PHP Developer

Salary: $110,000 – $130,000 per year

We're looking for a Backend Developer to join our client's team in their North Shore office, where you'll help support and improve a busy online platform serving millions of monthly users.

The platform has been around for 20 years, but it's always evolving — and that's where you come in. Your core focus will be backend: fixing and improving existing PHP code, optimising slow MySQL queries, preventing crashes by monitoring server tools and resolving live bugs, and helping launch new features. You'll work on-site with the team in a LEMP environment, using Linux, Nginx, MySQL, and PHP every day.

But this role grows well beyond the backend. As the platform continues to evolve, you'll have plenty of opportunity to stretch into full-stack work and get hands-on with AI integrations. If you're a developer who's curious about where technology is heading and wants room to expand your skillset, this is the role for you.

You'll be joining a senior team of four developers — a tight-knit, experienced group where you'll collaborate closely, learn from each other, and have real input into how things are built. We're looking for someone with strong PHP backend experience, solid MySQL skills including query optimisation, and familiarity with Linux, Nginx, and AWS. Experience with AI-assisted development using Claude would be a real bonus — they're a team that embraces where the industry is heading. You'll also need a proactive mindset, someone who spots problems and fixes them fast, along with the curiosity and willingness to go beyond the backend.

As part of your application, I'd love to see experience or links that showcase your own code, your approach to database design, and how you tackle query optimisation. Also seeking someone with large scale experience if possible.

This is a full-time, permanent, in-office role based in the North Shore. Because the platform runs 24/7 in a high-availability environment, there's occasional on-call work to keep things running smoothly — so you'll need to be comfortable with that rhythm.

If you're ready to tackle real performance challenges at scale, grow into full-stack and AI work, and make a genuine impact on a platform used by millions, apply through the ad and I will get back to you if you have the required experience. John McGuire 021510929.