Backend Team Lead (PHP)
StairwaySoft Backend Team Lead (PHP)
Summary
Hands-on Backend Team Lead role owning a high-load SMS AdTech project: leading 2 backend developers and 1 DevOps engineer while staying deeply involved in PHP/Laravel and Node.js/NestJS development, architecture, and performance tuning of ClickHouse, OpenSearch, and AWS-based services, with direct client communication.
We are looking for an experienced Backend Team Lead with a strong PHP background to take ownership of a high-load SMS AdTech project.
This is a hands-on leadership role combining backend development, technical ownership, team management, and direct communication with the client and project stakeholders.
You will lead a small engineering team of 2 Backend Developers and 1 DevOps Engineer, while remaining actively involved in architecture, code quality, performance optimization, and production stability.
Technical Stack
PHP, Laravel
Node.js, NestJS
SQL, ClickHouse, OpenSearch
AWS: SQS, S3
Vue.js and Blade templates
Key Responsibilities
Lead and mentor a team of 2 developers and 1 DevOps Engineer.
Remain hands-on in backend development and technical problem-solving.
Define and maintain high standards of code quality and conduct architectural and code reviews.
Design and develop scalable backend services and microservices.
Optimize high-load database queries, ClickHouse workloads, and OpenSearch indices.
Troubleshoot production issues, performance bottlenecks, and system stability problems.
Make technical and architectural decisions related to the evolution of the platform.
Participate in regular calls with stakeholders and translate business needs into technical solutions.
Support and improve existing monolithic services while gradually evolving the system architecture.
Requirements
8+ years of software development experience, with strong hands-on expertise in PHP and Laravel.
3+ years in a Team Lead, Tech Lead, or similar technical leadership role.
Proven experience developing and supporting high-load / high-traffic backend systems.
Strong hands-on experience with Node.js, ideally NestJS.
Practical experience with ClickHouse and OpenSearch in production environments.
Strong knowledge of SQL databases, query optimization, and performance tuning.
Strong understanding of backend architecture, scalability, distributed systems, and microservices.
Experience troubleshooting complex production issues and performance bottlenecks.
Ability to combine technical leadership with hands-on development.
Fluent English, comfortable communicating directly with an international client and project stakeholders.
Nice to Have
AWS services such as SQS and S3.
Vue.js or Blade.
Previous experience with AdTech, messaging platforms, or other high-traffic products.