Alaa Haddad
Drupal Architect | Senior Developer | Technical Lead
Austin, TX | |
Drupal.org Profile | LinkedIn | Portfolio
Professional Summary
Senior Drupal Architect and Full-Stack Developer with 20+ years of web development experience and 15+ years specializing in Drupal (versions 6-11). Proven expertise in enterprise architecture, custom module development, performance optimization, and leading development teams. Maintainer of 26+ contributed Drupal projects with thousands of active installations. Skilled in architecting scalable solutions, implementing complex integrations, and delivering high-performance websites for government agencies, enterprise clients, and small businesses.
Core Competencies
- Drupal Expertise: Architecture, Custom Module Development, Theme Development (Twig), Site Building, Performance Optimization, Migrations (D7→D8→D9→D10→D11)
- Backend Development: PHP 8.x, MySQL/PostgreSQL, REST/GraphQL APIs, Symfony Components, Dependency Injection, Service Containers
- Frontend Development: HTML5, CSS3/Sass, JavaScript (ES6+), Vue.js, React, jQuery, Responsive Design, WCAG Accessibility
- DevOps & Infrastructure: Git, Composer, Drush, Docker, CI/CD, Acquia Cloud, Pantheon, AWS, Varnish, Redis, Performance Tuning
- Leadership: Technical Team Leadership, Code Review, Architecture Planning, Mentoring, Client Communication, Project Estimation
Open Source Contributions
Active Drupal community contributor maintaining 26+ projects on Drupal.org:
Themes
- W3CSS Theme (d8w3css) - Responsive base theme using W3.CSS framework
- Solo Theme - Minimalist, performance-focused theme for content-heavy sites
- Amun - W3CSS sub-theme for business websites
- Amunet - W3CSS sub-theme optimized for blogs and portfolios
- Anhur - W3CSS sub-theme for corporate sites
Modules - Core Functionality
- W3CSS Paragraphs - Pre-configured paragraph bundles for rapid site building
- Paragraphs Bundles - Reusable paragraph configurations and templates
- PB Import - Import/export paragraph bundle configurations
- Solo Utilities - Helper functions and utilities for Solo theme
- Solo Copy Blocks - Block duplication and management tools
- Reference Blocked Users - User reference field with blocked user filtering
- Module Matrix - Visual module dependency management
- Selectify - Enhanced select field widgets with search functionality
- Utilikit - Collection of utility functions for developers
Modules - Performance & Caching
- Acquia Purge Varnish - Varnish cache purging for Acquia Cloud hosting
- Cloudflare Purge - Automated Cloudflare cache invalidation
Modules - Views Vanilla JavaScript (VVJS) Suite
Framework-agnostic, accessible UI components built with vanilla JavaScript:
- VVJA - Accordion - Accessible accordion/collapsible content
- VVJC - 3D Carousel - 3D rotating carousel with touch support
- VVJB - Basic Carousel - Lightweight, performant image carousel
- VVJF - 3D FlipBox - Interactive 3D card flip animations
- VVJH - Hero - Full-screen hero sections and banners
- VVJL - Lightbox - Accessible image and media lightbox
- VVJP - Parallax - Smooth parallax scrolling effects
- VVJR - Reveal - Content reveal animations on scroll
- VVJS - Slideshow - Full-featured slideshow with transitions
- VVJT - Tabs - Accessible tabbed content interfaces
Professional Experience
Lead Drupal Developer
Publicis Sapient (NIH Websites) | Remote | March 2021 – Present
- Lead front-end and back-end development teams for National Institutes of Health (NIH) public-facing and internal websites serving millions of users
- Architected and executed Drupal 9 to Drupal 10 core upgrades across multiple enterprise-scale government websites with zero downtime
- Modernized UI/UX design system, redesigning page layouts, creating reusable component blocks, and implementing accessibility improvements achieving WCAG 2.1 AA compliance
- Developed custom modules, security patches, and Drupal hook implementations for specialized NIH content workflows and data handling requirements
- Established coding standards, conducted code reviews, and mentored junior developers in Drupal best practices
- Optimized site performance achieving 90+ Lighthouse scores through strategic caching, database query optimization, and asset optimization
- Managed deployment pipelines, configuration management, and multi-environment workflows using Git, Composer, and CI/CD automation
Owner & Principal Consultant
Flash Web Center, LLC | Austin, TX | January 2008 – Present
- Provide Drupal architecture, development, theming, and consulting services to 100+ clients across diverse industries
- Architect and develop custom Drupal solutions from initial planning through deployment and ongoing maintenance
- Specialize in Drupal 7/8/9/10/11 site building, custom module development, advanced theming, and complex migrations
- Design and implement e-commerce solutions using Drupal Commerce with payment gateway integrations and custom workflows
- Create and maintain 27+ open-source Drupal contributed projects used by thousands of websites globally
- Perform website performance audits and optimization, achieving 50-300% speed improvements through caching strategies, code optimization, and infrastructure tuning
- Provide ongoing Drupal maintenance, security updates, and technical support ensuring 99.9% uptime for client websites
- Develop WordPress/WooCommerce solutions when project requirements favor that platform
Full Stack Drupal Developer
Signature Consultants | Dallas, TX | August 2020 – March 2021
- Updated Drupal core (8 and 9) for enterprise client websites while maintaining backward compatibility with custom modules
- Architected and developed headless/decoupled Drupal implementations using Vue.js for frontend, exposing Drupal as a content API
- Created custom Drupal modules implementing complex business logic, third-party integrations, and custom content workflows
- Maintained and upgraded contributed modules, creating patches when necessary and contributing fixes back to Drupal.org
- Troubleshot production issues, optimized database queries, and resolved performance bottlenecks under tight deadlines
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams using Agile methodologies and Git-based workflows
Senior Drupal Developer/Themer/Architect
Hart Energy | Houston, TX | August 2013 – October 2019
- Led architectural planning and execution of converting five legacy PHP subscription websites to Drupal 7, consolidating into unified Drupal 8 platform
