Cowboy State Daily (CSD) is Wyoming’s largest digital news platform, delivering high-quality journalism celebrating the state and its people. We’re expanding our in-house development team and seeking a Senior Web Developer to lead technical projects and drive innovation. This role offers an opportunity to shape the digital presence of CSD and our sister site, Aloha State Daily (ASD), a new platform for local journalism in Hawaii, while mentoring junior staff in a fast-paced, mission-driven news organization.
The role primarily supports CSD, with secondary responsibilities for ASD as it grows. The ideal candidate is an experienced developer with 5–8 years of web development experience, deep expertise in PHP, JavaScript, React, and Craft CMS, and a passion for delivering high-performance, user-focused digital solutions.
Objectives of this Role
- Development and optimization of CSD and ASD websites, applying best practices in full-stack web development.
- Architect and implement advanced features using Craft CMS, APIs, and modern frontend frameworks.
- Ensure high performance, accessibility, and SEO optimization for content-heavy news platforms.
- Collaborate with content creators and marketing staff.
- Stay current with industry tools, trends, and technologies.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain CSD and ASD websites using HTML5, CSS3, PHP, and JavaScript.
- Lead feature development with React, Next.js, and modern frontend workflows.
- Manage and optimize Craft CMS for templating, content modeling, and integrations.
- Oversee website hosting, backups, and deployment workflows using tools like AWS or Laravel Forge.
- Implement and optimize digital advertising integrations and analytics.
- Enhance site performance, SEO, and mobile responsiveness for high-traffic environments.
- Handle occasional after-hours maintenance or emergency repairs.
Required Skills and Qualifications
- 5–8 years of professional web development experience.
- Advanced proficiency in:
- PHP and JavaScript.
- React, Next.js, or similar frontend frameworks.
- HTML5/CSS3 and responsive design.
- Git version control.
- Experience with Craft CMS or similar CMS platforms (e.g., WordPress).
- Strong knowledge of SEO best practices and web performance optimization.
- Familiarity with AWS (e.g., EC2, S3, RDS) and deployment tools (e.g., Laravel Forge).
- Excellent problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills.
- Comfort with command-line tools in a Linux or Windows environment.
Preferred (but not required) Experience
- Expertise in GraphQL or REST APIs.
- Knowledge of TypeScript or CSS-in-JS (e.g., vanilla-extract).
- Experience with high-traffic news or media platforms.
- Background in mentoring or leading small development teams.
Compensation
- Salary: $85,000–$110,000/year, based on experience.
- Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance; paid time off; opportunities for leadership in a growing digital news organization.
Work Arrangement
This is an on-site position based in Casper, Wyoming, with collaboration in a small, dynamic team of developers, content creators, and marketing staff.
Benefits
Living the Wyoming Way of Life
Independence in thought and in living is what makes Wyomingites hardy people. As a part of Cowboy State Daily’s team, you get to offer people information and invite them to make up their own minds about the topics covered–an act that our readers wholeheartedly respect and appreciate.
By the people of Wyoming, For the people of Wyoming
At Cowboy State Daily, you get to report on the happenings that most impact the lives of our readership. This is our sole criteria for deciding where to dig deep and use our resources to surface the news that matters.
Wyoming-First Culture
We have so much to be proud of and our team never forgets it. At Cowboy State Daily, you’re surrounded by an incredible group of tride & true Wyomingites who value good neighbors, awareness of local affairs, and helping one another out. The core of what makes us great is looking out for our community and team.