Available for Hire

Joe Manson

Senior Full Stack Developer, Leader, and Thoughtful AI Collaborator

I build accessible, maintainable web experiences and help teams focus on the right questions. AI helps me move faster, but clear thinking, strong communication, and sound technical judgment will always drive the work.

Joe Manson portrait illustration
About

Where
technical depth
meets
clear communication

For more than 20 years, I’ve helped teams turn complex ideas into useful digital products through strong engineering, steady leadership, and clear communication.

My Journey

My work has spanned full-stack development, technical architecture, people management, and mentoring. Across all of it, I’ve been most energized by helping teams make good decisions, improve how they build, and ship products that genuinely helps people.

I’m still motivated by learning, but I care less about chasing every new tool for its own sake and more about understanding which tools actually improve the work. That mindset keeps me focused on accessibility, maintainability, and products people can trust.

My Approach

I believe the best technical work starts with the right questions. That means understanding the real problem, clarifying constraints, and making sure everyone involved shares the same picture of success before the work speeds up.

AI is part of how I work today, but not as a substitute for judgment. I use it to explore options, accelerate execution, and pressure-test ideas while staying accountable for the architecture, the communication, and the quality of the outcome.

Skills & Expertise

A blend of deep technical knowledge and proven leadership capabilities honed over 20+ years.

Technical Skills

PHPHTMLCSS/SCSSJavaScriptWordPressDrupalWebpackLaravelReactTypeScriptAI IntegrationCopilotCursorClaudeSQLGitDockerLandoDDEVGTM/GA4HubSpotMarketoVWOSalesforceAdobe ExperienceWCAGUXREST APIPHPStorm

Leadership & Soft Skills

Team LeadershipPeople ManagementMentoring & CoachingProject LeadershipProject GovernanceCross-Functional CollaborationStakeholder CommunicationPerformance ManagementStrategic Planning InputProcess ImprovementResource Capacity PlanningAI Task Force LeadershipInternal Training & WorkshopsTranslating Technical ConceptsSolution Strategizing

Featured Projects

Showcasing a sample of my work in CMS development and web applications

RAD Campaign AI Poll screenshot Lead Developer

RAD Campaign AI Poll : Interactive Drupal Microsite

Built an interactive Drupal microsite for nationally representative AI polling data, with charts, demographic compare, and curated findings across two independent surveys. Designed a multi-dataset architecture (catalog/API, Explore, Compare) so Impact & Election Concerns and Usage & Online Harm can live side by side without blurring samples, using Chart.js visualizations, recipe-driven editorial charts, and an editor UX that keeps content maintainable as new polls arrive.

DrupalPHPJavaScriptChart.jsCSS/SCSSUXData VisualizationEditorial CMS
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RARE Foundation screenshot Main Developer

RARE Foundation : Full Site Redesign

One of the main developers on the full redesign and launch of rareadvocates.org, migrating a dense web of interconnected custom post types (programs, issues, actions, and more) into a cohesive WordPress experience for advocacy storytelling and editorial workflows.

WordPressPHPCSS/SCSSJavaScriptUXNonprofitData MigrationCustom Post Types
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Bezos Family Foundation screenshot Lead Developer

Bezos Family Foundation : Foundation Website

Built and evolved the Bezos Family Foundation marketing site on WordPress, supporting grantmaking storytelling, program highlights, and resources that communicate the foundation's focus on the science of learning and young people's potential.

WordPressPHPCSS/SCSSJavaScriptUXNonprofit
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Bezos Scholars Program screenshot Lead Developer

Bezos Scholars Program : Leadership & Community Platform

Led the technical migration of the Bezos Scholars Program site from Contentful to WordPress for the Bezos Family Foundation through custom theme development, content and asset migration, and preserving eligibility/application flows and scholar storytelling on the new CMS.

WordPressPHPCSS/SCSSJavaScriptUXNonprofit
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IRA Financial Group screenshot Lead Developer

IRA Financial Group : Unified Platform

Led the full redesign and consolidation of three existing financial websites into a single, cohesive WordPress platform. Focused on improved content editing UX and streamlined performance.

WordPressPHPCSS/SCSSJavaScriptUXSite Consolidation
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AboutLawsuits.com screenshot Lead Developer

AboutLawsuits.com : Large-Scale Replatform

Managed the 1:1 replatform of AboutLawsuits.com to a custom WordPress theme, successfully migrating over 20,000+ posts while ensuring content integrity and SEO continuity.

WordPressPHPCSS/SCSSJavaScriptUXData MigrationSEOHigh-Traffic
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Sonatype screenshot Lead Developer

Sonatype : HubSpot CMS Development

Led the transformation of Sonatype's HubSpot CMS website, implementing dynamic features and modular content architecture.

HubSpot CMSCSS/SCSSJavaScriptUXHUBLHubDBContent Management
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Climb Channel Solutions screenshot Lead Developer

Climb Channel Solutions : Global Multisite

Architected and implemented a global WordPress multisite for Climb Channel Solutions, catering to UK, Ireland, US, EU, and Canadian markets.

WordPress MultisitePHPCSS/SCSSJavaScriptUXInternationalizationGlobal
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Curious about the code behind these projects?

