Senior Software Developer

Biometric Talent; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology organization in Bristol seeks a Senior Software Developer to enhance their bespoke platform. This role involves backend development in PHP, utilizing frameworks like Symfony and Laravel. You'll collaborate with a small, agile team, influencing both delivery and technical direction. Candidates should have a strong understanding of object-oriented design and experience with API-driven systems. This position offers a hybrid working model with a salary of up to £60,000.

Qualifications

• Experience developing in PHP using a modern framework like Symfony or Laravel.
• Understanding of SOLID principles and maintainable architecture.
• Experience building and testing API-driven backend systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain backend-heavy features.
• Contribute to architectural and technical decisions.
• Write clean, maintainable code with strong test coverage.

Skills

PHP development

Object-oriented design

API-driven systems

JavaScript frameworks (Vue.js, React)

Problem-solving

Attention to detail

Tools

Symfony

Laravel

PostgreSQL

AWS

Docker

Job description

Overview

Permanent

Location: Bristol (Hybrid - typically 1 day per week in office)

Salary: Up to £60,000

About the Client

Our client is an innovative, fast-growing international B2B trading organisation, operating across retail and wholesale distribution for premium global brands. Technology sits at the heart of how the business runs, with bespoke internal software powering core commercial, operational, and reporting workflows rather than off-the-shelf platforms.

The company is intentionally small and agile, enabling rapid decision-making, clear ownership, and visible impact. Software development is treated as a strategic capability, not a support function, giving engineers genuine influence over how systems are designed, built, and evolved.

This is an environment where high-quality engineering, pragmatism, and continuous improvement are valued, and where good ideas are acted on quickly.

How you\'ll spend your day

As a Senior Software Developer, you\'ll play a key role in shaping and extending a bespoke backend platform that underpins critical business operations, analytics, and a B2B customer portal. While the role is backend-focused, you\'ll work confidently across the stack, including a modern JavaScript frontend.

Working closely with the Head of Development, you\'ll have real ownership and influence over both delivery and technical direction.

Responsibilities

• Designing, building, and maintaining backend-heavy features across internal platforms
• Contributing to architectural and technical decisions within a small, senior team
• Writing clean, maintainable, SOLID-compliant code with strong unit and functional test coverage
• Building and consuming API-driven services to support operational and customer-facing systems
• Collaborating directly with business users to ensure solutions are practical and effective
• Participating in code reviews and helping shape shared development standards
• Supporting the evolution of development practices, including the thoughtful use of AI-assisted tooling
• Communicating progress clearly and proactively addressing technical challenges

What you\'ll bring to this role

You\'ll be an experienced backend-focused developer who enjoys working in small, high-ownership teams, combining strong technical fundamentals with a pragmatic, delivery-focused mindset.

Requirements

• Strong commercial experience developing in PHP using a modern framework (Symfony or Laravel)
• Solid understanding of object-oriented design, SOLID principles, and maintainable architecture
• Proven experience building and testing API-driven backend systems
• Confidence working with modern JavaScript frameworks such as Vue.js or React
• Hands-on experience writing unit and functional tests as part of day-to-day development
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work autonomously while collaborating closely within a small team

Desirable experience

• Production experience with PostgreSQL or other relational databases
• Working with Dockerised applications and AWS-hosted environments
• Experience influencing development standards or technical direction
• Practical use of AI tools to improve productivity, code quality, or system understanding

Technology Stack

• Backend: PHP 8.5, Symfony 8 (SOLID Principals)
• Frontend: Vue.js
• Database: PostgreSQL and Clickhouse
• Infrastructure: AWS, Docker
• Testing: Unit and functional testing as a core part of development
• Tooling: Modern CI/CD and increasing use of AI tools within the development workflow

What happens next?

One of our Recruitment Consultants will be in touch and inform you if you\'ve been successful to the next stage of the process or not, which is a qualification call where we will tell you more about the role and the client, and understand more about you, your experience and career aspirations.

Should we both wish to proceed, we will submit your details to the client and be in touch regarding the outcome and any further steps.

Interview Stages

• 1st Stage: Phone interview - approx. 30 mins
• 2nd Stage: Skills test - approx. 1 hour
• 3rd Stage: Face-to-face interview - approx. 1hr 30 mins

Equal Opportunities

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for all candidates and welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law. As an employment agency for permanent and contract hires, we are dedicated to promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from underrepresented groups to drive innovation and equality within the workplace.

Should you require any reasonable adjustments please let us know so we can accommodate for any interactions with us at Biometric Talent, but also inform the client to ensure reasonable adjustments are made to allow for a fair and equitable process