Senior Drupal Developer

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field.

Certifications

• Drupal or Acquia certifications preferred.
• PMP or Agile certification is a plus.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in web architecture and content-management system modernization projects.
• At least 5 years of experience leading Drupal platform upgrades or implementations (Drupal 7 through Drupal 11) within enterprise or higher-education environments.
• Preferably with University or Educational Institutions if possible.
• Demonstrated experience working with multisite Drupal environments (hosted on Acquia Site Factory or equivalent) including site migration and content integration.
• Knowledge of WCAG 2.1 A/AA accessibility standards, SEO principles, and web branding requirements.
• Proven ability to plan and execute template redesigns (2–3 Drupal 11 branded templates) and implement technical or structural optimizations that enhance site performance and accessibility compliance.
• Experience developing or governing content strategy and long-term web optimization approaches for large academic institutions.
• Familiar with project coordination and stakeholder engagement to ensure on-time delivery of priority site upgrades (5–10 sites by December 2025).
• Strong understanding of web standards, accessibility guidelines, and higher-education communication objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the technical architecture and solution design for UC Merced’s Web Modernization Program, which includes upgrading approximately 380 Drupal 7 sites to Drupal 11 within a multisite environment.
• Define and document enterprise-level Drupal architecture, migration strategy, and site hierarchy to ensure consistency, scalability, and long-term support.
• Direct the development of 2–3 Drupal 11 branded templates that meet UC Merced’s brand standards and WCAG 2.1 A/AA accessibility requirements.
• Oversee content migration, integration, and optimization activities to improve site performance, search optimization (SEO / GEO / AIO), and accessibility.
• Establish and enforce technical and design standards for Drupal sites to maintain uniformity across campus web properties.
• Collaborate with the Project Manager, UC Merced IT, and Communications teams to coordinate phased site upgrades and content reviews.
• Support and supervise development and QA teams through all phases of migration, template design, testing, and deployment.
• Ensure that the solution complies with University policies for accessibility, sustainability, security, and ethical conduct.
• Participate in program evaluations and corrective work reviews as outlined in Sections 2.3 and 2.4 of the RFP, ensuring that all work meets UC Merced standards of performance.
• Provide project and product usage reports as requested by UC Merced, documenting labor hours, progress, and deliverable status.
• Guide stakeholders on future-ready Drupal governance, content strategy, and long-term platform maintenance approaches.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $120,569.81 - $145,202.36 per year

Work Location: On the road