View code examples

Leadership Experience

Technical leadership and delivery, from mentoring teams to shipping measurable outcomes.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

Managed and mentored a team of three direct reports with code reviews, performance discussions, and career pathing. Led development projects from concept to client delivery as project lead developer.

Process Optimization & AI Integration

Spearheaded AI-assisted workflows with Copilot, Cursor, and Claude as an inaugural AI Task Force member, cutting repetitive coding by an estimated 80%. Architected a standardized WordPress theme framework that reduced full redesign time by 30% and landing page builds by up to 60%.

Performance & Growth Engineering

Partnered with SEO, analytics, and paid media to implement A/B testing (VWO), GA4/GTM instrumentation, and marketing automation (HubSpot, Salesforce), tying technical delivery to landing-page optimization and measurable growth outcomes.

Accessibility & Standards Champion

Championed and led the implementation of WCAG 2.1 accessibility guidelines, ensuring websites exceeded compliance standards for usability, color contrast, and navigation.

Client-Facing Technical Leadership

Served as the primary technical liaison for clients, translating complex technical concepts into actionable solutions and strengthening client relationships through clear communication and trust.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Fostered a collaborative team environment by promoting knowledge sharing and joint debugging. Worked closely with marketing, design, and sales teams to deliver cohesive technical solutions.

Full-Stack & CMS Development

Lead full-stack builds and ongoing maintenance across WordPress and Drupal, including custom themes, features, and integrations. Ship through Lando and DDEV within CI workflows while owning security, performance, and environment reliability.

Testimonials

What colleagues and clients say about my work and leadership

I worked with Joe for six years and can say he's one of the most well-rounded developers I've encountered. Joe excels at every stage of the development lifecycle—from translating client requirements into actionable plans to delivering clean, maintainable code through QA and launch. His full stack technical skills are comprehensive, but what sets him apart is his ability to communicate complex concepts clearly to stakeholders while mentoring team members.

Head of Solution Engineering - Level AI, Level Agency | CTO, WebMechanix

I had the pleasure of working closely with Joe for six years, during which he consistently proved himself to be an outstanding developer and team member. He writes clean, maintainable code, eagerly collaborates on complex challenges, and brings forward-thinking solutions through his exploration of cutting-edge AI.

Joe stood out for his thoughtful approach—he regularly sought feedback from peers who worked closely with his direct reports, demonstrating a strong commitment to fairness and growth. He is a highly skilled WordPress developer with a real talent for tackling complex challenges and finding efficient, effective solutions.

Beyond just knowing his stuff when it comes to development, he's always thinking ahead and anticipating what's needed before anyone even asks. He explains things in a way that just makes sense. It honestly feels like you're just chatting over coffee. If it were up to me, I'd have him on every web project.

Joe consistently demonstrated deep knowledge of WordPress development while showing remarkable patience in helping me work through complex problems and debug challenging issues. He combines strong technical skills with excellent people management abilities, making him both a valuable developer and natural leader.

Joe is not only a highly skilled developer but also someone who truly elevates those around him. He's the kind of person who's always eager to grow—constantly diving into tech newsletters and exploring new tools to sharpen his skills and deliver the best possible product for clients.

No matter the complexity of the project, Joe was always willing to dive in and help, bringing a steady, solutions-oriented mindset to every challenge. Joe's technical skills are top-tier, but just as importantly, he's a true partner—dependable, communicative, and always focused on delivering the best outcome.

Joe has always been one of my favorite developers to work with because of his creative problem solving. He has a strong sense of visualizing the desired end state and working backwards to identify all the pieces of the puzzle. He approaches every project with curiosity, patience, and persistence.

Joe is an innovator and expert in his field. Over the past three years, he has been a valuable mentor and manager, playing a key role in my professional growth. He consistently improves codebases and processes, bringing lasting impact to any team he joins.

I've worked with Joe Manson for a number of years and can personally attest to his skills, expertise, professionalism, creativity, people skills, candor, patience, confidence. Long story short, a proverbial unicorn.

Joe was the lead developer for our website rebrand. He made the design come to life. He made sure every module was easy to use and that we were fully trained. I felt supported 100% throughout the process. I would highly recommend Joe to anyone looking for a solid web developer.

Let's build Something
Remarkable.

If you need a senior partner to help shape the problem, align the team, and build the right thing, I'd love to talk.

Start A Conversation

The best projects start with thoughtful questions, clear goals, and honest collaboration. If that sounds like your kind of work, reach out.

Connect With Me

Resume

Joe Manson

Technical Leader and Senior Full Stack Developer with over 20 years of experience in agency environments, specializing in scaling engineering rigor and connecting digital experience work to performance outcomes. Proven expertise in optimizing processes, delivering scalable product solutions, managing technical backlogs, and translating business requirements into execution. Adept at mentoring developers, fostering collaboration, and translating complex technical concepts for diverse stakeholders.

