Remote Lead WordPress Developer for Fast-Growing Pet Company (Remote/Worldwide)

 We’re Pangolia, one of the fastest-growing pet companies, with a mission to become the largest, most helpful pet company in the world. Our main sites—Catster.com, Dogster.com, Hepper.com, and PangoVet.com—attract over 36 million pet enthusiasts annually, and we are experiencing rapid growth.

Our media platforms are powered by WordPress, while our cat furniture e-commerce brand, Hepper, operates on WooCommerce.

In this role as the lead web developer, you will tackle technical issues, maintain site security, and develop new features. Since we’re a fully remote company, you’ll have the freedom to work from anywhere. This full-time role (40 hours/week) lets you plan your own schedule. You’ll join a global team of more than 30 talented individuals, all working toward our mission of becoming the world’s leading pet company.

📌 Note: We value hard work and results, but we won’t micromanage. You’ll have flexibility, ownership of your projects, and be paid for every hour worked. With this comes responsibility, especially when challenges arise, even outside of regular hours. We’re looking for someone who can embrace that responsibility and rise to the occasion.

💻 We’re seeking a full-stack developer, but back-end expertise is our priority. While the front end of our sites looks great, we need substantial back-end work. (We also have designers on our team.)

💬 Strong communication and collaboration are essential. Since we work remotely, excellent communication is crucial to our success.

This is an exciting opportunity if you’re a top-tier developer eager to grow your skills while working alongside experts.

Current Projects:

1. Optimize Site Speed: Make our websites the fastest among competitors with fewer ads.
2. Enhance Hepper.com: Redesign checkout, category, and product pages, and refine data analytics.
3. Clear the Task Backlog: We’re behind on tasks, so we need someone who can hit the ground running.
4. Expand the Team: In 3-4 months, you’ll hire 1-2 developers, so you need to be excited about leading and mentoring others.

Your Responsibilities:

• Manage the web development department, clear the backlog, and communicate effectively.
• Hire and manage developers, conducting code reviews and overseeing their work.
• Develop new tools for millions of pet lovers (e.g., a Puppy Weight Chart Tool).
• Maintain and improve WordPress sites, optimizing them for high traffic.
• Collaborate with content and marketing teams, troubleshoot issues, and handle IT requests.
• Ensure site security and protect against hacks and malware.
• Stay updated on new technologies and best practices.

Requirements:

• Proficiency in HTML, CSS, JavaScript/jQuery, PHP, and WordPress development.
• Experience with MySQL, Webpack/ViteJS, Composer, and GitHub.
• Familiarity with troubleshooting tools and terminal usage.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to manage projects independently.
• Passion for solving complex problems with elegant solutions and well-commented code.

Ideal Candidate Traits:

• Dependable, friendly communicator.
• Passionate about programming and eager to learn new skills.
• Self-starter who takes initiative and completes tasks.
• Able to juggle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

Perks of Working with Pangolia:

• 100% remote work from anywhere.
• Flexible work hours—set your own schedule.
• Paid biweekly and receive 21 days of paid time off annually.
• Access to co-working spaces if needed, with membership costs covered.
• Opportunity for company retreats and career advancement within a high-growth environment.

Our Workflow:

• Weekly one-on-one Zoom meetings to discuss goals and performance.
• You’ll work directly with the CEO, Simon, who provides guidance and trusts you to own your responsibilities. We don’t micromanage.
• You’ll maintain project GitHub repositories and document your changes with concise comments and technical documentation.
• Some overlap in working hours is necessary for urgent requests or team communication.
• While you’ll have the freedom to focus on your main projects, occasional urgent tasks may arise.

Our Team & Culture:

• You’ll be part of a diverse team of 80 individuals from around the world, including veterinarians, marketers, writers, designers, and more.
• We’re united by our mission to improve the lives of pets and their owners, striving to become the largest, most helpful pet company globally.
• We maintain a fast-paced work environment without sacrificing our culture of collaboration and trust, and we enjoy casual banter alongside hard work.

How to Apply:

• Click ‘Apply for this position’ to complete the form and answer a few questions.
• If shortlisted, we’ll invite you to an interview and a paid assignment that mimics an internal project.
• After the trial period, we’ll finalize the hiring process and you’ll officially join the team!