Backend Technical Lead - Wagtail CMS

About the role

Black Canyon Consulting (BCC) is currently searching for a Backend Technical Lead with strong experience in Wagtail CMS, Django/Python, GraphQL APIs, Headless CMS architecture, and multisite implementation. This role will lead the technical design, development, adoption, and delivery of scalable Wagtail CMS solution for NCBI’s public-facing web platforms.

BCC is an exciting growth oriented company, dedicated to providing mission critical scientific and technical services to the Federal Government. We have a distinguished history of supporting government agencies. If you enjoy being a part of a high performing, professional service and technology focused organization, please apply today! This opportunity is full-time with BCC and it is on-site in Bethesda/Rockville, Maryland.

Duties and Responsibilities:

- Lead architecture and implementation of Wagtail CMS solutions using Django and Python.

- Drive the adoption of Wagtail CMS at NCBI, including technical strategy, implementation guidance, standards, documentation, and best practices.

- Design and support headless CMS capabilities for modern frontend applications.

- Oversee GraphQL API development for structured content delivery.

- Lead multisite Wagtail setup for multiple websites, content areas, and publishing workflows.

- Define content models, StreamField structures, snippets, permissions, workflows, and admin customizations.

- Establish coding standards, architecture patterns, documentation, and review processes.

- Mentor developers and provide technical guidance across CMS and backend work.

- Collaborate with frontend, UX, content, product, DevOps, and stakeholder teams.

- Ensure solutions are secure, scalable, accessible, maintainable, and performant.

- Support troubleshooting, testing, deployment, release planning, and production support.

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Requirements:

- Strong experience with Wagtail CMS, Django, and Python.

- Proven technical leadership experience on CMS or web platform projects.

- Hands-on experience with GraphQL APIs and headless CMS implementation.

- Experience with multisite Wagtail architecture.

- Experience supporting CMS adoption, governance, standards, and best practices across teams or organizations.

- Deep understanding of Wagtail content modeling, StreamField, snippets, workflows, permissions, preview, and admin customization.

- Experience with PostgreSQL, API design, caching, security, testing, Git, CI/CD, and deployment workflows.

- Strong communication, mentoring, documentation, and stakeholder collaboration skills

Qualifications

- BS in Computer Science

- 5+ years of Full stack Web applications development, using Wagtail CMS and Django.

- Experience implementing, extending, migrating or supporting adoption of a Content Management System across teams or products.