Web Developer

Design Hire; Scottsdale (AZ); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Design Hire in Scottsdale, AZ seeks an experienced Website Developer to own web development and help grow the department from the ground up. Passion for WordPress, PHP, and VPS server management drives success.

You will lead client discussions, build and customize WordPress sites, deploy VPS hosting, and ensure fast, secure, and SEO-friendly performance across projects.

Join a fast-paced team and shape internal processes while delivering high-quality web solutions for diverse clients.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of PHP and WordPress development experience.
• Proven experience building custom WordPress themes and plugins.
• Strong skills in PHP, JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3, and MySQL.
• Experience managing VPS hosting (GoDaddy, AWS, or similar).
• Knowledge of website security best practices (SSL, firewalls, malware prevention).
• Familiarity with SEO, Core Web Vitals, and performance optimization.
• Ability to lead a department and develop internal processes.
• Strong troubleshooting and independent yet collaborative work style.

Responsibilities

• Lead client-facing development discussions to gather requirements.
• Build, customize, and maintain WordPress sites, themes, and plugins.
• Develop custom PHP functionality and API integrations.
• Deploy and manage VPS hosting environments.
• Coordinate project timelines from mockups to launches.
• Apply SEO and performance optimization best practices.
• Maintain website security and compliance with standards.
• Develop internal processes to scale the web development team.
• Provide ongoing troubleshooting and performance improvements.
• Collaborate with marketing, design, and paid media teams.

Skills

WordPress development

PHP development

JavaScript

HTML5

CSS3

MySQL

Project management

Troubleshooting

Independent work

Communication

Tools

GoDaddy hosting

AWS hosting

VPS management

APIs (REST/GraphQL)

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Website Developer who is ready to take ownership of web development and help establish and grow the department from the ground up. The ideal candidate is passionate about WordPress, PHP development, and VPS server management and enjoys working in a fast-paced environment where their technical expertise and ideas can directly influence the future of the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Client Collaboration: Lead client-facing development discussions, including gathering requirements, defining project scope, and conducting project demonstrations.
• Website Development: Build, customize, and maintain WordPress websites, themes, and plugins using PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Custom Development: Create custom PHP functionality and API integrations based on individual client requirements.
• VPS Server Management: Deploy, configure, and maintain VPS hosting environments while supporting website performance, reliability, and security.
• Project Management: Coordinate web development project timelines, including mockup approvals, content collection, client reviews, and website launches.
• SEO & Performance Optimization: Apply best practices focused on website speed, SEO, user experience, and overall site performance.
• Security & Compliance: Maintain website security by addressing vulnerabilities and ensuring compliance with applicable web standards.
• Department Leadership: Develop internal processes, frameworks, and best practices that support the growth and scalability of the web development team.
• Troubleshooting & Maintenance: Provide ongoing website support, troubleshoot issues, perform debugging, and implement performance improvements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with marketing, design, and paid media teams to ensure web assets are effectively integrated across client projects.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience, with 5+ years preferred, in PHP and WordPress website development.
• Demonstrated experience with custom WordPress development, including custom themes and plugin development.
• Strong proficiency in PHP, JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3, and MySQL.
• Experience managing VPS servers, including platforms such as GoDaddy, AWS, or similar hosting environments.
• Knowledge of website security best practices, including SSL, firewalls, and malware prevention.
• Familiarity with SEO principles, Core Web Vitals, and website performance optimization.
• Experience developing API integrations and custom post types in WordPress.
• Strong troubleshooting skills with the ability to quickly resolve WordPress, PHP, and hosting-related issues.
• Demonstrated problem-solving abilities with the capacity to work independently while contributing effectively to a collaborative team.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Design Hire is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. It is our policy to consider for employment all individuals regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Employment Eligibility:

If hired, a Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification must be completed at the start of employment. Temporary work authorization or the need for sponsorship may disqualify you from employment.