Job openings/Sr. Software Developer (project)
This job opening has been closed. See this page for current job openings.
- Job Title
Sr. Software Developer
- Employment Duration
February 15, 2009 to April 16, 2010
- About the Wikipedia Usability Initiative
The Wikipedia Usability Initiative was realized by a grant from the U.S.-based Stanton Foundation. The goal of this initiative is to measurably increase the usability of Wikipedia for new contributors by improving the underlying software on the basis of user behavioral studies, thereby reducing barriers to public participation. This position is part of the program team for the initiative.
For more information, please see the press release.
- Job Purpose
The core responsibility of this position is to lead the front end technical implementation of usability improvements. The ideal candidate will work with the interaction designer and implement the best suitable technologies.
- Reports to
Program Manager
- Job Summary
- Architect and implement the usability improvements identified by the Interaction Designer
- Mentor and guide software developers in identifying and resolving issues with MediaWIki usability for Wikipedia
- Develop, test, and deploy new features and improvements to the MediaWiki core and extension software
- Design performance tests and oversee the QA process
- Work closely with operations staff to ensure proper integration with testing and production systems
- Required Qualifications
- Strong leadership skills in leading a software team and a large scale project to completion
- Computer Science degree or equivalent work experience
- 7+ years software development
- Extensive experience with AJAX/HTML/CSS
- Familiarity with LAMP
- Object-oriented JavaScript skills
- Experience with security implications of JavaScript/PHP software
- Experience in testing and analyzing usability and accessibility
- Experience with MediaWiki a plus
- Knowledge in user interface design a big plus
- Experience with cross-browser compatibility testing
- An understanding of internationalizing and localizing software products a big plus
- Any other free/open software development experience highly welcome
- Comfortable in a highly collaborative, consensus-oriented environment
- Experience with wikis and participatory production environments a plus
- Understanding of the free culture movement a plus
- The ideal candidate will be creative, highly motivated, and able to operate effectively in multiple cultural and language contexts.
About the Wikimedia Foundation
The Wikimedia Foundation is the non-profit organization that operates Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. According to comScore Media Metrix, Wikipedia and the other projects operated by the Wikimedia Foundation receive more than 489 million unique visitors per month, making them the 5th most popular web property worldwide. Available in more than 270 languages, Wikipedia contains more than 21 million articles contributed by a global volunteer community of more than 100,000 people. Based in San Francisco, California, the Wikimedia Foundation is an audited, 501(c)(3) charity that is funded primarily through donations and grants. The Wikimedia Foundation was created in 2003 to manage the operation of Wikipedia and its sister projects. It currently employs 138 staff members. Wikimedia is supported by local chapter organizations in 39 countries or regions.
Apply
Please send a CV and cover letter to jobs
wikimedia.org. Please put the position title (Sr. Software Developer) in your subject line.
Applications that do not include a cover letter will not be considered.
Please copy and paste the text of your CV into the e-mail, in addition to attaching the file.
Due to the volume of applications we receive, we regret that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
San Francisco, CA. Due to the nature of this grant, we are only able to consider local candidates at this time.
