Website Developer

Note: This is a technical role within our Business Operations division. We are looking for developers who can build and maintain our web presence while showcasing our robotics innovations.

Description

WATonomous is seeking a skilled Website Developer to join our Business Operations team. As our Website Developer, you will be responsible for developing, maintaining, and continuously improving our team's website directly in this repository. You'll work at the intersection of technology and communication, creating web experiences that effectively showcase our autonomous robotics projects to the world.

This role offers a unique opportunity to apply your web development skills in the context of a cutting-edge robotics team, working on our Next.js-based website to communicate complex technical achievements to diverse audiences including sponsors, recruits, and the broader tech community.

Responsibilities

As a Website Developer at WATonomous, you will:

• Website Development: Build and maintain the WATonomous website using modern web technologies and frameworks
• Feature Implementation: Develop new features including interactive project showcases, team member profiles, and recruitment portals
• Performance Optimization: Ensure fast load times and smooth user experience across all devices and browsers
• Content Management: Implement and maintain content management systems for easy updates by non-technical team members
• API Integration: Connect the website with external services for forms, analytics, and real-time data from our robots
• Design Implementation: Work with graphic designers to implement responsive, visually appealing designs
• Technical Documentation: Create clear documentation for website maintenance and content updates
• Security & Maintenance: Implement security best practices and perform regular updates and backups
• Analytics Implementation: Set up and monitor website analytics to track engagement and improve user experience

Key Qualifications

Required:

• Proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
• Experience with React.js and modern React patterns
• Understanding of responsive design principles
• Knowledge of version control systems (Git)
• Experience with TypeScript
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail

Nice to Have:

• Experience with Next.js framework (our current tech stack)
• Knowledge of Tailwind CSS (used in this project)
• Experience with server-side rendering and static site generation
• Understanding of SEO best practices
• Experience with web analytics tools (Google Analytics, Plausible)
• Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Google Cloud, Vercel, Netlify)
• Familiarity with email API integration (Postmark, Nodemailer)
• UI/UX design experience
• Experience building websites for technical organizations or engineering teams
• Knowledge of markdown processing and gray-matter

Technical Stack

You'll work directly with our current website technology stack:

• Framework: Next.js 13+ with React 18
• Styling: Tailwind CSS with Typography plugin
• Language: TypeScript
• Content: Markdown files with gray-matter for metadata
• Email: Postmark and Nodemailer integration
• Build Tools: npm, ESLint, Prettier
• Version Control: Git/GitHub
• Deployment: Modern cloud platforms compatible with Next.js

What We Offer

• Real-world experience building and maintaining a production website
• Opportunity to work with cutting-edge web technologies
• Collaborative environment with both technical and non-technical team members
• Freedom to propose and implement new features and improvements
• Portfolio-building opportunity with a high-visibility project
• Mentorship from experienced developers
• Flexible scheduling that works with your academic commitments

Time Commitment

This is a part-time position requiring approximately 5-10 hours per week, with potential for increased involvement during:

• Major website redesigns or feature launches
• Recruitment seasons
• Competition showcases
• New project unveilings

What We're Looking For

WATonomous values developers who can bridge the gap between technical excellence and user-friendly design. We're looking for someone who:

• Has a passion for creating engaging web experiences
• Can translate complex robotics concepts into accessible web content
• Takes ownership of projects from conception to deployment
• Enjoys learning new technologies and best practices
• Can work independently while seeking input when needed
• Values clean, maintainable code and good documentation

Whether you're an experienced developer or an enthusiastic learner with a solid foundation, we want to hear from you if you're excited about using your web development skills to showcase groundbreaking autonomous robotics projects.