Lead Software Engineer

Stockford Recruitment; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A digital healthcare company based in Birmingham is seeking a Senior / Lead Developer to modernise legacy PHP systems to Symfony. This role involves hands-on development and DevOps ownership in a stable environment. Responsibilities include delivering features, release management, and maintaining CI pipelines. The ideal candidate has a strong PHP background and experience with Linux administration, requiring a reliable approach with some weekend support. Competitive package offered with a supportive team.

Qualifications

• Experience with Symfony ideal for modernising legacy PHP systems.
• Confident in CI/CD processes and release management.
• Strong Linux admin skills, especially Ubuntu.

Responsibilities

• Modernise legacy PHP systems to Symfony.
• Deliver new features aligned to business and clinical requirements.
• Support release management across multiple systems.
• Maintain CI pipelines, automation, and security reviews.

Skills

Strong PHP / web engineering background

Experience modernising legacy systems

DevOps fundamentals (CI / CD)

Linux (Ubuntu) administration

Security awareness

Scripting / automation

Job description

We’re recruiting on behalf of an established UK digital healthcare business for a Senior / Lead Developer to join their long-standing tech team. You’ll work alongside experienced engineers (including a senior programmer and a front-end developer) and help shape and deliver the IT strategy while keeping day-to-day operations stable and secure for a high-availability, patient-facing platform.

This role suits someone who enjoys a mix of hands‑on development and pragmatic infrastructure / DevOps ownership, and who’s looking for a long‑term position in a mature, stable environment.

What you’ll be working on

A major current initiative is a migration / rebuild from a legacy Zend framework to Symfony. Alongside that, you’ll help maintain and improve the business’ infrastructure, security posture, and release processes across multiple systems.

Key responsibilities

• Modernise and rebuild legacy PHP systems into Symfony.
• Deliver new platform features aligned to business and clinical requirements.
• Own / support release management across three systems (public website, admin, pharmacy dispensing).
• Maintain and improve CI pipelines, automation (Ansible / Bash), and code / security reviews.
• Support Ubuntu infrastructure, monitoring, and key services (Nginx, PHP, fail2ban, email, private networking).
• Strengthen security controls : firewalls, VPN, DNS, and secure server configuration.
• Improve resilience via regular disaster recovery testing and DR plan evolution.
• Provide operational support for internal stakeholders (including workflow‑critical queries and staff IT support).

What we’re looking for

• Strong PHP / web engineering background with real experience modernising legacy systems (Symfony ideal).
• Confident across DevOps fundamentals : CI / CD, releases, scripting / automation.
• Linux (Ubuntu) admin experience and comfort maintaining core web services.
• Security awareness across infrastructure, networking, and access controls.
• Reliable, flexible approach (some weekend support required).

At Stockford Recruitment, we help startups and SMEs grow by connecting them with exceptional tech talent. We are committed to the growth of our candidates and clients.

We review every application carefully, but due to the volume we receive, we may not be able to respond to everyone individually.

If you haven’t heard back within 10 working days, please don’t be discouraged – new opportunities are always coming up, and we’d love for you to stay connected with us…