Full Stack Developer – Wagtail CMS

NIH-NCBI•Bethesda, MD

About The Position

Black Canyon Consulting (BCC) is searching for a Full Stack Developer with experience in Wagtail CMS backend development and modern front-end development. This role will support the development, adoption, and delivery of CMS-driven, accessible, and scalable public-facing web platforms using Wagtail, Django/Python, React, Next.js, GraphQL APIs, Headless CMS, and the NCBI Web Design System. You will join NCBI’s team of web developers and software engineers to build robust, flexible web applications, APIs, and services. This role calls for an expert web developer – with knowledge and experience in modern web development, testing, UI design and usability principles, and ability to work effectively with user researchers, designers, product managers, scientists, security and DevOps engineers.

Requirements

BS in Computer Science
3+ years of Full stack Web applications development, using Django, React, and Next.js.
Experience with Wagtail CMS, Django, and Python.
Experience with React, Next.js, JavaScript/TypeScript, HTML, and CSS.
Experience with GraphQL APIs, REST APIs, and headless CMS integration.
Understanding of Wagtail content modeling, StreamField, snippets, workflows, and multisite setup.
Experience implementing components from a Web Design System or component library.
Strong understanding of accessibility, including Section 508 and WCAG.
Familiarity with PostgreSQL, Git, CI/CD, testing, and modern development workflows.
Ability to work collaboratively across technical and non-technical teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience with public-facing government, scientific, biomedical, or research websites.
Familiarity with U.S. Web Design System or similar design systems.
Experience with Wagtail in a headless or hybrid architecture.
Familiarity with Docker, cloud hosting, CDN configuration, search integration, SEO, analytics, and automated testing.
Experience supporting CMS or design system adoption across teams or products
Experience developing Django web applications and services

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain Wagtail CMS features using Django and Python.
Build responsive, accessible front-end interfaces using React, Next.js, JavaScript/TypeScript, HTML, and CSS.
Support the adoption of Wagtail CMS at NCBI by following established architecture, standards, documentation, and best practices.
Support the adoption of the NCBI Web Design System by implementing reusable components, patterns, and design standards.
Integrate front-end applications with headless CMS APIs, including GraphQL and REST.
Create and manage Wagtail page models, StreamField blocks, snippets, workflows, and admin customizations.
Support multisite Wagtail implementations and structured content delivery.
Collaborate with UX, content, backend, DevOps, product, and stakeholder teams.
Optimize websites for accessibility, performance, SEO, scalability, and maintainability.
Participate in troubleshooting, code reviews, testing, documentation, release planning, and production support.