PHP Engineer for Rosenwald Collections

POSITION SUMMARY
We are seeking a highly skilled and adaptable PHP Engineer to contribute to an innovative archival project showcasing Julius Rosenwald's contributions to the African American community. This hybrid role requires expertise in PHP development, experience with Omeka-S and Laminas frameworks, and the ability to contribute to both development and infrastructure tasks in a resource-constrained environment. The ideal candidate will also guide junior developers and create custom user-friendly solutions tailored to the needs of our archive team.

You will work in a project-oriented environment, with opportunities to innovate within broad objectives and limited technical resources.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• PHP Development: Develop, maintain, and enhance custom modules and themes for the Omeka S platform using the Laminas framework. Prior experience with Laminas is highly preferred.

• Custom Solutions: Design and implement user-friendly tools for archival tasks, such as automating the nesting of files into folders and creating efficient workflows through AWS Lambda functions.

• AWS DevOps: Work with AWS services (e.g., VPCs, EC2, S3, Lambda) to support infrastructure needs, including deploying and maintaining scalable solutions.

• Junior Developer Mentorship: Provide feedback, guidance, and code reviews for junior developers. Help them understand project requirements and support their learning.

• Problem-Solving: Tackle diverse challenges by finding solutions within existing tools and budgets, utilizing resources like AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) to explore innovative approaches.

• Ticket Management: Manage your own tasks in Jira, including updating statuses, communicating roadblocks, and ensuring deadlines are met.

• Collaboration: Work closely with the library and archive team to create solutions that align with their workflows and enhance usability.

• Documentation: Maintain clear and organized documentation for custom solutions, development processes, and project outcomes.

• Technical Skills:
  • Proficiency in PHP, with experience in the Laminas framework highly preferred.
  • Familiarity with front-end technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and web architecture principles.
  • Experience with AWS services (VPCs, EC2, S3, Lambda) and DevOps practices.
• Development Experience:
  • Hands-on experience with Omeka S or similar CMS platforms.
  • Ability to build and refine custom modules and themes to meet specific project needs.
• Soft Skills:
  • Strong problem-solving mindset, able to work independently in a resource-limited environment.
  • Excellent communication and organizational skills to thrive in a project-driven library environment.
  • Willingness to mentor and collaborate with junior team members.
• Preferred Skills:
  • Experience with archival workflows or similar data management challenges.
  • Basic understanding of UI/UX principles to improve user experience.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This role operates within a library environment, where flexibility and creativity are valued over rigid structures. The work environment is notably relaxed, focusing on achieving project goals without the high-pressure demands of typical tech environments. We rarely use agile methodologies, opting instead for a more open-ended, project-oriented approach. While we strive for organization, the work is often guided by evolving project goals and available resources. The ideal candidate should embrace this dynamic setting and contribute to creating impactful solutions.