Senior User Interface Developer

Description

Reporting to the Director of Application Development and a member of the Digital Library Development team, the Senior User Interface Developer is responsible for building user interfaces for the Library's suite of web applications. They will implement a design system consisting of easily configurable, reusable components that will enable rapid prototyping and development of digital library tools including the library’s primary website, search engines, and digital collections applications.

The Senior UI Developer will work closely with other application developers, a User Experience Librarian, and the Libraries’ Office of Strategic Communication on new and existing web applications that serve thousands of users per day with varying levels of research experience and a wide variety of information and research needs. They will regularly meet with stakeholders across the Libraries and engage directly with website users to gather functional requirements and test new functionality. The Senior UI Developer plays a critical role in evaluating and designing user-focused technical solutions that can be easily reused and extended.

They will promote maintainable and secure technologies and inform the implementation of standards that govern interfaces, branding, and other defining elements of the Libraries web presence.

The Developer will also take a hands-on and coordinating role in efforts to improve the accessibility of our sites, including elements of our portfolio that we license from vendors. They will collaborate with members of the IT and Assessment teams in logging and analysis activities, while ensuring compliance with University policy and library professional norms in the handling of Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

***We will consider non-local candidates to work fully remote for this position. If the successful candidate lives in the Philadelphia area, they would work according to the university’s current flextime policies.***

Job Responsibilities

• Design, build, and enhance digital library application interfaces, ensuring sustainability and consistent user experience, advising other developers and designers.

• Establish and develop a centralized web design system with reusable components that integrate across front-end and back-end frameworks.

• Participate in the broader development cycle, conducting needs assessment, requirements gathering, information architecture, prototyping, QA, and code review

• Collaborate with library stakeholders to carry out user tests and gather usage data

• Carry out accessibility testing and remediation; coordinate accessibility testing of vendor-based platforms; keep records of testing status and standards compliance; inform the process of e-resource licensing with data relevant to usability

• Ensure effective workflows for staff responsible for content strategy and creation

• Maintain documentation

• Maintain current awareness of trends and tools for front-end development in the technical and library professional communities
   

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree and 3-5 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience, are required.

• Demonstrated experience with a programming language and web framework, preferably PHP/Drupal or Ruby/Rails.

• Facility with modern web development, including HTML5, CSS/SCSS, and JavaScript libraries and frameworks.

• Experience developing interactive prototypes and design libraries with tools such as Figma or Adobe XD is desirable.

• Proficient understanding of code collaboration tools and processes, including Git, testing frameworks, and continuous integration.

• Knowledge of web standards and ability to identify and remedy accessibility issues.

• Motivation to stay abreast of current coding practices and make continuous improvements on work.

• Ability to effectively manage multiple concurrent projects; use time management, prioritization skills, and independent judgment.

• Experience with logging/analytics tools, preferably Google Tag Manager

• Good communicator who can convey trade-offs and plans to colleagues with different levels of technical expertise who represent different library services and audiences.

• Passion for elegant implementation and a demonstrated knowledge of current and emerging technologies that will help the library pursue continuous improvement in user interfaces and UX.

• Facility with the platforms, methods, and best practices that power our primary sites: Drupal, Ruby on Rails, Javascript frameworks, and CSS.

• Library experience is a plus

Application Requirement

• A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for this position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you to upload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are allowed.