WordPress Developer

Planet Pharma; Pennsylvania; Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 66,000; Part time

Job summary

Planet Pharma is seeking a WordPress Developer (Contract) with strong full-stack skills and deep WordPress architecture knowledge. The role focuses on building fully custom themes and plugins without ACF or page builders, using native WP APIs and REST endpoints.

The candidate will review unfamiliar codebases, troubleshoot production issues, and implement secure, maintainable solutions while collaborating with cross-functional teams. Remote options may apply depending on project needs.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional WordPress development experience with extensive hands-on custom development.
• Advanced proficiency in PHP including object-oriented programming and modern PHP development practices.
• Demonstrated experience developing custom WordPress themes from scratch.
• Ability to develop custom WordPress functionality without relying on ACF or third-party page builders.
• Strong experience authoring custom WordPress plugins.
• Deep understanding of WordPress core architecture, template hierarchy, hooks, filters, metadata, and REST APIs.
• Proficiency in JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3, SCSS, and responsive front-end development.
• Experience with Node.js-based tooling, npm, and customized Bootstrap implementations.
• Strong understanding of WordPress Coding Standards and secure coding practices.
• Experience with Composer, PHP namespaces, autoloading, dependency management, and modern PHP architecture.
• Demonstrated ability to independently assess unfamiliar code, debug complex issues, and perform root cause analysis.
• Practical experience with application security assessment, vulnerability identification, and remediation.
• WordPress websites hosted on WP Engine.
• Proficiency with Git-based development and deployment workflows.
• Knowledge of technical SEO, structured data, and AEO implementation.
• Experience documenting custom development, technical findings, and deployment procedures.
• Excellent communication, organizational, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and enhance fully custom WordPress themes and plugins.
• Build WordPress websites from ground up using native WordPress functionality without third-party builders.
• Implement custom post types, taxonomies, metadata, interfaces, and content-management using native WordPress APIs.
• Develop reusable templates, components, and custom functionality via WP hooks, filters, and REST APIs.
• Follow WordPress Coding Standards and PHP/JS best practices.
• Write clean, secure, maintainable, well-documented code.
• Evaluate existing implementations and recommend improvements to architecture, performance, and maintainability.
• Develop responsive, accessible front-end interfaces using HTML5, CSS3, SCSS, and JavaScript.
• Work with Node.js, npm, and front-end build tooling.
• Translate Figma designs into production-ready WordPress implementations.
• Optimize assets for performance and maintainability.
• Apply WCAG 2.1/2.2 accessibility standards.
• Independently review unfamiliar codebases and debug issues.
• Perform root cause analysis and sustainable remediation.

Skills

WordPress

PHP

JavaScript

REST APIs

Git

HTML5

CSS3

SCSS

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science

Tools

Node.js

npm

Bootstrap

Composer

WP Engine

Job description

Description

Summary

WordPress Developer (Contract)

The ideal candidate possesses strong full-stack development skills, advanced knowledge of WordPress architecture, and demonstrated experience building custom themes and plugins without reliance on third-party page builders or field-management plugins such as Advanced Custom Fields (ACF).

This role requires strong technical problem-solving capabilities, including the ability to review unfamiliar codebases, evaluate complex application architectures, identify security vulnerabilities, troubleshoot production issues, and implement maintainable solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Custom WordPress Development

• Develop, maintain, and enhance fully custom WordPress themes and plugins.
• Build WordPress websites from the ground up using native WordPress functionality without reliance on ACF, Elementor, or other third-party page builders.
• Implement custom post types, taxonomies, metadata, administrative interfaces, and content-management functionality using native WordPress APIs.
• Develop reusable templates, components, and custom functionality using WordPress hooks, filters, and REST APIs.
• Follow WordPress Coding Standards and established PHP and JavaScript development best practices.
• Write clean, secure, maintainable, and well-documented code.
• Evaluate existing implementations and recommend appropriate improvements to architecture, performance, and maintainability.

Front-End Development & Build Tools

• Develop responsive, accessible front-end interfaces using HTML5, CSS3, SCSS, and JavaScript.
• Work with Node.js, npm, and modern front-end build tooling.
• Develop and maintain customized Bootstrap implementations, including SCSS overrides, reusable components, and responsive layouts.
• Translate approved Figma designs into accurate, production-ready WordPress implementations.
• Optimize CSS, JavaScript, and other front-end assets for performance and maintainability.
• Implement accessibility requirements aligned with WCAG 2.1/2.2 standards.

