Senior Programmer of Digital Experience, Platforms and Analytics

University of Colorado•Colorado Springs, CO

6h•Remote

About The Position

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is seeking a Senior Programmer of Digital Experience, Platforms and Analytics to join the Office of Information Technology. This role reports to the Assistant Director of Digital Experience, Platforms and Analytics and is responsible for the development, enhancement, maintenance, and technical support of enterprise and departmental web applications and digital platforms. The position involves advanced web application development and technical problem-solving using technologies such as PHP, Drupal, and SQL, ensuring secure, accessible, reliable, and sustainable digital services. The Senior Programmer will collaborate with technical teams and campus partners to analyze requirements, implement solutions, resolve complex issues, and contribute expertise to the University's digital experience and technology ecosystem. UCCS is located in Colorado Springs, offering a vibrant lifestyle with outdoor adventure and a growing tech scene. The university is committed to academic excellence, professional development, and fostering an innovative environment.

Requirements

Professional experience designing, developing, and supporting database-driven web applications.
Demonstrated experience with web application development technologies, including PHP or a comparable server-side programming language; HTML, CSS, and JavaScript; and a web content management system such as Drupal.
Working knowledge of relational databases and SQL, including database design concepts, queries, normalization, indexing, and performance considerations.
Experience analyzing requirements, troubleshooting technical issues, and developing, modifying, and maintaining web applications within a collaborative development environment.

Nice To Haves

Developing and supporting Drupal-based websites and applications, including configuration, themes, templates, modules, and custom functionality.
PHP and related frameworks, such as Laravel, and additional web technologies or data formats such as JSON, YAML, XML, or Python.
Linux/UNIX environments, web server technologies, cloud-based development or hosting platforms such as Pantheon, and DevOps or CI/CD practices.
Creating accessible web applications and integrations using APIs, web services, or related technologies.
Providing technical guidance, coordinating the work of student employees or other developers, or supporting technical initiatives in a higher education or similarly complex organizational environment.

Responsibilities

Analyze, design, develop, test, implement, and maintain web applications, utilities, and digital solutions for the University while complying with applicable industry, University, departmental, accessibility, security, and development standards.
Configure, design, and develop schemas, themes, templates, modules, applications, and other functionality within the University’s Drupal Content Management System to support campus departments and University digital services.
Convert graphical designs, prototypes, and functional requirements into responsive, accessible, and maintainable web solutions using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, Drupal, and related web technologies.
Develop new functionality and modify, enhance, and integrate functionality within existing web applications and platforms to address changing University and user needs.
Develop and maintain database-driven applications and functionality using relational databases, applying knowledge of SQL statements, database normalization, indexing, data structures, and query efficiency.
Provide advanced technical support for web applications and digital platforms, independently diagnosing and resolving complex applications, Drupal, database, integration, configuration, and performance issues.
Maintain and enhance existing applications and platforms through software updates, security patches, configuration changes, testing, troubleshooting, and other activities necessary to support reliable, secure, accessible, and sustainable services.
Analyze existing applications, code, and technical processes and implement or recommend improvements to functionality, performance, maintainability, accessibility, security, and user experience.
Apply and contribute to established development standards and practices, including version control, code review, testing, documentation, deployment, and change management.
Research and evaluate emerging technologies, tools, frameworks, and development practices and recommend appropriate solutions for the University’s evolving digital environment.
Work with the Assistant Director of Digital Experience, Platforms and Analytics to develop and advance strategic team initiatives, technical priorities, and improvements to the University’s web and digital platform environment.
Provide technical guidance, knowledge sharing, and senior-level programming expertise to team members and campus partners within areas of responsibility.
Run Web Team meetings as needed to coordinate work, communicate priorities, address technical issues, and support progress on team initiatives.
Assign and communicate work priorities to student employees on the Web Team; provide technical direction and guidance necessary to support completion of assigned work.
Contribute to technical planning, application architecture, development standards, reusable solutions, and decisions regarding the implementation and long-term support of web applications and digital platforms.
Consult and collaborate with campus departments, stakeholders, and technology teams to understand business needs, gather requirements, evaluate technical options, and develop appropriate web and digital solutions.
Participate in project planning, estimation, prioritization, implementation, testing, deployment, and ongoing support of assigned initiatives.
Communicate technical requirements, recommendations, risks, and solutions clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Maintain appropriate technical documentation for applications, configurations, integrations, development processes, and ongoing support.
Coordinate application changes, releases, and other production activities with appropriate team members, campus partners, and vendors.