Education

University of Maryland College Park

Bachelor of Arts in Art Studio — Focus in Graphic Design, 2003

Physics major 1998 – 2001

Department Leadership & Operations

People Management: Mentoring & Coaching, Performance Management, Direct Report Oversight (3+), Team Career Pathing, Conflict Resolution
Operations: Process Improvement, Strategic Planning Input, Resource Capacity Planning, Vendor & Partner Management, Presales Support
Project Governance: Project Lead Developer, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Stakeholder Communication, Agile/Scrum, Technical Documentation Standards, QA & Launch Checkpoint Protocols
Innovation: AI Workflow Integration (Copilot, Cursor, Claude), AI Task Force Leadership, Internal Training & Workshops

Technical Architecture & Systems

Systems Architecture: REST API Design & Integration, Modular Theme Framework Development, Database Schema Design (SQL), Headless and Composable Architectures
Standards & Compliance: WCAG Accessibility Strategy, UX Best Practices, Website Security & Maintenance, Malware Removal, GDPR Technical Compliance
Platforms: WordPress (Custom Themes/Plugins), Drupal, HubSpot, Salesforce, Marketo, Adobe Experience
Frontend / Backend: JavaScript, TypeScript, React, CSS/SCSS, HTML, TailwindCSS, Bootstrap, Webpack, PHP, Laravel
DevOps & Environment: Docker, Lando, DDEV, Git, CI/CD Pipeline Awareness, Server Infrastructure (WP Engine, Pantheon, others)
Actively Learning: Next.js, MCPs, AI Automations

Performance & Growth Engineering

Testing & Optimization: VWO, A/B & Multivariate Testing, Landing Page Optimization (LPO)
Data & Analytics: GA4, GTM, Server-Side Tracking, Custom Event Schema Design, Data Layer Implementation
Growth Tech: SEO Technical Auditing (Schema.org, Core Web Vitals), Marketing Automation Integration, Dynamic Content Personalization

Experience

Rad Campaign July 2025 – Present

Senior Web Developer

  • Champion the adoption of AI-assisted coding environments within the team, reducing boilerplate development time and allowing for a greater focus on complex technical architecture
  • Transform direct client asks into scalable technical solutions by identifying underlying goals and applying modern web standards to meet them
  • Develop and customize themes and features for client websites on WordPress and Drupal platforms
  • Implement client-requested feature additions and provide ongoing technical support
  • Utilize local development environments like Lando and DDEV within a continuous integration (CI) lifecycle to build, test, and deploy features
Level Agency (WebMechanix, LLC acquired by Level Agency May 2024) January 2019 – May 2025

Full Stack Developer III (January 2025 – May 2025) • Senior Web Developer II (June 2023 – January 2025) • Senior Web Developer (January 2019 – June 2023)

  • Architected, roadmapped, and developed a standardized WordPress theme framework, significantly reducing development time by 30% for full redesign sites and 60% for landing pages, improving project delivery speed and consistency
  • Spearheaded the implementation of AI tools (Copilot via VSCode and PHPStorm) across the development team, resulting in an estimated 80% reduction in repetitive coding tasks and increased developer efficiency. Inaugural member of the WebMechanix AI Task Force
  • Led key development projects from conception to implementation, overseeing technical execution and serving as the primary technical point of contact for clients and internal teams
  • Managed a team of three direct reports, providing mentorship, code reviews, conducting performance discussions, and fostering professional growth within the development team
  • Acted as a primary client-facing technical liaison, effectively translating complex technical concepts into clear, actionable insights and solutions, strengthening client relationships and trust
  • Worked daily with PHP, CSS/SCSS, JS, HTML on feature requests, full site builds, bug fixes, and performance optimizations for websites and plugins, primarily in WordPress and HubSpot
  • Integration and customization of critical marketing platforms including HubSpot, Marketo, and Salesforce, enabling advanced marketing automation and lead generation capabilities
  • Collaborated closely with cross-functional teams (marketing, design, sales) and clients to strategize and implement technical solutions, empowering stakeholders with technical understanding
  • Championed and led the implementation of WCAG 2.1 accessibility guidelines, ensuring compliance and exceeding standards for key usability metrics including color contrast, navigation, and overall user experience
  • Fostered a collaborative team environment, promoting continuous knowledge sharing, joint debugging efforts, and mutual support among team members
Liquified Creative, LLC August 2015 – January 2019

Senior Web Developer

  • Owned the product lifecycle for custom WordPress builds, managing client requirements and defining technical scope
  • Implemented Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) on client projects
  • Managed website security and maintenance environments, including malware removal and applying DevOps practices
NRL Federal Credit Union (Spectra Credit Union) November 2007 – June 2015

Senior Web Developer (November 2009 – June 2015) • Web Developer (November 2007 – November 2009)

  • Supervised a junior developer and a database administrator, overseeing their work and contributing to their technical development
  • Led the full-stack redesign and ongoing maintenance of the credit union's three primary websites, managing technical scope and implementation
  • Developed and maintained custom content management systems (CMS) using ASP.Net and MS SQL
  • Managed overall website security, performance, and server administration
Freelance Web Developer 2005 – 2012
  • Managed freelance web development projects from client consultation through design, development, and deployment
  • Focused on delivering functional and visually appealing websites based on client needs
  • Created integrated marketing materials across various digital and print formats