Senior PHP/Symfony Architect | Remote-First Backend Lead

Lever, Inc.; Lahore; Remote; PKR 33,223,000 - 49,834,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-first

Flexible hours

UK-hours alignment

Job summary

Smart Working is seeking a Senior PHP/Symfony Engineer to own backend development in a mature Symfony platform that handles marketing and revenue data for enterprise customers. The role involves upgrading Symfony from 6.1 to 7, working with Angular front end, TypeScript and Python AI microservices, and collaborating in a remote product squad.

This senior role emphasizes an architect mindset, high autonomy, and strong independence while ensuring security compliance and high-quality, maintainable

Qualifications

• 8+ years of software engineering experience.
• 5+ years in PHP.
• 3+ years Symfony 6.x/7 experience.
• 4+ years backend design and scalability.
• 2+ years experience using AI tooling.
• 5+ years MySQL experience (PostgreSQL or similar also acceptable).
• 1+ year Angular/TypeScript awareness.
• 3+ years PHPUnit testing experience.
• 1+ year framework upgrades and legacy modernization.
• 2+ years AWS experience.
• Fluent English (written and spoken).
• Strong remote-work track record.
• Ability to work UK hours.
• Pass strict background checks and comply with PII policies.
• Architect mindset with hands-on technical approach.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver backend work in the core Symfony application, working independently within 2–3 months.
• Critically assess code from the team and AI tools, challenging proposed solutions.
• Move the Symfony upgrade from 6.1 to 7, resolving versioning and legacy issues.
• Improve performance, scalability and maintainability for easier feature work.
• Collaborate with Angular front end, TypeScript and Python AI services, and DevOps.
• Read and reason about the Angular/TypeScript codebase despite backend weighting.
• Identify root causes and improve how things are built beyond ticket completion.
• Deliver maintainable solutions in a legacy codebase with steady delivery.
• Work with high autonomy in a remote, cross-functional squad.
• Respect SOC 2, PII and security controls without exception.

Skills

PHP

Symfony

Backend architecture

MySQL/PostgreSQL

AI tooling review

TypeScript awareness

PHPUnit

AWS

Remote collaboration

Tools

Angular

PHPUnit

Job description

Smart Working is seeking a Senior PHP/Symfony Engineer to own backend development in a mature Symfony platform that handles marketing and revenue data for enterprise customers. The role involves upgrading Symfony from 6.1 to 7, working with Angular front end, TypeScript and Python AI microservices, and collaborating in a remote product squad.

This senior role emphasizes an architect mindset, high autonomy, and strong independence while ensuring security compliance and high-quality, maintainable