Web Developer
ABOUT THE LUCAS MUSEUM OF NARRATIVE ART
Opening in September 2026, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is dedicated to illustrated storytelling. Founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, the museum’s collection features works by artists including Norman Rockwell, Kadir Nelson, Jessie Willcox Smith, N. C. Wyeth, Beatrix Potter, Judith F. Baca, Frida Kahlo, and Maxfield Parrish; as well as comic art legends such as Winsor McCay, Jack Kirby, Frank Frazetta, Alison Bechdel, Chris Ware, and R. Crumb; and photographers Gordon Parks, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Dorothea Lange. The Museum also houses the Lucas Archives, containing models, props, concept art, and costumes from Lucas’s filmmaking career.
Designed by Ma Yansong of MAD with a landscape by Mia Lehrer of Studio-MLA, the Museum is in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, on an 11-acre campus that includes new green space and a 300,000-square-foot building with galleries, two theaters, a library, restaurant, café, retail store, and community spaces.
POSITION SUMMARY
We are seeking a Web Developer to serve as the primary internal steward of the museum's website and its related digital infrastructure. This wide-ranging role will oversee our existing managed site hosting environment, apply necessary updates and patches to our Laravel-based CMS, and manage our analytics operations. They will also perform day-to-day updates and maintenance on our CMS, particularly its API integrations into our NetX digital asset management system and the API endpoints used by our mobile application(s).
Our website’s codebase, design system, and content architecture are well-documented and established, and this position would operate within that framework. Complex new features or products will be developed in collaboration with the site’s original developers and our app developers.
This role may require occasional flexibility outside of standard working hours, including responding to site emergencies, covering operational gaps, and maintaining presence during high-activity periods such as exhibition openings, digital product launches, and high web traffic events.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Hosting and Security
-
Manage the museum's managed hosting environment, including deployments, monitoring, and performance optimization
-
Implement and maintain security best practices, including SSL certificates, access controls, and regular security updates
-
Manage backup systems and disaster recovery procedures
-
Respond to and resolve hosting-related incidents
Website CMS Management and Development
-
Maintain and extend the website CMS, including creating new content types, fields, and templates within established patterns
-
Troubleshoot content management issues and provide technical support to internal content editors
-
Implement updates and patches to keep the CMS current and secure
-
Document technical changes and maintain internal developer documentation
Website API Development and Integration
-
Create and maintain web API endpoints that serve content to the museum's mobile application(s)
-
Manage the integration between the web CMS and NetX DAMS, ensuring reliable synchronization of digital assets
-
Work with the mobile app development team to define endpoint requirements and deliver solutions
-
Monitor API performance and troubleshoot integration issues
Collaboration and Communication
-
Serve as the primary technical point of contact with outside app and web development partners
-
Triage technical requests and determine appropriate resolution path (internal vs. external development)
-
Participate in internal working groups managing other technical, IT, and transaction systems (such as TMS, Tessitura, Blocks Office, WaitWhile), representing the digital department's perspective and technical requirements
-
Participate in a structured onboarding program with the original web development team to gain comprehensive knowledge of the codebase and maintain ongoing engagement with our open source CMS’s developer and maintainer community
-
Document processes, decisions, and technical specifications for institutional knowledge
CORE COMPETENCIES
Analytical Rigor: Simplifies complex problems by using critical thinking to evaluate problems, gathering information, incorporating multiple perspectives, understanding causes, and identifying best-possible solutions. Invests time in planning, discovery, and reflection to drive better decisions and more efficient implementations. Adopts an audience-centric approach, understanding the needs of the audience and incorporating them, as appropriate, into the decision.
Courageous Communication: Intentionally works well with others both on the team and cross-functionally to achieve individual, team, department, or organizational goals. Values diverse input and working with others as a way to achieve the best output possible.
Collaborative Excellence: Displays courage when handling difficult conversations and genuinely and intentionally communicates. Relays key messages effectively, targeted to specific audiences. Identifies others' communication styles and perspectives, adjusting language and approach accordingly. Employs active listening to understand, rather than reply. Asks for, integrates, and values feedback from team, peers, and leaders.
Adaptive Resilience: Thrives and grows in a rapidly changing and complex environment. Displays flexibility, activates networks, and adopts a continuous growth mindset to learn from mistakes and bounce back from adversity.
Inclusive Interaction: Actively contributes to an environment in which all employees feel a sense of belonging, valued for their differences and empowered to participate and contribute freely.
QUALIFICATIONS
SKILLS
Tools and technical proficiencies used daily in this role:
-
PHP and the Laravel framework
-
PostgreSQL databases
-
Command-line tools, Composer, and SSH
-
Git version control
-
Third-party API integrations
-
Front-end technologies (Blade templating, Tailwind CSS, JavaScript) sufficient to troubleshoot issues
-
Build tooling including Vite
-
Web analytics platforms (Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, and Microsoft Clarity)
KNOWLEDGE
Conceptual understanding and domain expertise critical to success in this role:
-
API design principles and integration patterns
-
CMS architecture and content modeling
-
Caching strategies and CDN management
-
Web security best practices
-
Web accessibility standards and testing approaches
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
-
Experience with digital asset management systems and their APIs
-
Background in museums, cultural institutions, or organizations with public-facing digital content and experiences
-
Familiarity with Platform.sh/Upsun, or similar PaaS environments
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND OUR COMMITMENT TO DEAIB
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents and supports a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. The Lucas Museum fosters a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment, whether based on race, national origin, gender, gender expression, religion, ethnic background, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other criterion prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diversity and inclusion among our team is critical to our success, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the best qualified people from a diverse candidate pool. Applications from traditionally underrepresented communities are encouraged.
The statements in this description represent typical elements, criteria, and general work performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the job.
***************************************************************************************************************
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is dedicated to the art of illustrated stories. Our mission is to inspire and connect people through the exploration of visual stories and their influences in society.
VALUES
Our internal and external practices are shaped by the following beliefs and behaviors.
People First: We meet people wherever they are (physically, intellectually, emotionally). Our inclusive practice connects who people are and what they find emotional in works of art.
Inspired: We believe that art can move you to feel, think, reflect, and act.
Collaborative: We believe that nimble thinking and working together yield exponential results.
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
Narrative Art:
Amplify the social impact of storytelling and illustration.
Community:
Connect to a broad and diverse public.
Operational Excellence:
Create a healthy and durable institution.
All staff at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art lead through a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, both within the Museum and with the communities that we serve.
Salary and titles will be assigned commensurate to the successful candidates’ education and experience. An attractive compensation package will be offered to the successful candidate(s).