Senior CMS Developer

Senior CMS Developer - Hybrid, Tokai, Cape Town

Open Box Software is a globally focused consulting firm that specialises in delivering business and software solutions to the Real Estate industry. We have a young team of highly talented individuals who are driven to make an impact and have fun.

We are looking for a Senior CMS Developer to join our growing team. You'll report to the Head of Custom Software and work within our talented CMS team - primarily focused on Drupal - to maintain, enhance, and build websites.

These sites range from simple single-pagers to complex platforms that integrate with backend systems and third-party tools. We follow a clear and collaborative development process using tools like VS Code, Git, and Azure DevOps. This is a great opportunity to work in a modern development environment while expanding your CMS and full-stack skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and enhance websites using Drupal or similar CMS platforms.
• Provide input on technical design and architecture decisions for complex CMS projects.
• Mentor and guide junior developers.
• Engage with business stakeholders to translate requirements into scalable technical solutions.
• Provide input on defining and enforce coding standards, best practices, and CMS security compliance.
• Contribute to technology roadmaps and evaluate emerging CMS tools and practices.
• Build and maintain both front-end and back-end functionality using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP (or equivalent).
• Customize and configure CMS themes, templates, and modules.
• Regularly upgrade CMS modules and core frameworks to ensure long-term stability.
• Work closely with a product owner to implement site requirements.
• Ensure code quality, performance, and maintainability.
• Address client reported issues.
• Solve complex technical challenges affecting delivery or quality.
• Participate in code reviews and knowledge-sharing sessions.
• Run product demos to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Estimate effort and timelines for tasks and projects.
• Manage code releases through defined deployment processes.

Minimum Requirements

• Degree or diploma in software development or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading projects or development teams.
• Strong knowledge of system architecture, scalability, and performance optimization.
• 5 to 8+ years of experience working with Drupal (preferably version 10) or a similar CMS.
• Proficient in HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and PHP or equivalent server-side language.
• Hands-on experience with CMS site building, configuration, and contributed modules.
• Familiarity with Git and version control workflows.
• Understanding of responsive web design and cross-browser compatibility.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Effective time management and task prioritisation.
• Comfortable working toward deadlines and managing stakeholder expectations.
• Analytical and problem-solving mindset.

Nice-to-Have Skills

• Experience integrating with RESTful APIs.
• Experience mentoring/coaching other developers.
• Contributions to open-source CMS projects or communities.
• Experience delivering enterprise-scale CMS implementations.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and modern DevOps practices.
• Knowledge of SEO best practices for CMS-driven sites.
• Experience with templating engines (e.g., Twig).
• Exposure to performance optimisation and caching strategies.
• Experience with cloud-based CMS hosting platforms like Acquia or Pantheon.
• Use of AI tools to boost productivity and automate repetitive dev tasks.

Personal Traits

• Collaborative and approachable team player.
• Demonstrates leadership presence and ability to influence and inspire others.
• Consultative mindset with confidence engaging business stakeholders directly.
• High accountability and initiative in driving project success.
• Detail-oriented with a passion for quality.
• Self-motivated and proactive in identifying improvements.
• Comfortable in a goal-oriented, flexible work environment.