiple projects at once
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies
• Critical thinking skills to solve problems
• Ability to appreciate both short-term and long-term implications when making decisions
• Ability to act as a responsible gatekeeper when critiquing new code
• Value a healthy work-life balance, keeping high standards, working hard, and knowing when to take breaks

Nice To Haves

• Front-end framework experience
• Experience with one or more LLM-based coding assistants (e.g., Claude Code, Codex, Cursor)
• Experience with technologies such as: Microsoft Azure, Linux systems administration, Vue.js, TypeScript, Elasticsearch, Docker, PostgreSQL, Jenkins, Salesforce, Sentry, HubSpot, or Celery/RabbitMQ
• Background in accessibility technologies, robotics, or AI-generated jokes
• Active in a local user group, open source effort, or side project

Responsibilities

• Build, test and deploy a wide range of web-based tools, developed in Django and Python, that National Journal's members use every day in their jobs as government affairs professionals and policy advocates
• Support a digital platform that provides the data, tools, and news our audience will use to understand and navigate the 2026 U.S. elections
• Help maintain large datasets in a variety of formats (PostgreSQL, MySQL, APIs) drawing from both internal and third-party content and data sources
• Make improvements to Ada, the custom content management system we use internally
• Create and support tools that help other product teams automate their work, making use of AI when appropriate
• Tackle a full-stack mix of back-end and front-end tasks, with a focus on back-end work
• Be well-informed about trends in software development tools, frameworks, programming languages, AI coding assistants, and workflow, and arrive with opinions you are eager to discuss
• Be willing to learn a sophisticated technical stack

Benefits

• Full-time telework/remote arrangements offered for U.S. candidates residing in Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, or California
• Option to work in-person in Washington, DC (currently 3 days per week) for local candidates
• Compensation: $100,000+, commensurate with experience

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed