Senior PHP Developer

Altamira for freelancers; United States; Remote; USD 55,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

Altamira is seeking a freelance PHP Developer to help modernize a backend system that supports education and welfare services. You will refactor and extend a real-world platform with focus on scalability, reliability, and maintainability, while collaborating across product, QA, and frontend teams in a fully remote setup.

The role requires strong PHP 8+ experience, database optimization, AWS know-how, CI/CD, and PHPUnit tests, plus frontend basics (HTML5/CSS/JS, React) and API design

Qualifications

• Expert PHP 8+ and modern backend practices.
• Proficient DB design, indexing, and SQL optimization (MySQL/PostgreSQL).
• Strong AWS knowledge and cloud best practices.
• CI/CD pipelines and modern DevOps practices.
• Experience with PHPUnit for automated testing.
• Excellent problem-solving and architectural thinking.
• Strong communication and collaboration.
• English at B2+ for daily collaboration in an international team.
• Frontend basics: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript; React.js.
• Frontend testing with Jest.
• API design/integration: RESTful and GraphQL.

Responsibilities

• Refactor and modernize the existing backend system.
• Ensure high performance, stability, and scalability without full rewrites.
• Analyze and optimize database schemas and backend architecture.
• Implement reliable backend solutions with clean code.
• Collaborate with product, QA, and frontend to deliver robust solutions.

Skills

PHP development

Backend architecture

CI/CD

Problem solving

Communication

English proficiency

React.js

Tools

MySQL

PostgreSQL

AWS

CI/CD pipelines

PHPUnit

REST/GraphQL

Jest

Job description

Altamira is a software development outsourcing company. We provide solutions that make a tangible impact on our clients’ growth and productivity. With domain knowledge across product and technology development, we aim to provide cost-efficient solutions without compromising quality. We are driven to deliver the best, every single time.

Altamira service delivery teams currently span Slovakia, Ukraine, and the Middle East, and we have ambitions to expand our footprint to meet the growing demand across Europe and into our primary growth markets in the UK and the US. In terms of industry verticals, we are focused on EdTech, Fintech, eCommerce, and Pharma.

As a fully remote company, we welcome talented individuals seeking hourly-based freelance opportunities

We are looking for a PHP Developer to join the team behind a specialized software system designed to support the education and welfare of children in care. The platform provides real-time attendance tracking, personal education plan management, and secure data sharing among social workers, teachers, and local authorities. It emphasizes data security, compliance, and role-based access to ensure sensitive information is handled appropriately. Future developments include mobile app accessibility, AI-driven insights, and automated support features. With a strong track record and partnerships with over 100 local authorities, the platform is a trusted solution for managing complex educational and welfare needs. In this role, you will be involved in transforming and modernizing the existing system into its next-generation version, focusing on long-term scalability, reliability, and maintainability.

Requirements:

• Strong expertise in PHP 8+ and modern backend development practices.

• Strong understanding of database design, indexing, and query optimization using MySQL and PostgreSQL.

• Solid knowledge of AWS services (EC2, S3, RDS, etc.) along with cloud best practices.

• Hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines and modern DevOps practices.

• Experience with automated testing frameworks, particularly PHPUnit.

• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and architectural thinking skills.

• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.

• English proficiency at B2 level or higher for daily collaboration in an international team.

• Proactive mindset with the ability to take ownership of tasks and drive technical solutions.

• Experience with frontend technologies (HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript) and modern frameworks, particularly React.js.

• Familiarity with frontend testing tools (e.g., Jest).

• Experience with API integration and design (RESTful APIs, GraphQL).

Responsibilities:

• Focus on improving, refactoring, and modernizing an established backend system.

• Ensure high performance, stability, and scalability without full system rewrites.

• Analyze and optimize existing database schemas and backend architecture.

• Implement reliable backend solutions following clean code principles and best practices.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams (product, QA, frontend) to deliver robust solutions.

Our transparent recruitment journey usually takes up to 2 weeks and includes a few stages:

1. Recruiting Interview -> 30-45 min
2. Technical Interview -> 1-1,5h
3. Client Interview (optional) -> up to 1h
4. Reference Check
5. Offer

If you’re seeking a flexible, welcoming, and professional environment, join our freelance project-based team!

Wedobelieve that the success of altamira.ai is impossible without the success ofour Talents and the success ofour Clients!