Employment Opportunities

Are you an experienced PHP web developer, passionate about quality, good usability and easy to work with?

If this is you, and you are interested in working with a friendly, professional, thriving firm in northern BC, Canada, there could be a spot for you on our team. Life moves fast in our little company and we are looking for an additional developer who’s got spark. What we’re looking for:

PHP WEB DEVELOPER

We’re looking for a long-term, reliable web developer who wants to work with a dedicated team of 3-4 designers, developers, and project managers to help build high-quality PHP-based websites using Expression Engine and Textpattern CMS’s. We need someone who can also provide technical support and website upgrades to our stable of 75+ active client websites. The candidate is welcome to work remotely or on-site from our Smithers, BC office.

Hours & Commitment:

The successful candidate would start in January 2010 and work freelance on 1-3 projects under the guidance and direction of our lead Expression Engine developer. If the candidate is well-suited to the position, they will be offered a permanent part-time or full-time position. Hours are flexible and can be negotiated.

Core Job Responsibilities:

  • Build websites from PSD files and site plan docs: CSS, XHTML, CMS and extra bells and whistles; install and conifgure Expression Engine Content Management Systems
  • Contribute to design discussions and project planning sessions; provide estimated budgets and eta’s for your part of each project
  • Provide technical support, research and consultation for existing and future client website projects
  • Proof your work, test for quality assurance, cross-browser and cross-platform compatibility.

Technical Qualifications:

  • PHP skills & experience working with PHP-based Content Management Systems
  • MYSQL knowledge and experience
  • Fluent in CSS/HTML/XHTML/Javascript/AJAX and JQuery:
  • Respect and commitment to meeting web standards and cross-browser compatibility; excellent understanding of semantic markup and ability to generate good, clean standards-compliant code; understanding of debug tools such as Firebug
  • Familiarity with UNIX hosting
  • SEO knowledge
  • Javascript
  • Proficient with Adobe Creative Suite
  • Good sense of visual design, interface design and usability principles

Personal Requirements:

  • Good organizational skills
  • Excellent multi-tasker who is comfortable and adept at prioritizing and managing your work flow
  • Reliable self-starter who will carry the ball when handed and take it past the finish line, on time and on budget; knows when to notify others about potential issues
  • Good communicator
  • Comrade-style team player who can help lead as well as support, look for positive solutions and is willing to invest in the long-term success of the company
  • Comfortable working independently and in collaborative scenarios
  • Strong attention to detail

Bonus points for:

  • Expression Engine and/or Textpattern experience
  • Experience integrating SEO techniques into website development
  • Good Photoshop skills and ability to create enticing and visually-appealing User Interface designs for the web
  • Experience with Flash production & integration

What we offer:

  • on-site developer is provided with an inviting and small-town casual office environment with your own private main floor office with window, 3 friendly office mates, a Mac computer, and all the organic fair-trade coffee you can drink
  • competitive salary / hourly wage and flexible hours
  • accrued vacation pay for paid time-off
  • opportunities for professional development
  • opportunity to work with a supportive team of dedicated professionals
  • extended health benefits (yearly expense limit)

To Apply please send:

  • a portfolio or list of websites you have worked on with an accurate description of your role on each project
  • a cover letter explaining your skills and experience and why you’d be interested in working with us and in what capacity (on-site or off-site)
  • a resume with references

No phone calls please.

A little more about SPARKDESIGN:

SparkDesign is a company of visual communication professionals who mix great design with appropriate application. We strive to foster sustainable community development by building cutting-edge materials which empower and inspire people to communicate and engage. Our main focus is building and maintaining quality websites for businesses and organizations located in BC and Canada.

We specialize in creating websites with Content Management Systems using Expression Engine. We also offer print design services to clients which include posters, brochures, reports and logos. Our job–as designers, developers and project managers–is to bring our passion and integrity into our work, to help build a fun and supportive team environment that we all enjoy working in, and of course, to create great communication tools that make a difference.

Location:

SparkDesign is based in the fun-loving town of Smithers, BC, halfway between Vancouver (BC) and Whitehorse (Yukon). We are a mountain town with a great ski hill, lots of river fishing and enough arts & culture to keep you busy most nights of the week. Some of our employees and associates live here and some don’t.