Mid-Level Backend PHP Developer
Summary
Builds and maintains scalable PHP backend services and RESTful APIs using Laravel, optimizes MySQL databases, and collaborates with frontend teams to ensure seamless integrations while adhering to best practices and debugging performance issues.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design, develop, and maintain scalable backend services and RESTful APIs using modern PHP frameworks (Laravel or similar)
- Collaborate with frontend developers to ensure seamless system integrations across the full stack
- Build clean, maintainable, and well-tested code aligned to best practices and coding standards
- Design, manage, and optimise MySQL databases including schema design, migrations, and query performance tuning
- Troubleshoot, debug, and resolve application and system issues across environments
- Integrate third-party APIs and external data services
- Participate in code reviews and contribute to continuous improvement within the engineering team
- Support CI/CD processes and work closely with DevOps to ensure smooth deployments
- Identify performance bottlenecks and implement scalable, efficient solutions
- 3+ years professional experience in PHP development
- Strong understanding of object-oriented programming (OOP) and MVC architecture
- Solid experience with Laravel or similar modern PHP frameworks
- Strong MySQL skills including query optimisation and database design
- Experience working with Git and collaborative version control workflows
- Experience building and consuming RESTful APIs (JSON/XML)
- Understanding of unit and feature testing in PHP
- Strong communication skills and ability to work independently and within a team
- Experience working with caching and messaging tools such as Redis or RabbitMQ (advantageous)
- Exposure to Docker or containerised environments (advantageous)
- Basic understanding of frontend technologies such as Vue.js or React (advantageous)
- Exposure to CI/CD pipelines and automated deployments (advantageous)
- Experience working with secure data or financial integrations (advantageous)
- 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 or container environments (advantageous)
- Familiarity with modern DevOps practices and deployment pipelines
- Strong debugging and performance optimisation capabilities
- Tertiary qualification in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field
- Relevant PHP or software development certifications (advantageous)
- Experience working in a fast-paced, agile development environment
- 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 teamwork and knowledge-sharing approach
- Passion for continuous learning and technical improvement
- The role is remote-friendly within South Africa, provided the working environment supports stable fibre connectivity (minimum 100Mbps recommended) and a suitable home workspace for confidential and productive work