WordPress Engineer Responsibilities and Hacks

As an on-call WordPress engineer, you may be called upon to work on a wide range of projects whenever a problem in the code arises. Proper website development is no easy feat and requires ongoing maintenance and improvement. Sometimes you'll be asked to work on specific features or enhancements, while other times you may be troubleshooting an issue or helping to develop a new plugin. In this article, we'll take a look at some of the things you can expect as an on-call WordPress engineer, as well as share some tips and tricks for making the most of your time.

What Is an On-Call Rotation in a WordPress Development Agency?

In a WordPress development agency, an on-call rotation is a system whereby each member of the team takes turns being “on call” to handle any urgent issues that may arise outside of normal working hours. This could be anything from a plugin compatibility issue to a server outage. Having an on-call engineer at all times ensures that someone is always available to deal with any pressing issues, no matter what time of day or night it may be.

As an on-call WordPress engineer, your job is to triage and resolve any urgent issues as quickly as possible. This means having a good understanding of the codebase and being able to identify and fix problems quickly. In some cases, you may need to escalate the issue to another member of the team or get in touch with the client directly.

What Does an On-Call WordPress Engineer Do:

Expectations vs. Reality

An on-call WordPress engineer is responsible for handling website emergencies and supporting users who experience issues. They are also responsible for developing and implementing fixes for websites that may be experiencing problems. On-call engineers must be able to work quickly under pressure and have a deep understanding of the WordPress platform. Many people in the WordPress community think of themselves as "on-call" WordPress engineers. So, what does this really mean day-to-day? And what are the expectations vs. reality? Let's take a closer look.

Responsibilities You Expect as an On-Call WordPress Engineer

Usually, before you are assigned on rotation, you get a standard overview of what your duties will be. These tasks include:

• Troubleshooting WordPress website issues:  You will be the go-to person for solving any WordPress website issues that come up. This could be anything from a plugin conflict to a database error. You must be able to quickly identify the problem and implement a fix.
• Working on enhancements and new features: This could involve anything from developing a new plugin to adding custom code to a website.
• Providing support to clients: In some cases, you may need to provide direct support to clients. This could involve answering questions about the WordPress platform or helping them troubleshoot an issue.
• On-call schedule: You will be expected to adhere to a strict on-call schedule. This means being available at all times in case an issue arises. Bear in mind that depending on the company, on-call rotations may either be planned well ahead to ensure fair treatment or on a week-by-week basis. Before you volunteer to become an on-call engineer instead of doing office hours, try to learn how decisions are made.
• Analyzing log files:  In some cases, you may need to analyze log files to identify the source of a problem. This requires a good understanding of server administration and website development.
• Updating documentation: As an on-call WordPress engineer, you will be expected to keep all documentation up to date. This includes anything from updating the wiki to adding new troubleshooting steps to the company’s support manual.
• Keeping up to date on WordPress news and developments: As an on-call WordPress engineer, you will be expected to keep up to date with all the latest news and developments in the WordPress community. This includes reading blogs, attending WordCamps, and participating in online forums.

The Reality of Being an On-Call Engineer.

Being an on-call WordPress engineer is not as glamorous as it may seem. In reality, most of your time will be spent dealing with mundane tasks such as responding to support tickets and updating documentation. And while you are expected to keep up to date with all the latest news and developments in the WordPress community, in reality, you probably won’t have time for anything other than the basics.

Don’t get me wrong, being an on-call WordPress engineer can be a rewarding experience. It’s a great way to gain more knowledge of the WordPress platform and learn about new features and developments as they happen. However, it’s important to manage your expectations and brace yourself for the reality of the job.

Be prepared to have your laptop at all times:  As an on-call WordPress engineer, you will need to have your laptop with you at all times. This means carrying it around with you everywhere you go, even if you’re just going to the grocery store. If you decide to take another, smaller device with you, make sure it has tethering capabilities.

Work odd hours:  As an on-call WordPress engineer, you will need to be available at all times, even if that means working in the middle of the night. Be prepared for late nights and early mornings.

Accept That You'd Have To Research Stuff Yourself: In some cases, you may need to find out how to fix an issue without any handholding. This could involve anything from trying to find a solution to a bug that you’ve never encountered before to figuring out how to properly configure a server. Be prepared to spend a lot of time Googling things.

Documentation is key: As an on-call WordPress engineer, you will be expected to keep all documentation up to date. This includes anything from updating the wiki to adding new troubleshooting steps to the company’s support manual.

Many alerts will be insignificant:  A large part of being an on-call WordPress engineer is dealing with alerts. And while some of these alerts will be critical and require your immediate attention, many of them will be insignificant and can be ignored. The key is to learn how to distinguish between the two.

You won’t always have time for preventative maintenance:  As an on-call WordPress engineer, you will be so busy dealing with issues as they arise that you won’t always have time for preventative maintenance. This means that problems will inevitably slip through the cracks. Be prepared to deal with the consequences of this.

You will make mistakes:  If you are someone who throws a tantrum every time you make a mistake, then being an engineer on rotation may be too stressful for you. When you have to fix a problem you may not be familiar with on the spot, mistakes are inevitable and totally normal. The key is to learn from them and seek guidance early on.

Expect irregular sleeping patterns: One of the most challenging things about being an on-call WordPress engineer is dealing with irregular sleeping patterns. When you’re on call, you can’t just go to bed and sleep for eight hours straight. You need to be prepared for the possibility of getting paged in the middle of the night.

Increased stress (at least in the beginning):  As an on-call WordPress engineer, you will be under a lot of pressure to perform. This can be stressful, especially in the beginning when you’re still getting used to the job. Be prepared for this and try to find ways to cope with the stress.

Tips and Tricks for Being an Effective On-Call WordPress Engineer

There are a few things you can do to make sure you're as effective as possible when on call. First and foremost, it's important to have a good understanding of the codebase. This will enable you to quickly identify and fix problems when they arise. Second, it's helpful to set up some sort of system for managing alerts. This could be as simple as using a dedicated Slack channel or setting up email filters. Finally, don't forget to document any issues you encounter and share any lessons you learn with the team.

Here are some tips to be a successful on-call WordPress engineer:

• Be proactive:

In order to be able to complete emergency tasks smoothly, you need to be proactive in your approach to problem-solving. This means being quick to identify issues and investigate them thoroughly. Rather than simply waiting for an issue to be reported, you should actively look for ways to improve the codebase and prevent problems from occurring in the first place.

• Be responsive:

When an issue does arise, it's important to be responsive and take care of it as quickly as possible. This means being available at all times and being quick to respond to any alerts that come in. In some cases, you may need to work with the client directly to resolve the issue.

• Be organized:

It's important to be organized when on call. This means having a good understanding of the codebase and being able to quickly find and fix problems. It also means keeping track of any issues you encounter and sharing any lessons you learn with the team.

• Be flexible:

Finally, it's important to be flexible when on call. This means being willing to work odd hours and being prepared to deal with any unexpected problems that may arise.

Bottom Line

Being an on-call WordPress engineer can be a daunting task, but with the right preparation and mindset, it can also be a very rewarding experience. By knowing what to expect and following some simple tips and tricks, you can make sure that you are always prepared for whatever comes your way.