Senior PHP Engineer

Principal Engineer / CTO. Open Source Leader. Public Speaker. Polyglot technical problem solver.

Reference: BH-370p

Working Hours: Full time

Job Type: Permanent

Location: Hybrid: minimum 2 days per week at our client’s Elstree / Kings Cross offices

Our client is a forward‑thinking technology organisation reshaping how creative products are produced and delivered. Their platform connects a global network of industry partners while empowering independent artists with scalable, accessible tools. As demand grows, the company is rapidly expanding its platform and infrastructure to support increasing global scale.

Our client is seeking a Senior, hands‑on PHP engineer to support architecture, delivery, and technical quality across a growing engineering function. This role is not a people‑management position, but a highly experienced engineer who brings clarity, structure, and strong technical judgement.

You will work closely with the Lead Engineer, assisting with technical direction, contributing to architectural decisions, and acting as a mentor to other engineers through example, guidance, and collaboration.

The role suits someone who enjoys solving complex problems, improving systems, and elevating the team’s output through mentorship rather than formal line management. Strong communication, a collaborative mindset, and solid product instincts are essential.

Key Responsibilities:

Senior Engineering Contribution, Delivery & Mentorship

• Architect, design, and deliver scalable, high‑performance full‑stack solutions.
• Support the Lead Engineer in shaping technical direction, architecture decisions, and engineering standards.
• Take ownership of end‑to‑end delivery for significant features, from discovery and planning through deployment and iteration.
• Act as a senior technical mentor to a team of engineers (one senior, four mid‑level), providing guidance, feedback, and support.
• Conduct code reviews, advise on technical approaches, and help raise overall engineering quality.
• Share knowledge through pairing, documentation, and informal coaching.
• Collaborate with the Lead Engineer, CEO, and senior stakeholders on product and technical discussions.

Platform, Infrastructure & Reliability

• Build and maintain APIs, microservices, backend systems, and third‑party integrations.
• Ensure platform security, performance, reliability, and scalability.
• Manage cloud‑native workflows using AWS, Docker, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Work with distributed systems and messaging technologies (e.g. SQS, Rabbit
  
  MQ).
• Drive strong testing practices, monitoring, observability, and production readiness.

• Significant senior‑level full‑stack engineering experience, particularly with PHP (Symfony or Laravel).
• Solid database expertise across MySQL and Postgre
  
  SQL.
• Hands‑on experience with AWS architecture, Docker, and CI/CD automation.
• Experience building APIs, microservices, and distributed systems.
• Familiarity with messaging systems such as SQS or Rabbit
  
  MQ.
• Strong testing mindset using frameworks such as PHPUnit, Vitest, or equivalents.
• Proven ability to deliver complex features end‑to‑end from concept to production.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate across technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Experience acting as a senior technical mentor or informal technical authority within a team.
• Comfort supporting and advising a Lead Engineer or Head of Engineering.
• Exposure to automation systems, industrial software, or production workflows.
• Familiarity with manufacturing or factory‑adjacent technology environments.
• Experience with Node.js.
• Highly competitive salary package
• 25 days annual leave
• Private medical insurance
• Modern, technology‑focused office environment

• Take on a high‑impact senior engineering role on a rapidly scaling platform, with huge potential for growth
• Work closely with the Lead Engineer and senior leadership on meaningful technical challenges.
• Influence architecture, quality, and delivery through hands‑on contribution and mentorship.
• Contribute directly to a platform with strong industry visibility and creative impact.
• Be part of a visionary company pushing innovation in physical media and creator technology.