Backend PHP Developer - AWS / Serverless

Bear Claw; Evanston (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Dental

Vision

401(k)

Job summary

Bear Claw is an on-site, Evanston-based company looking for a full-time Backend PHP Developer to join our development team. You will build and scale the Bear Claw platform, primarily using PHP in a serverless AWS environment, and own features from development through deployment.

You will work closely with product and development teams, focusing on API development, integrations, and performance improvements while modernizing existing services and architecture.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with AWS Lambda and serverless architecture.
• Experience with REST APIs, integrations, and relational databases such as MySQL.
• Working knowledge of AWS services such as API Gateway, S3, CloudWatch, SQS, and SNS.

Responsibilities

• Build and improve backend services using PHP, AWS Lambda, API Gateway, and MySQL
• Develop APIs, third-party integrations, and new product functionality
• Improve the performance, reliability, and scalability of existing services
• Refactor and modernize existing code while troubleshooting production issues
• Collaborate on architecture, code reviews, testing, and technical decisions

Skills

AWS Lambda

REST APIs

MySQL

Tools

API Gateway

S3

CloudWatch

SQS

SNS

PostgreSQL

TypeScript

Node.js

Docker

CI/CD

Infrastructure as Code

LangChain

LlamaIndex

Vector Databases

Job description

On-Site – Evanston, IL

Bear Claw is an AI-powered recruiting and applicant tracking platform built to help recruiters work smarter and place top talent faster. Our platform brings the recruiting workflow into one system—from candidate and job management to sourcing, outreach, and team collaboration.

At the center is Cora, our conversational AI assistant, which uses vector search and LLM-powered technology to identify candidate-job matches, surface opportunities, and help recruiters take action faster.

We are looking for a full-time Backend PHP Developer to join our development team and help build and scale the Bear Claw platform.

Our core application is built primarily in PHP with a serverless AWS architecture. We're looking for a developer comfortable working in an established production environment—building new functionality, improving existing services, integrating APIs, and continuing to modernize the platform.

This is a hands-on development role with significant ownership and direct collaboration with our product and development team.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and improve backend services using PHP, AWS Lambda, API Gateway, and MySQL
• Develop APIs, third-party integrations, and new product functionality
• Improve the performance, reliability, and scalability of existing services
• Refactor and modernize existing code while troubleshooting production issues
• Collaborate on architecture, code reviews, testing, and technical decisions

Required Experience

• Hands-on experience with AWS Lambda and serverless architecture
• Experience with REST APIs, integrations, and relational databases such as MySQL
• Working knowledge of AWS services such as API Gateway, S3, CloudWatch, SQS, and SNS
• Comfortable working within an established production codebase and owning projects from development through deployment

Nice to Have

• Python and PostgreSQL
• Experience with AI/LLM-powered applications
• TypeScript / Node.js
• Docker, CI/CD, or infrastructure-as-code experience
• Experience with vector databases, RAG, LangChain, LlamaIndex, or similar AI technologies
• Competitive base salary with healthcare, dental, vision, and 401(k)
• Work closely with a small team where you'll have direct impact on the product
• High-performance, collaborative environment focused on building great technology
• Multiple career advancement paths, including opportunities to develop specialized technical expertise or move into leadership