Lead PHP Developer

Location: Portugal (candidates must be based in Portugal)

Contract Type: Contract

Availability: Immediate start preferred (maximum 1-month notice)

Overview

We are working with a well-established technology-driven organisation that is scaling several long-term digital platforms. They are looking for four experienced Lead PHP Developers to take ownership of backend development, technical decision-making, and mentoring within cross-functional teams.

You will play a key role in building and maintaining high-performance, scalable applications using modern PHP standards and frameworks, while working closely with product, design, and engineering stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead backend development using modern PHP standards
• Design, build, and maintain scalable and maintainable applications
• Act as a technical point of contact within the team
• Review code and promote best practices across the engineering team
• Collaborate closely with frontend, product, and UX teams
• Contribute to architectural decisions and system improvements

Required Skills & Experience

• 7+ years of professional experience with PHP
• Strong hands-on experience with PHP 8
• Solid experience with Symfony (core framework)
• Experience with Laravel (built on Symfony components)
• Strong database experience with MSSQL / T-SQL
• Proven experience in a senior or lead-level role

Nice to Have

• Experience with Docker
• Experience with ElasticSearch
• Experience with Redis
• Exposure to Azure Cloud
• Good understanding of UI/UX principles and guidelines

Rates

• Hourly rates are flexible and will be discussed based on experience.