- Architected enterprise-scale multi-site Drupal infrastructure supporting 50,000+ subscribers and 100,000+ monthly visitors
- Designed and implemented custom subscription management system with complex access controls, paywall logic, and payment processing
- Developed custom themes using Twig templating, responsive design principles, and accessibility best practices
- Created 15+ custom modules for specialized business requirements including content syndication, user management, and reporting
- Managed deployments on Acquia Cloud and Pantheon hosting platforms, establishing automated deployment pipelines and configuration management workflows
- Optimized site performance using Varnish caching, Redis, database tuning, and New Relic monitoring, reducing page load times by 60%
- Utilized Drush and Git for efficient development workflows, automated deployments, and configuration synchronization
- Administered MySQL databases, performing query optimization, indexing strategies, and backup procedures
- Troubleshot production issues using New Relic APM, identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks in modules, themes, and caching layers
Drupal Architect/Themer/Developer
Patient Conversation Media | Austin, TX | September 2011 – October 2012
- Led complete Drupal 6/7 development lifecycle for four health and wellness websites targeting consumer audiences
- Architected site structure, content types, taxonomies, views, and custom functionality for optimal content management and user experience
- Developed custom themes implementing responsive design, cross-browser compatibility, and mobile-first approaches
- Created custom modules for specialized health content workflows, user engagement features, and third-party API integrations
- Implemented advanced Views configurations for content displays, filtering, and dynamic page generation
- Managed version control with Git and utilized Drush for efficient command-line site management
- Performed MySQL database administration, optimization, and custom query development
- Resolved complex technical challenges related to module conflicts, caching issues, and performance optimization
Senior Web Developer/Designer
Image Microsystems | Austin, TX | February 2010 – October 2010
- Built responsive front-end interfaces for .NET enterprise inventory management application used across multiple business units
- Developed HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and jQuery components integrated with C# and VB.NET backend in Visual Studio 2008
- Created marketing materials, designed promotional campaigns, and provided strategic marketing recommendations
- Maintained and enhanced company website, improving user experience and implementing new features
Previous Experience
Flash Developer | Ignite! Learning Inc | Austin, TX | January 2010 – February 2010
- Developed interactive educational features for elementary school learning application using ActionScript 2.0
Web Designer & Developer | Aplus Web Image | Overland Park, KS | September 2007 – March 2009
- Managed 3,000+ active client websites, processing 20-25 daily update requests with 24-hour turnaround
- Designed and developed 10-15 custom website templates daily using HTML, CSS, Flash, and Adobe Creative Suite
- Customized e-commerce stores on osCommerce, Zen Cart, and Pinnacle Cart platforms
- Provided exceptional customer service, technical support, and consultation to diverse client base
Technical Skills
Drupal
Drupal 6/7/8/9/10/11 • Site Building • Custom Module Development • Theme Development (Twig) • Views • Paragraphs • Configuration Management • Migrations • Drush • Composer • Multisite Architecture • Drupal Commerce • Entity API • Plugin System • Service Container • Dependency Injection • Hooks & Events • Performance Optimization
Backend Development
PHP 8.x/7.x • MySQL • PostgreSQL • RESTful APIs • GraphQL • Symfony Components • Object-Oriented Programming • Design Patterns • MVC Architecture • Debugging & Profiling
Frontend Development
HTML5 • CSS3 • Sass/SCSS • JavaScript (ES6+) • Vue.js • React • jQuery • Twig Templating • Responsive Design • Mobile-First Design • WCAG 2.1 Accessibility • Cross-Browser Compatibility • Progressive Web Apps
DevOps & Tools
Git • GitHub • Bitbucket • Docker • CI/CD Pipelines • Acquia Cloud • Pantheon • AWS • Linux/Ubuntu • Apache • Nginx • Varnish • Redis • Memcached • New Relic • Webpack • Gulp
Design & Creative
Adobe Photoshop • Illustrator • Fireworks • InDesign • Figma • Sketch • UI/UX Design Principles • Wireframing • Prototyping
Additional Technologies
WordPress • WooCommerce • Visual Studio • ASP.NET • C# • VB.NET • ActionScript • XML • AJAX • JSON • API Integration
Education & Professional Development
- Bachelor of Arts, Economics & Political Science | Cairo University, Egypt | 1996
Professional Certifications & Training
- Visual Basic 2005 Programming | Johnson County Community College | 2007
- ASP.NET Advanced Development | Johnson County Community College | 2007
- ASP.NET Fundamentals | Johnson County Community College | 2007
- XML Development & Standards | Johnson County Community College | 2006
- JavaScript Programming | Johnson County Community College | 2006
- Flash Development (ActionScript) | Johnson County Community College | 2006
- Flash Design & Media Development | Johnson County Community College | 2006
- Dreamweaver Website Development | Johnson County Community College | 2006
- Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) | Johnson County Community College | 2006
- HTML & Web Page Design | Johnson County Community College | 2006
Professional Websites
- AlaaHaddad.com - Personal portfolio and blog
- FlashWebCenter.com - Business website and client showcase
- WebDesignerInAustin.com - Local services and case studies
- DrupalCare.com - Drupal maintenance services
- UnitedStarsOfAmerica.com - Featured client project
Professional Attributes
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with attention to detail
- Excellent communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences
- Proven ability to lead projects, manage timelines, and deliver results
- Self-motivated with ability to work independently or as collaborative team member
- Committed to continuous learning and staying current with emerging technologies
- Bilingual: Fluent in English and Arabic
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