Software Developer – Full Stack (Laravel / PHP)

LGH Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading equipment hire company in Manchester seeks an experienced Full Stack Software Developer to modernize and streamline their application stack. You will play a key role in developing web applications using PHP and Laravel, collaborating with teams across the UK and US. The role offers a competitive salary between £30,000 and £40,000 annually, along with generous benefits including hybrid working options and training support.

Benefits

25 days Annual Leave (+1 capped at 30)

Private healthcare

Pension scheme

Free parking

Training & development support

Hybrid working options

Responsibilities

• Design and develop scalable, maintainable web applications using PHP and Laravel.
• Build interactive UIs using Livewire and Tailwind CSS.
• Manage Git repositories and set up CI/CD pipelines.
• Architect application features and ensure performance optimization.

Skills

PHP (7.3–8.4)

Laravel (v8–12)

Livewire

Tailwind CSS

Git and GitHub workflows

MySQL and database optimization

Excellent communication

Tools

Docker

AWS

Job description

ABOUT THE COMPANY

LGH is a global leader in the hire of lifting equipment, with operations across the UK, Europe, the USA, and Australia. For over 50 years, we’ve earned the trust of major industries through our unwavering commitment to safety, reliability, and technical excellence. From complex infrastructure projects to everyday lifting needs, our equipment and expertise support customers worldwide.

As a forward-thinking business, we continue to invest significantly in our systems, technology, and most importantly, our people. We’ve fostered a collaborative and supportive environment where talented individuals can thrive, innovate, and make a genuine impact.

SUMMARY OF THE ROLE

Are you a collaborative team player with strong communication skills? Are you passionate about clean code and solving real-world business problems? Do you want to contribute to a growing, people-focused organisation with a global footprint?

We’re seeking an experienced Full Stack Software Developer to join our in-house development team. You’ll play a key role in building, maintaining, and improving core systems that power our global operations. A particular focus of the role will be helping us modernise and streamline our application stack.

OVERVIEW OF ACCOUNTABILITIES

This is a full-stack development role focused on delivering modern web applications using Laravel and PHP. You\u2019ll work closely with UK and US-based teams, developing core systems that drive our operations. From architecting new solutions to improving performance, you\u2019ll play a critical role in shaping our tech direction.

You’ll collaborate on business-critical systems, building new features, improving existing systems, and ensuring the security, performance, and maintainability of our applications.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Development

• Design and develop scalable, maintainable web applications using PHP (v8+) and Laravel (v8–12)
• Architect application features and champion best practices
• Build interactive UIs using Livewire, Alpine.js, and Tailwind CSS
• Develop and maintain RESTful APIs; integrate with external services
• Handle queue systems and background processes (Redis, queues)
• Design caching strategies for performance optimisation
• Write and maintain unit, feature, and integration tests

Code Quality

• Manage Git repositories and ensure clean version control practices
• Set up and manage CI / CD pipelines (e.g. GitHub Actions, DeployHQ)
• Maintain clear documentation and promote coding standards

System Architecture & Performance

• Design database schemas, manage migrations, and optimise complex queries
• Ensure scalability, availability, and security across systems
• Monitor performance using logs and monitoring tools
• Work with infrastructure teams to deploy and maintain systems

Project Delivery & Communication

• Translate business requirements into technical solutions
• Participate in sprint planning, retrospectives, and backlog grooming
• Communicate effectively across departments and time zones
• Document architecture, APIs, and deployment procedures
• Contribute to the long-term technical roadmap

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Core Technical Skills

• 3+ years of commercial development experience
• Strong PHP (7.3–8.4) knowledge and modern OOP best practices
• Laravel (v8–12) expertise, including Eloquent, service providers, etc.
• Livewire (v2 / v3) with Alpine.js for reactive front-end functionality
• Tailwind CSS (v3 / v4) for modern, responsive UI development

Tooling & Workflow

• Git and GitHub workflows (branching, pull requests, code reviews)
• Experience with CI / CD and deployment automation
• MySQL query optimisation, indexing, and database migrations
• Understanding of Linux servers, web server configuration (Nginx / Apache)

Soft Skills

• Excellent communication (written and verbal)
• Strong problem-solving and debugging skills
• Self-motivated and comfortable working both independently and as part of a team
• Familiar with Agile methodologies and asynchronous collaboration

Desirable (Not Essential)

• Experience with other PHP frameworks (Symfony, CodeIgniter)
• Docker and containerisation tools (Docker Compose, Kubernetes)
• Cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)
• Familiarity with testing frameworks (PHPUnit, Pest, Cypress)

WORKING PATTERN

Days: Monday to Friday

Hours: 37.5 hours per week between 8am – 4pm

Lunch break: 30 minutes unpaid

COMPANY BENEFITS

• 25 days Annual Leave (+1 per year capped at 30)
• All UK public holidays off, in addition to your annual leave
• Private healthcare
• Pension scheme
• Enhanced family leave
• Hybrid working options
• Free lifting gear hire
• Quarterly incentive programme
• Training & development support
• Free parking and flu jabs
• Length of service recognition
• H.I.R.E Fit wellbeing scheme
• Optional team trips, including company-organised ski trips and social events

Ability to commute / relocate

Salary: £30,000.00 - £40,000.00 per annum DOE

Important Information

• We are not accepting applications from recruitment agencies for this vacancy.
• Only applicants with an existing legal right to work in the UK will be considered. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship or support visa applications at this time.