Senior WordPress Engineer

We are working with an established Australian digital business operating a portfolio of high-traffic websites and consumer-facing platforms. Its technology team is investing in a more scalable digital infrastructure, with a focus on improving performance, evolving its commercial capabilities and delivering better online experiences. About the role This is a hands-on Senior WordPress Engineer role where you'll combine full-stack development with the technical leadership of a small squad comprising two developers and a QA engineer. The WordPress VIP platform is already in place, but there is plenty of scope to improve the existing implementation, address performance bottlenecks and build a stronger foundation for future development. One of the key priorities is evolving the platform to support subscription-based services. As the WordPress Lead, you'll remain close to the code while guiding technical decisions, mentoring the team and working with product and engineering colleagues on the platform roadmap. The role would suit a strong Senior or Lead WordPress Developer who enjoys solving complex engineering problems, has some experience guiding others and wants to take the next step in technical leadership without moving away from hands-on development. What you will do Platform engineering and performance Assess the existing WordPress VIP implementation and improve its architecture, configuration, security, scalability and maintainability.Develop and maintain custom WordPress functionality across the frontend and backend, including themes, plugins and reusable components.Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks, using Core Web Vitals, browser diagnostics and real-user data to guide improvements.Improve caching, CDN configuration, database efficiency and the loading behaviour of third-party scripts.Help evolve the platform to support subscription services, working through the technical requirements and integrations needed to deliver a reliable user experience.Troubleshoot complex production issues across WordPress, the browser and advertising technology stack. Technical leadership and collaboration Lead a small development squad, providing technical direction, mentoring and constructive code reviews while contributing directly to development.Establish sensible standards for code quality, testing, documentation and delivery.Work with product managers and other engineering teams to turn business priorities into practical technical solutions.Contribute to architectural decisions and the longer-term platform roadmap, balancing immediate requirements with sustainable engineering practices.Explore AI-assisted development tools and identify where they can improve productivity without compromising code quality. What you bring Essential Strong professional experience developing and maintaining WordPress platforms, including multisite environments, custom themes and plugins, Gutenberg and reusable component systems.Solid PHP skills, supported by practical experience with modern JavaScript, React and REST APIs.Full-stack development experience and confidence working across frontend and backend concerns.Experience with WordPress VIP or a comparable managed WordPress environment, including the ability to assess an existing implementation and identify opportunities for improvement.A solid understanding of website performance engineering, including Core Web Vitals, caching, CDNs, database optimisation and third-party script performance.Experience with digital advertising technology, ideally including Google Ad Manager, Prebid, header bidding and ad loading strategies.A track record of taking technical ownership, reviewing code and helping other developers improve.Familiarity with MySQL, Git, automated testing and CI/CD workflows.Clear communication skills and the ability to work effectively with developers, QA, product managers and other stakeholders. Nice to have Experience with subscription services, membership platforms, paywalls or personalisation technology.Practical experience with AI-assisted coding tools and an interest in improving development workflows.Experience shaping engineering practices within a small team or moving from a senior developer position into technical leadership. Why this role is worth considering Improve an established WordPress VIP platform with genuine scope to influence its technical direction.Play a hands-on role in developing subscription capabilities and supporting new digital revenue opportunities.Lead a small team without losing the coding and problem-solving work you enjoy.Work closely with engineering leadership and product managers as the organisation moves towards product-focused squads.Access professional development, additional leave, wellbeing initiatives and employee benefits. Recruitment process The process consists of two interview rounds. We will begin reviewing suitable applications as they come in, with the aim of filling the position as soon as possible. Further details about the business, remuneration and benefits will be provided to interested and shortlisted candidates. Feedback will be communicated throughout the process. Please note The role is based in Sydney CBD, close to Town Hall.The working arrangement is hybrid, with an expectation of being in the office four days per week.Full working rights in Australia are required; no visa sponsorship availableOnly successful candidates will be contacted. If you haven't been contacted within 5 business days of submitting your application, unfortunately, you haven't been successful this time around. Your Recruiter: Stephane Maquet I'm an experienced Recruiter and the Director of 6AM Digital, a boutique recruitment agency specialising in AI, technology, digital, ecommerce and marketing talent. Since 2011, I've partnered with innovative Australian and French businesses, from startups and scaleups to established organisations, to help them hire the right people. I focus on delivering a straightforward, transparent and personal recruitment experience, with a touch of often misunderstood French humour. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. Please include a brief note with your invitation so I know the reason for connecting.