Senior-Level Backend PHP Developer

The successful candidate will take ownership of complex back-end solutions, contribute to architectural decisions, and mentor other developers while working across the full development lifecycle in collaboration with front-end developers, product teams, and QA to deliver robust and efficient web applications.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, development, and maintenance of scalable back-end services and RESTful APIs using modern PHP frameworks (Laravel or similar)
• Architect robust, secure, and high-performance back-end systems aligned to best practices
• Collaborate with front-end developers to ensure seamless system integrations across the full stack
• Build clean, maintainable, and well-tested code aligned to coding standards
• Design, manage, and optimise MySQL databases, including schema design, migrations, and query performance tuning
• Troubleshoot, debug, and resolve complex application and system issues across environments
• Integrate third-party APIs and external data services
• Conduct code reviews and mentor mid-level and junior developers
• Support CI/CD processes and work closely with DevOps to ensure smooth deployments
• Identify performance bottlenecks and implement scalable, efficient solutions
• Contribute to architectural planning, technical strategy, and engineering best practices

Requirements:

• 6+ years professional experience in PHP development
• Strong understanding of object-oriented programming (OOP) and MVC architecture
• Extensive experience with Laravel or similar modern PHP frameworks
• Advanced MySQL skills, including query optimisation and database design
• Experience working with Git and collaborative version control workflows
• Extensive experience building and consuming RESTful APIs (JSON/XML)
• Strong understanding of unit and feature testing in PHP
• Proven experience mentoring developers and conducting code reviews
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work independently and within a team
• Experience working with caching and messaging tools, such as Redis or RabbitMQ
• Exposure to Docker or containerised environments
• Basic understanding of front-end technologies, such as Vue.js or React
• Exposure to CI/CD pipelines and automated deployments
• Experience working with secure data or financial integrations (advantageous)
• Experience with cloud platforms, such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud (advantageous)

Technical & Professional Skills:

• Advanced PHP development (Laravel or equivalent frameworks)
• Strong SQL and database optimisation skills
• Experience with RESTful API development and integration
• Knowledge of software design principles and clean architecture
• Understanding of caching strategies and asynchronous processing
• Exposure to cloud and container environments
• Familiarity with modern DevOps practices and deployment pipelines
• Strong debugging and performance optimisation capabilities
• Experience with software architecture and design patterns

Preferred Qualifications:

• Tertiary qualification in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field
• Relevant PHP or software development certifications (advantageous)
• Experience working in a fast-paced, Agile development environment

Key Competencies:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• High attention to detail and commitment to code quality
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a dynamic environment
• Proactive, solution-driven mindset
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and knowledge-sharing approach
• Passion for continuous learning and technical improvement

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