Senior PHP / Full-Stack Developer

Niu - Collaboritve Community; Kuwait City; On-site; KWD 15,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Niu - Collaboritve Community in Kuwait City, Kuwait seeks a Senior PHP / Full-Stack Developer to own the existing software, maintain a CodeIgniter application, and support modernization efforts. The role requires hands-on work with databases, APIs, and AI-assisted coding tools, on-site full-time.

You will collaborate with management to translate business needs into reliable software, solve complex problems, and ensure secure, scalable solutions while contributing to documentation and deployment

Qualifications

• Experience maintaining production PHP/CodeIgniter applications.
• Ability to build and maintain REST APIs and database queries.
• Familiarity with Git workflows and deployment processes.
• Experience using AI coding tools and verifying generated code.

Responsibilities

• Take over the existing codebase and understand architecture, dependencies, and deployment.
• Investigate and fix bugs; improve stability and performance.
• Build and maintain features, APIs, and integrations.
• Refactor for code quality and secure coding practices; implement tests.

Skills

PHP

CodeIgniter

JavaScript

HTML

CSS

SQL

REST APIs

Git

AI-assisted development

Job description

We are hiring a Senior PHP / Full-Stack Developer to take ownership of our existing software, maintain and improve our CodeIgniter application, manage databases and APIs, and support future modernization.

Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait

Employment: Full-time, on-site

You will work closely with management to turn business needs into reliable software. This role suits a hands-on developer who can understand an unfamiliar codebase, solve problems independently, and use AI coding tools effectively.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Take over the existing codebase through a structured handover and understand its architecture, dependencies, integrations, and deployment process.
• Investigate and fix bugs, improve application stability and performance, and support production issues.
• Build and maintain features, REST APIs, database queries, and third-party integrations.
• Improve code quality and maintainability through practical refactoring, testing, and secure coding practices.
• Manage Git workflows, releases, configuration changes, and rollback procedures.
• Maintain technical documentation and provide clear updates on progress, priorities, and blockers.
• Use AI coding assistants to support development, debugging, refactoring, testing, and documentation, while reviewing and validating their output.

REQUIRED TECHNICAL SKILLS

• PHP: Strong hands-on experience maintaining production applications, debugging existing code, and improving performance.
• CodeIgniter: Practical experience developing and maintaining CodeIgniter applications.
• JavaScript, HTML, and CSS: Ability to maintain and improve web interfaces, forms, and dashboards.
• SQL and relational databases: Experience with schemas, complex queries, indexes, migrations, and data integrity.
• REST APIs and JSON: Ability to build, secure, troubleshoot, and document APIs for applications and external integrations.
• Git and deployments: Experience with source control, release management, and production troubleshooting.
• AI-assisted development: Practical experience with tools such as Cursor, GitHub Copilot, or ChatGPT. You must be able to explain, review, and test generated code and protect confidential code and data.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Proven experience taking ownership of an existing production application and working with code written by others.
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and prioritize business needs.
• Clear communication with nontechnical colleagues and a strong sense of ownership.
• Availability to work full-time, on-site in Kuwait City.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• CodeIgniter 4 and migration from older PHP or framework versions.
• React or Vue.js for future frontend development.
• Taking over projects from another developer or serving as the primary developer in a small company.
• Healthcare, clinic management, or other business software with complex operational workflows.

SUCCESS IN YOUR FIRST 90 DAYS

Complete the technical handover, document the system and release process, independently manage routine fixes and deployments, and deliver agreed improvements.