Senior Back-End Lead Developer (PHP)

Department: Technology Services
Location: [Onsite / Hybrid / Remote]
Experience Required: 7+ years in backend development (PHP-based systems)
Reports To: Head of Engineering / Technical Architect

Job Summary

The Senior Back-End Lead Developer (PHP) will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining robust server-side applications, APIs, and services that power scalable web platforms. This role requires strong technical proficiency in PHP frameworks (such as Laravel or Symfony), deep understanding of backend architecture, and proven leadership in guiding a development team toward delivering high-performance solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Lead the design, development, and optimization of backend systems using PHP and modern frameworks (Laravel, Symfony, CodeIgniter, etc.).
• Architect scalable RESTful APIs and microservices to support web and mobile applications.
• Collaborate with front-end, DevOps, and product teams to ensure seamless integration and delivery.
• Define best coding practices, security standards, and design patterns for backend development.
• Conduct code reviews, enforce coding standards, and ensure high-quality releases.

Development & Maintenance

• Design and implement database schemas, queries, and stored procedures (MySQL/PostgreSQL).
• Optimize backend performance through caching, load balancing, and refactoring.
• Integrate third-party APIs, payment gateways, and external systems securely.
• Handle server-side logic, authentication, authorization, and data validation.
• Ensure robust error handling, logging, and system monitoring.

Team Management & Mentorship

• Lead, mentor, and support a team of backend developers.
• Manage sprint planning, task allocation, and delivery tracking in coordination with project managers.
• Drive a culture of continuous learning, code ownership, and innovation within the team.
• Evaluate and implement new technologies or frameworks to improve development efficiency.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience in backend development with PHP.
• Expert-level proficiency with Laravel / Symfony / CodeIgniter
• Strong understanding of OOP, MVC architecture, and design patterns.
• Deep knowledge of MySQL / PostgreSQL, query optimization, and data modeling.
• Familiarity withAPI development, REST standards, and JSON/XML formats.
• Experience with Git version control and CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong understanding of security best practices, including data encryption and secure authentication.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, or containerized environments.
• Knowledge of AWS / Azure / Google Cloud
• Familiarity with message queues (RabbitMQ, Kafka) and microservices architecture.
• Exposure to frontend frameworks (React, Vue.js) for integration awareness.
• Experience with Agile/Scrum methodologies and project management tools (Jira, Trello).

Soft Skills

• Excellent leadership and team collaboration
• Strong problem-solving and analytical
• Ability to communicate complex technical ideas clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented with strong focus on performance, scalability, and reliability.
• Proactive, innovative, and adaptable to evolving technologies.