Senior Web Platform Engineer

University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago Advancement Technology team seeks a Senior Web Platform Engineer who will be the technical lead for Advancement's web platforms and supporting technologies. This role blends hands-on backend development with platform administration, accountable for architecture, integrations, security, releases, and long-term platform health.

The role leads and advises on development efforts and ensures reliable, scalable web resources.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical ownership of Advancement web platforms and apps.
• Design and maintain backend of websites and applications.
• Establish and maintain architecture standards.
• Translate business needs into technical solutions.
• Evaluate tools and platforms for security and maintainability.
• Oversee WordPress, Drupal, and other web services lifecycle.

Job description

Department

ADV Business Application Management

About the Department

The University of Chicago Advancement team cultivates lifelong connections with more than 220,000 alumni, current students, parents, and friends worldwide, building community through intellectual, professional, and other meaningful experiences on campus, around the world and online. Advancement empowers every division, school, department, and institute to thrive, generating support for esteemed faculty, pioneering researchers, visionary practitioners, and ambitious students.

During the Chicago Minds campaign, Advancement seeks to raise over $1 billion annually. This unprecedented philanthropic effort is designed to stretch the boundaries of what is possible, fueling bold discovery and amplifying the University's global impact.

Our work is rooted in the belief that meaningful connection and lasting experiences inspire ambassadorship and enduring commitment. We champion a culture of innovation and excellence, inviting every member of our community to participate in a future defined by creativity, intellectual rigor, and shared purpose. Through collaborative partnerships, strategic stewardship, and investment in talent, Advancement is reimagining alumni and donor engagement while ensuring UChicago remains a catalyst of impact for generations to come.

The Advancement Technology team delivers the data, systems, tools, and technology strategy that power UChicago Advancement's ambitious fundraising and engagement goals. Taking an enterprise approach to data and systems, the team develops and supports systems and tools that are consistent, scalable, and adaptable. In close collaboration with stakeholders across Advancement and the broader University, Advancement Technology translates program strategies into innovative, integrated solutions that enable, enhance, and accelerate fundraising and engagement outcomes. The team is committed to continuous innovation, centralized governance, and building partnerships that ensure technology investments are secure, future facing, and optimized for Advancement goals.

Job Summary

The Senior Web Platform Engineer is the technical lead and co‑owner of Advancement's web platforms and supporting technologies. This role combines hands‑on back‑end web development and platform administration with responsibility for architecture, integrations, security, reliability, releases, and long‑term platform health. This job leads and provides expertise to the development of programs for activities relating to software support and/or development. Analyzes, designs, develops, debugs, and modifies computer code for end user applications, beta general releases, and production support. Manages development and implementation of applications, web pages, and user‑interfaces using a variety of software applications, techniques, and tools. Solves complex problems in administration, maintenance, integration, and troubleshooting of code and application ecosystem currently in production.

This position works closely with Communications, which leads business and digital experience requirements, and with other Advancement teams to translate approved needs into practical technical solutions. It serves as a technical advisor, recommending approaches, alternatives, and tradeoffs based on business needs, technical requirements, risk, and long‑term supportability. The role determines the technical architecture and implementation approach, manages delivery and ongoing support, and coordinates with central IT Services, vendors, and managed service providers where work depends on enterprise infrastructure or services.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the technical lead and co‑owner of Advancement's web platforms, websites, web applications, and supporting technologies, with responsibility for their development, administration, reliability, security, and long‑term supportability.
• Designs, develops, configures, and maintains the back‑end of Advancement websites and web applications, including Alumni Weekend, the University Magazine, campaign websites, and other external‑facing digital resources for alumni and constituents, along with the features, components, templates, integrations, and technical improvements that support Advancement's fundraising, constituent engagement, and digital communications needs.
• Establishes and maintains architecture, development, platform, and technical design standards, and determines the technical architecture and implementation approach for approved work.
• Translates approved business and digital experience requirements into technical solutions, prototypes, proofs of concept, and implementation plans as appropriate.
• In partnership with business owners and partners, evaluates and selects web platforms, technical tools, and supporting technologies based on requirements, integration needs, security, maintainability, and long‑term supportability.
• Manages the lifecycle of Advancement's WordPress, Drupal, and other approved web