Backend developer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Resource Innovations is seeking a Magento Backend Developer to join our growing Customer Engagement team remotely. We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Magento Backend Developer with a strong background in E-Commerce, Adobe Commerce/Magento , and object-oriented programming to join our dynamic team. As a Magento Backend Developer you will enable the continued customization of our customer engagement platforms to meet the changing needs of our clients. With over 40 active platforms and more coming online, we're looking for a candidate with demonstrated expertise in Adobe Commerce/Magento, Linux, MariaDB, and Nginix, with the ability to apply critical thinking to solve unique challenges brought forth from our clients based on operating in a regulated environment.

Resource Innovations (RI) is a women-led energy transformation firm focused on impact. Building on our expertise in energy efficiency, we're constantly expanding our portfolio of clean energy solutions to guide utilities through increasingly complex, connected challenges. Load flexibility. Electrification. Carbon reduction. With every step, we're leading the charge to power change.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Architect and develop custom Magento modules, plugins, and extensions in accordance with best practices.
• Build and maintain RESTful and GraphQL APIs for front-end and third-party integrations.
• Conduct thorough code reviews and enforce coding standards across the backend team.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and resolve complex Magento performance and functionality issues.
• Design and optimize MariaDB schemas, queries, and indexing strategies for high-traffic eCommerce workloads.
• Manage and optimize application deployments on Linux servers running Nginx.
• Work within the Nexcess managed hosting environment, leveraging platform-specific tooling and support channels.
• Independently analyze feature requests and technical problems, outlining proposed approaches to the Development Lead before committing to implementation.
• Produce clear, accurate time estimates for tasks and projects; proactively flag scope risks.
• Participate in sprint planning, stand-ups, and retrospectives; keep tickets and documentation up to date.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with front-end developers, QA, and business stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• 5+ years of backend development experience, with at least 3 years focused on Magento 2 (Adobe Commerce).
• Proficient in PHP and the Magento 2 module development framework.
• Solid Python skills — able to write production-quality scripts and utilities.
• Strong command of object-oriented programming (OOP) principles: encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and design patterns (, Repository, Observer, Factory).
• Hands-on experience with MariaDB: schema design, query optimization, stored procedures.
• Proficiency with Linux server administration and Nginx configuration.
• Experience deploying and operating Magento on Nexcess or comparable managed Magento hosting.
• Familiarity with Git-based workflows (branching strategies, code review, CI/CD).
• Interest in sustainability and passionate about making a meaningful impact on the environment.

Preferred skills, education, and experience

• Adobe Commerce (Magento) Certified Developer credential
• Experience with Magento B2B module and complex catalog/pricing configurations
• Familiarity with PWA Studio or headless Magento architectures
• Exposure to containerization (Docker) and infrastructure-as-code tooling
• Background in eCommerce data migrations or ERP/PIM integrations
• Experience writing unit and integration tests with PHPUnit or Magento's testing framework

Benefits