What I do
I’m a software engineer focused on building, launching, and maintaining accessible, scalable web systems.
At the University of Maryland, I work across CMS-driven platforms, design systems, and release workflows — owning production rollouts for four systems and supporting component development, accessibility QA, and integrations that power high-traffic university websites.
What I've done
I lead front-end, CMS, and release work for public university web systems, including site launches, content migrations, accessibility validation, and design-system implementation.
Before moving into engineering, I ran a small business for 10 years, which shaped how I approach ownership, stakeholder needs, and durable systems.
In my current role, I’ve contributed to:
- Design system development and component QA
- CMS integrations and multi-site content systems (Craft CMS)
- Accessibility validation and WCAG compliance across components and templates
- Launch and QA of production university websites
What I know
Current Work
- Maintaining and releasing shared design system updates across university web platforms
- Owning release rollouts across four systems for Shellcraft and content model updates
- Supporting CMS integrations and accessibility QA for university web platforms
- Contributing to scalable component patterns used across multiple sites
Why you should hire me
I focus on building systems that hold up in real-world use — not just individual features.
In my work, that means thinking through how components scale across sites, how content authors and developers actually use them, and how accessibility is maintained beyond initial implementation. I bring a practical, detail-oriented approach that helps teams ship reliable, usable systems.
What you should know about me
Before becoming a software engineer, I built and ran a client-facing business for 10 years. That experience still shapes how I work: I care about reliable systems, clear communication, stakeholder needs, and the details that make tools usable in real life.
Contact
alia.pirruccello@gmail.com
Selected Work
-
University of Maryland Alumni Association
Public Alumni Association website supporting events, alumni stories, benefits, membership, and engagement workflows for a large university audience, averaging around 56K visitors per month this calendar year. I engineered the CMS templates, design-system integration, and accessibility validation through production launch.
- Migration, CMS template implementation, and content validation across key site sections
- Design system integration across reusable page patterns
- Accessibility QA across responsive layouts and interactive content
- Engineered and launched a high-visibility public university site
-
University of Maryland Right Now
Led development and production launch of a Craft CMS news platform for university media and communications.
- Migration, CMS template implementation, and design system integration
- API-driven content integration and validation
- Template and component validation across breakpoints
- Owned implementation, QA, and production launch
-
Forward Campaign Website
Served as lead developer for the production launch of a large-scale campaign website supporting university fundraising and engagement.
- CMS content and structure validation
- Template and component validation across breakpoints
- Design system integration and consistency across CMS templates
- Owned accessibility QA and issue tracking (WCAG 2.1/2.2 and VoiceOver)
-
University of Maryland Design System & Storybook
Built and launched the Storybook environment for UMD’s design system, supporting reusable, accessible components across multiple sites.
- Scalable UI patterns
- Developer and author workflows
- Accessibility QA (WCAG 2.1/2.2)
Owned implementation of a shared system used across multiple university platforms.
-
Release Engineering Across UMD Web Systems
Owned release rollouts across four production CMS systems spanning 12 university websites, coordinating Shellcraft and content model updates from validation through launch.
- Owned releases for Marketing System, OMC System, University Relations System, and Alumni System
- Personally launched all 12 sites across those systems
- Validated Shellcraft and content model updates across environments
- Coordinated production readiness, QA, and deployment workflows
Earlier Projects
-
Rose+Co
A fullstack application for hairstylists and salons to manage client information, including color formulas, notes, and images.
- Create and manage client records
- Track historical data for repeat services
- Workflow optimization for small businesses
-
Make a Plan to Vote
An interactive app designed to help users prepare for elections by organizing key steps and resources.
- Customizable task lists
- Interactive progress tracking
- Resource links for voter readiness