About Host Guest

Host Guest is a U.S.-based startup founded to connect international and out-of-state students with verified host families across the country. Our platform helps students find safe, affordable, and welcoming stays while giving hosts a trusted way to open their homes.

We completed our MVP build in October 2025 and are now entering a one-month stability phase to prepare for beta testing and investor review. The foundation is solid, but we need a strong full-stack Laravel developer who can audit, debug, and strengthen the system.

This is not a redesign. It is a technical audit and refinement sprint focused on code quality, scalability, and performance. The right person will have the opportunity to continue with the team as the product grows into its next phase.

The Role

As the Full-Stack Laravel Developer, you will take ownership of the technical stability of the current platform. You’ll review the codebase, identify weaknesses, resolve critical bugs, and prepare a detailed audit report that guides Host Guest’s next development cycle.

You will collaborate directly with the Head of Strategy & Operations and work with our design and QA teams to ensure the website performs at production level.

Key Responsibilities

Audit the existing Laravel-based platform and database architecture for performance, security, and scalability.

Debug and fix system issues related to guest and host flows, photo uploads, verification processes, and messaging.

Review and clean up backend logic, optimize queries, and ensure consistent system behavior.

Improve UI responsiveness, refine layouts, and validate frontend interactions.

Document the environment setup, dependencies, and deployment structure for smooth handoff.

Deliver a Technical Assessment Report outlining:

• Code quality and maintainability
• Database efficiency and structure
• Security and scalability recommendations
• Prioritized roadmap for optimization or rebuild

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in Laravel and PHP development.
• Strong grasp of front-end integration (Blade, jQuery, CSS).
• Proven experience with AWS EC2, GitHub Actions, and Stripe API.
• Background in debugging complex Laravel applications and writing clean, documented code.
• Familiarity with Cloudinary, Postmark, and authentication systems.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to provide structured progress reports.
• Based in the United States.

Tech Stack:

• Framework: Laravel (PHP)
• Frontend: Blade Templates, jQuery, CSS
• Backend: PHP, Eloquent ORM
• Database: AWS EC2 (MySQL)
• Integrations: Stripe (Payments), Postmark (Email), Cloudinary (Image Hosting)
• Deployment: GitHub Actions

Preferred Attributes

• Analytical, structured, and solutions-driven.
• Understands startup dynamics and can prioritize impact over perfection.
• Comfortable assessing existing work and making objective recommendations.
• Interested in long-term collaboration and potential growth into a founding technical role.

Compensation and Structure

Contract length: One month (with potential extension)

Estimated workload: 20 hours per week

Compensation: Fixed project fee between $1,500 - $2,500, based on experience and deliverables

Payment released upon completion of milestones and final technical audit

Why Join Host Guest?

If you’re serious about your craft and want to build something meaningful, this is your chance. You’ll work side by side with the founder and the core team at a stage where your contribution truly shapes the product.

This is more than a contract. It’s an opportunity to grow with the company from the ground up, take ownership of a platform already in motion, and help turn it into something that lasts.