Intermediate Drupal Developer

***Note that this position is a contract role, with an option to go full-time***

Position Summary

This individual will play a hands-on role in architecting, developing, and maintaining Drupal-based interactive web projects. Detail-oriented, highly organized, and analytical, you are responsible for building scalable Drupal solutions, implementing custom modules, managing CMS configurations, and supporting ongoing enhancements across active client properties.

You must have a strong understanding of the software development lifecycle and be able to communicate project status, issues, and resolutions clearly and effectively.

We work in an agency environment with multiple clients, so communication skills, breadth of experience, multi-tasking across several projects, and passion for modern web technologies are paramount qualities in our ideal candidate. You will collaborate closely with account, creative, UX, and project management teams while also partnering with client IT teams and external vendors when needed.

Core Skills

• Strong experience with Drupal 9/10 (site building and custom development)
• Experience building and maintaining custom Drupal modules
• Proficiency in PHP and Drupal API
• Experience with Drupal theming (Twig, custom themes, component-based development)
• Strong knowledge of HTML5, CSS3, and modern JavaScript
• Experience working with RESTful APIs and third-party integrations
• Experience with Composer and Drupal dependency management
• Experience with Git-based source control workflows
• Familiarity with MySQL and relational database concepts
• Experience with Drupal configuration management and deployment workflows
• Understanding of web accessibility (WCAG) and SEO best practices
• Experience troubleshooting and debugging Drupal applications
• Ability to configure and deploy Drupal web applications
• Working knowledge of Apache and/or Nginx environments

Additional Skills Considered

• Experience with decoupled/headless Drupal architecture
• Familiarity with React, Vue, or other modern JS frameworks
• Experience with AWS (EC2, S3, CloudFront, IAM)
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and automated deployments
• Experience with Docker-based local development environments
• Knowledge of Acquia, Pantheon, or other Drupal hosting platforms
• Experience with multi-site Drupal environments
• Familiarity with performance optimization and caching strategies (Varnish, Redis)
• Experience working in regulated industries (healthcare, life sciences, etc.)

Competency

• Highly collaborative with strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
• Leads by example in concise communication and quality-driven development
• Active participant in code reviews and QA workflows
• Ability to multi-task across multiple client projects simultaneously
• Comfortable interacting with client IT teams during technical discovery
• Ability to investigate and recommend technical solutions for varied project needs
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to clean, maintainable code
• Familiarity with Agile, Scrum, and/or Waterfall methodologies

Essential Functions

• Develop custom Drupal modules and themes
• Configure and maintain Drupal CMS features and content structures
• Translate business requirements and creative designs into functional Drupal solutions
• Implement third-party integrations (APIs, marketing tools, CRM systems, etc.)
• Maintain and update legacy Drupal codebases
• Participate in architecture discussions and technical planning
• Perform code reviews and contribute to best practice standards
• Support deployment processes and troubleshoot production issues
• Optimize Drupal performance and caching configurations
• Code, test, and support database-driven web applications
• Provide technical assistance to creative and UX teams as needed
• Assist in producing accurate tasks and project estimates
• Recommend solutions based on best practices and independent judgment
• Stay current on Drupal core updates, contributed modules, and security releases
• Contribute to documentation and internal knowledge sharing

General Requirements

• This job description should be treated as a guide to the duties that the post holder is expected to perform.
• The description may be amended to meet the changing requirements of the agency.
• All employees are required to be aware of their responsibilities toward Health and Safety and adhere to company policies.

Bonus/nice-to-have Skills

• AWS Lambda
• React JS
• PHP Object-oriented Development (think CodeIgniter MVC frameworks)
• Bootstrap Boilerplate
• SQL
• WordPress Core & Plugins Development
• Tailwind CSS
• Python
• Linux (preferably RHEL)
• SAML Experience

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, MIS, related field, or equivalent experience
• Work Experience: 3–5 years of professional Drupal development experience

Regularly Interacts With

Account, Creative, UX, Creative Services, Planning, Project Management, and Client IT teams.

About the Role

Join forces with Appnovation to deliver high-impact results for one of our key strategic partners - a global leader in their field. This engagement offers a unique vantage point into a world-class organization with exceptional opportunities for professional growth and long-term career advancement

As a Senior AI Software Engineer, you'll transform business ideas into production-ready applications using cutting-edge AI design tools and modern full-stack frameworks. With a strong bias toward frontend development, you specialize in the critical early stages—from concept through pre-totype to prototype—where design systems meet AI-augmented development. You are a visionary technologist who sits at the intersection of engineering excellence and AI innovation. Your mission is to oversee the entire "concept-to-production" pipeline, ensuring our teams leverage cutting-edge AI tools to deliver enterprise-grade applications at unprecedented speeds.

While you maintain a deep technical foundation in full-stack development, your primary focus is strategic leadership: defining design system standards, optimizing AI-augmented workflows, and mentoring a high-performance team of developers and AI builders.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic AI Integration: Direct the adoption of AI design tools (v0.dev, bolt.new, Lovable) to compress the development lifecycle from weeks to days without sacrificing quality.
• Architecture & Standards: Define and enforce the technical standards for production-ready full-stack applications, ensuring scalability, performance, and accessibility across all projects.
• Design-Dev Synthesis: Lead the integration of Figma-based design systems with AI-driven development to create seamless, automated handoff processes.
• Operational Excellence: Manage a ticket-driven workflow in Jira, optimizing team velocity and ensuring technical documentation meets enterprise-level requirements.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Act as a bridge between Strategy, Creative, and Technology departments to ensure AI-powered solutions meet complex business objectives.
• Backend & Data Strategy: Oversee the implementation of robust backend services (Supabase, SQL/NoSQL) and secure authentication frameworks (OAuth, JWT) across the portfolio.
• Design and implement RESTful APIs and backend services using platforms like Supabase to support frontend functionality.
• Collaborate with UX Designers, AI Builders, and Innovation Leads throughout the development lifecycle.

Qualification

• 6–10+ years in full-stack development, with at least 3+ years in a management capacity. Bonus points if you have experience working in a startup or rapid prototyping environment.
• Proven track record of implementing AI design tools(such as v0.dev, bolt.new, Lovable, or similar platforms) and workflow automation (e.g., N8N) within a professional engineering team.
• Deep expertise in modern frameworks (React, Vue, Nuxt), TypeScript, and multiple backend languages including Python, PHP, and NodeJS.
• Expert-level knowledge of design systems, design tokens, and CSS frameworks (Tailwind) to ensure brand consistency at scale.
• Comprehensive understanding of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), deployment workflows, and enterprise security patterns.
• Solid understanding of backend development, including API design (REST, GraphQL), server-side logic, and database management.
• Proficiency with authentication mechanisms (OAuth, JWT) and security best practices.
• Expert-level proficiency with Figma, including design system management and component libraries.
• A portfolio demonstrating not just individual code, but the leadership of complex, full-stack applications built using AI-augmented methodologies.
• Strong attention to detail and a passion for innovation.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

What Appnovation Offers

• Challenging and rewarding work with real impact
• Growth opportunities for personal and professional development
• Exposure to exciting projects and high-profile clients
• Supportive work environment with access to company leaders
• Hybrid working model

Here are a few more reasons why you should apply:

• Work-life Balance
• Lots of opportunities for personal and professional growth
• Health Benefits Package
• Mental Health Support
• Personal Days Off
• Fertility and Menopause Leave
• Fitness Allowance
• D,E&I Initiatives
• And much more...