Backend Developer - PHP (Laravel)
Location: Leeds (Hybrid – 3 days per week onsite)
Salary: Up to £48,000 (DOE) + discretionary bonus
We’re looking for a Backend Developer with a strong foundation in PHP and Laravel to join a growing digital team delivering high-quality, CMS‑driven marketing websites and digital platforms for a wide range of clients.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building clean, scalable backend solutions, designing logical content architectures, and collaborating closely with frontend developers, designers, and project teams. You’ll be working within a modern PHP stack, contributing to multiple client projects in a fast‑paced agency environment.
You’ll join an employee‑owned, values‑driven business that prioritises quality, collaboration, and long‑term personal development, with clear progression pathways and a strong focus on doing work that has a positive impact.
What you’ll be doing:
As a Backend Developer, you’ll play a key role in shaping backend architecture and CMS implementations, ensuring that technical solutions are robust, maintainable, and easy for clients to use.
Key responsibilities include:
* Building and maintaining backend applications using PHP and Laravel
* Designing and implementing logical content models and CMS architectures
* Mapping backend data structures to frontend requirements
* Contributing to technical specifications and project scoping
* Providing accurate cost estimates for retainers and smaller projects
* Delivering clean, efficient, and well‑structured code on time
* Managing your workload across multiple client projects
* Collaborating with the wider development team to explore and adopt new technologies
* Supporting best practices across code quality, performance, and maintainability
What we’re looking for:
Essential experience:
* 3+ years’ experience
* Strong commercial experience with PHP
* Solid knowledge of the Laravel framework and ecosystem
* Experience designing backend structures to support CMS‑driven websites
* Ability to translate designs and requirements into logical content models
* Comfortable working across multiple projects simultaneously
Desirable / bonus experience:
* Experience working with Craft CMS (or similar CMS platforms)
* Experience working in a digital agency or similar fast‑paced environment
* Familiarity with CMS control panel configuration and content modelling
* Experience extending CMS platforms with custom functionality
* Exposure to frontend technologies such as Vue.js and Tailwind CSS
* Confidence communicating technical concepts to non‑technical stakeholders
About you:
* You’re pragmatic, detail‑oriented, and enjoy solving complex problems
* You care about building intuitive systems that make clients’ lives easier
* You thrive in collaborative, social team environments
* You’re comfortable in an agency setting where priorities can move quickly
* You’re keen to keep learning and contribute to a forward‑thinking development culture
Benefits & culture:
We’re committed to creating an environment where people can do their best work while maintaining a healthy work‑life balance.
Our benefits include:
* 25 days holiday + bank holidays (increasing with service)
* Company performance‑linked bonus scheme
* Comprehensive private health insurance
* 5% company pension scheme
* Access to your own financial coach
* Free on‑site gym
* Hybrid working and flexible hours
* Structured personal development and progression pathways
* Your birthday off
* Regular socials, team events, and an annual summer conference
If you are interested please apply ASAP. The People Network is an employment agency and will respond to all applicants within three - five working days. If you do not hear within these timescales please feel free to get in touch.
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