Senior Backend Developer (PHP)

Squadio; Saudi Arabia; On-site; SAR 262,000 - 338,000; Full time

Job summary

A tech company in Saudi Arabia is seeking a highly experienced Senior PHP Backend Developer to lead backend architecture and development efforts. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of experience, with deep expertise in PHP and frameworks like Laravel or Symfony. Responsibilities include collaborating with teams, optimizing databases, and mentoring junior developers. This role offers an opportunity to drive technical excellence in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional experience in backend development.
• Deep expertise in PHP and frameworks such as Laravel, Symfony, or CodeIgniter.
• Strong understanding of software architecture and design patterns.

Responsibilities

• Lead backend architecture and development efforts.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define technical solutions.
• Design and optimize databases, crafting efficient data models.

Skills

PHP expertise

Software architecture

RESTful APIs

MySQL

Version control (Git)

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Leadership skills

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior PHP Backend Developer to lead the design and development of robust, scalable, and high-performance backend systems. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of building enterprise-grade applications, mentoring team members, and driving technical excellence throughout the software development lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead backend architecture and development efforts, ensuring scalability, reliability, and maintainability of PHP-based systems.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with front-end engineers, product managers, and DevOps teams to define technical solutions aligned with business objectives.
• Design and optimize databases, crafting efficient data models, writing high-performance SQL queries, and managing complex data migrations.
• Integrate external APIs and internal microservices, ensuring seamless interoperability and secure data exchange.
• Implement robust security practices, including authentication, authorization, input validation, and data protection mechanisms.
• Drive performance optimization, identifying bottlenecks, implementing caching layers, and improving backend efficiency.
• Oversee code quality through regular code reviews, enforcing best practices, and guiding junior developers in clean coding principles.
• Stay ahead of technology trends, continuously evaluating and adopting new PHP frameworks, tools, and architectural patterns.
• Contribute to DevOps and CI/CD initiatives, ensuring smooth deployment pipelines and automated testing processes.
• Provide technical mentorship, support production systems, and ensure high availability and reliability in live environments.

Qualifications

1. 7+ years of professional experience in backend development, with deep expertise in PHP and frameworks such as Laravel, Symfony, or CodeIgniter.
2. Strong understanding of software architecture, design patterns (e.g., SOLID principles, MVC), and scalable system design.
3. Hands-on experience with RESTful APIs, microservices architecture, and third-party API integrations.
4. Advanced knowledge of MySQL (or other relational databases), including query optimization and schema design.
5. Proficiency in version control systems (Git) and experience with collaborative workflows (branching, pull requests, code reviews).
6. Solid understanding of server environments, deployment automation, and cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, or similar).
7. Familiarity with frontend technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and their integration with backend systems.
8. Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to troubleshoot complex production issues.
9. Excellent communication and leadership skills, with a proactive approach to mentoring and collaboration.
10. A passion for engineering excellence, continuous learning, and contributing to a culture of innovation and quality.