About the position
Our client is looking for a Senior-Level Back-End PHP Developer to join their engineering team. This role is suited to a highly experienced, detail-oriented, and technically strong Developer with extensive PHP expertise and a passion for designing scalable, high-quality back-end systems.
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 [URL Removed] 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
For more exciting IT vacancies, visit:
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We also specialise in recruiting for:
- Software Developers (Back-End, Front-End, Full Stack)
- Mobile Developers
- Business & Systems Analysts
- BI & SQL Experts
- UI/UX Professionals
- Data Scientists & Data Analysts
- Big Data Professionals
- Cloud Experts
- Infrastructure Specialists
- DevOps & SecOps Engineers
- Cybersecurity Specialists
- SEO / Digital Designers
Please note: If you have not received feedback within two weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful. Your profile will remain in our database for future opportunities.
For more information, contact:
Reinie Du Preez
Senior Specialist Recruitment Consultant
[Email Address Removed]
Desired Skills:
- PHP Developer
- Backend PHP Developer
- Laravel