Code Assessment, Debugging & Remediation

• Independently read, understand, and evaluate unfamiliar or legacy WordPress codebases.
• Troubleshoot PHP errors, JavaScript issues, plugin conflicts, database queries, API integrations, and application runtime failures.
• Perform root cause analysis and implement sustainable solutions.
• Evaluate complex or nonstandard WordPress implementations incorporating external PHP frameworks, Composer-managed dependencies, and custom packages.
• Assess dependency structures, namespaces, autoloading, package compatibility, and application integration.
• Identify architectural weaknesses, unnecessary dependencies, technical debt, and maintainability concerns.
• Efficiently refactor existing and legacy code into readable, modular, maintainable components while preserving functionality and avoiding unnecessary rewrites.
• Recommend and implement approved code refactoring and remediation strategies.
• Review code for security, performance, coding standards, and overall technical quality.

Application Security & Runtime Evaluation

• Perform application-level and runtime security assessments of custom WordPress themes, plugins, and dependencies.
• Identify and remediate vulnerabilities, including cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injection, cross-site request forgery (CSRF), insecure file handling, and file permissions .
• Apply secure coding practices, including input validation, sanitization, output escaping, nonces, capability checks, and secure database interactions.
• Evaluate third-party dependencies and Composer packages for known vulnerabilities and compatibility risks.
• Assess WordPress core, PHP runtime, and plugin compatibility.
• Investigate security-related application behavior and implement approved remediation.
• Support ongoing vulnerability management, security patching, and regression testing.

Documentation, Testing & Quality Assurance

• Maintain technical documentation covering application architecture, custom functionality, dependencies, integrations, and deployment procedures.
• Document significant code changes, technical decisions, root cause findings, and remediation activities.
• Perform development-level testing, regression testing, and validation before submitting deliverables for review.
• Ensure deliverables meet established coding, security, accessibility, and performance standards.
• Provide clear technical handoff documentation to support ongoing maintenance.

Communication, Reporting & Collaboration

• Provide consistent, accurate progress updates covering completed work, work in progress, blockers, risks, and next steps.
• Maintain current task statuses and communicate changes to estimates or delivery timelines promptly.
• Proactively identify and elevate technical issues, dependencies, security concerns, and potential delays.
• Clearly communicate technical findings, implementation recommendations, and tradeoffs.
• Demonstrate reliability, accountability, responsiveness, and follow-through on commitments.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of professional WordPress development experience, with extensive hands-on custom development.
• Advanced proficiency in PHP, including object-oriented programming and modern PHP development practices.
• Demonstrated experience developing custom WordPress themes from scratch.
• Proven ability to develop custom WordPress functionality without relying on ACF or third-party page builders.
• Strong experience authoring custom WordPress plugins.
• Deep understanding of WordPress core architecture, template hierarchy, hooks, filters, custom post types, metadata, and REST APIs.
• Strong proficiency in JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3, SCSS, and responsive front-end development.
• Experience with Node.js-based tooling, npm, and customized Bootstrap implementations.
• Strong understanding of WordPress Coding Standards and secure coding practices.
• Experience with Composer, PHP namespaces, autoloading, dependency management, and modern PHP architecture.
• Demonstrated ability to independently assess unfamiliar code, debug complex issues, and perform root cause analysis.
• Practical experience with application security assessment, vulnerability identification, and remediation.
• Hands-on experience supporting WordPress websites hosted on WP Engine.
• Proficiency with Git-based development and deployment workflows.
• Working knowledge of technical SEO, structured data, and AEO implementation.
• Experience documenting custom development, technical findings, and deployment procedures.
• Excellent communication, organizational, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.

The individual is expected to:

• Execute assigned work in accordance with established technical requirements and development standards.
• Independently investigate technical issues and propose appropriate solutions.
• Provide realistic estimates and communicate progress, risks, and blockers proactively.
• Maintain consistent communication and accurate project reporting.
• Demonstrate accountability for assigned deliverables and agreed timelines.
• Follow established security and quality assurance
• All deliverables will be subject to technical review, quality control, and approval prior to production release.

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or equivalent training required.

Pay Rate Range

$40-48/hr depending on experience