Senior Software Engineer (PHP)

True9; Liverpool; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A technology consultancy in the UK is looking for a Senior PHP Software Engineer to lead backend development and mentor junior developers. The role involves using PHP and frameworks like Symfony, and tackling complex challenges in a fast-paced Agile environment. The ideal candidate should have strong experience in PHP, MySQL, and automated testing practices. This position offers a flexible working culture with an annual salary of up to £60,000 and a vibrant work environment.

Benefits

Salary up to £60,000 per annum

Flexible working hours

Remote-first culture

34 days off including Bank Holidays

Home office setup

£500 personal development budget

Team events and outings

Collaborative office space

Qualifications

• Strong working experience in PHP, OOP, design patterns and principles, including SOLID.
• Expertise in performant MySQL and relational database design.
• Hands-on experience with API design and development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the back-end by writing clean and scalable code using PHP and frameworks like Symfony.
• Drive technical direction and architecture with cross-functional teams.
• Mentor junior developers to foster technical excellence.

Skills

PHP

OOP

Automated testing

MySQL

API design

Docker

Git

Agile methodologies

Tools

Symfony

PHPStan

PHPUnit

Job description

Hello, we’re True9. 👋 An independent technology consultancy based in beautiful Saltaire, West Yorkshire.

💻 Remote-first

💰 Up to £60,000

Join our small, close-knit and talented team on our mission to help people and businesses thrive through technology.

If you love untangling hard problems, improving legacy systems, and shipping clean, tested code, you’ll fit right in.

Your role as a Senior PHP Software Engineer at True9 :

• Lead the back-end - write clean, maintainable, and scalable code using PHP and frameworks like Symfony across a variety of projects.
• Drive technical direction - work with cross-functional teams to define technical strategy and architecture, helping shape the future of our clients’ products.
• Mentor and empower - provide guidance and mentorship to junior developers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous growth.
• Solve complex challenges - tackle performance bottlenecks, architect new features, and ensure the reliability of our clients’ platforms at scale.
• Collaborate effectively - work side-by-side with delivery managers, test engineers, designers, and front-end teams in a fast-paced Agile environment.

You’ll thrive in this role if you have :

• Strong working experience in PHP, OOP, design patterns and principles, including SOLID
• Strong understanding of automated testing practices
• Expertise in performant MySQL and relational database design
• Hands-on experience with API design and development
• Comfortable using modern tooling, including Docker, Git, PHPStan, PHPUnit and CI / CD
• Experience in Symfony
• Familiarity with cloud services, particularly AWS
• Experience in agile environments and contributing to team collaboration
• A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset and excellent communication skills

The tech stack you’ll be working with :

• Backend : PHP 7 / 8, Symfony 5 / 6 / 7, MySQL / MariaDB, Redis
• Frontend : Angular, Twig
• Cloud & Infrastructure : AWS, Docker, Sentry
• CI / CD & Testing : Git, GitHub Actions, PHPUnit, PHPStan

Perks of the job :

• Up to £60,000 per annum with annual performance-based reviews.
• Flexible working - structure your day around what works for you.
• Remote-first culture (UK-based), with monthly in-person team days.
• 34 days off (including Bank Holidays), plus your birthday off every year.
• Home office setup - we’ll provide the right equipment to get you started.
• Beautiful collaborative office space - with places to eat, shop and relax.
• £500 personal development budget each year for training, events, or certifications.
• Summer and Winter team days - recent outings include spa days, archery, clay pigeon shooting, pottery and off-roading.
• A vibrant and innovative work culture where your ideas genuinely matter.

Our location :

We have a beautiful office space in Salts Mill and love getting together to collaborate in person.

Located on the main train line accessible from Leeds and Bradford, Saltaire is an easy commute from across Yorkshire, Manchester, London and beyond.

Salts Mill has four art galleries, three places to eat & drink and lots of independent shops. Outside the office, there’s the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, lots of open green spaces, and the village itself.

We champion flexibility and encourage the team to use the office whenever it suits their needs, whether for collaboration days, client workshops, or just a change of scenery.

Whilst this is a remote-first role, we expect you to travel to the office at least once a month, with travel costs covered by us.

If you have any questions before you apply, please reach out.

What to expect next :

We’ll review your application and will respond within five days (even if it isn’t the news you’re hoping for). If successful, you’ll be invited to a quick 30-minute video call with one of the team to make sure the role is right for you. From there, to help us assess your capabilities, you’ll be asked to complete a small technical task in your own time. Followed, finally, by a more in-depth technical interview.

Not the right role?

We’re always keen to hear from bright, ambitious people. If this isn’t the right role for you, don’t let that stop you from reaching out. Email [e-mail] so we can keep your details on file and reach out about future opportunities.