PHP Engineering Lead
Working Hours : Full time, Permanent
Location :
Hybrid : minimum 2 days per week at our clients Elstree / Kings Cross offices
About the Company :
Our client is a forward-thinking technology organisation reshaping how creative products are produced and delivered. Their platform connects a global network of industry partners while empowering independent artists with scalable, accessible tools. As demand grows, the company is rapidly expanding its platform and infrastructure to support increasing global scale.
About the role :
Our client is seeking a PHP Engineering Lead to balance approximately 50% hands‑on engineering with 50% leadership, architecture, and team development. This role requires someone who can bring structure, clarity, and technical direction to a growing engineering function.
Youll be responsible for shaping technical decisions, guiding delivery, mentoring engineers, and contributing hands‑on where it has the most impact. Strong communication, a collaborative mindset, and solid product instincts are essential.
Key Responsibilities :
* Engineering Leadership, Delivery & Team Development
* Architect, design, and deliver scalable, high‑performance full‑stack solutions.
* Lead complex feature development across PHP (Symfony / Laravel), JavaScript (Vue.js or React.js or Node.js), and AWS.
* Own technical direction, architecture decisions, and engineering standards.
* Manage end‑to‑end delivery of features from discovery and planning through deployment and iteration.
* Lead, mentor, and develop a team of five engineers (one senior, four mid‑level).
* Conduct code reviews, guide technical approaches, and raise engineering standards.
* Support team growth through coaching, pairing, and knowledge sharing.
* Collaborate closely with the CEO and senior stakeholders on product and engineering strategy.
* Identify and address technical debt to support long‑term platform growth.
Platform, Infrastructure & Reliability
* Build and maintain APIs, microservices, backend systems, and third‑party integrations.
* Ensure platform security, performance, reliability, and scalability.
* Manage cloud‑native workflows using AWS, Docker, and CI / CD pipelines.
* Work with distributed systems and messaging technologies (e.g. SQS, RabbitMQ).
* Drive strong testing practices, monitoring, observability, and production readiness.
Essential Technical Experience :
* Significant full‑stack engineering experience, particularly with PHP (Symfony or Laravel).
* Strong experience with JavaScript (Vue.js, React.js, and / or Node.js).
* Solid database expertise across MySQL and PostgreSQL.
* Hands‑on experience with AWS architecture, Docker, and CI / CD automation.
* Experience building APIs, microservices, and distributed systems.
* Familiarity with messaging systems such as SQS or RabbitMQ.
* Strong testing mindset using frameworks such as PHPUnit, Vitest, or equivalents.
* Proven ability to deliver features end‑to‑end from concept to production.
* Excellent communication skills and ability to balance technical depth with delivery.
Desirable Experience :
* Previous experience leading engineering teams or acting as a technical lead.
* Interest in progressing further into people leadership.
* Exposure to automation systems, industrial software, or production workflows.
* Familiarity with manufacturing or factory‑adjacent technology environments.
* Experience with Node.js.
Benefits :
* Highly competitive salary package
* 25 days annual leave
* Pension scheme
* Private medical insurance
* Modern, technology‑focused office environment
Why Join Our Client :
* Take on a pivotal leadership role influencing the technical direction of a rapidly scaling platform.
* Work directly with senior leadership on engineering strategy and product evolution.
* Lead and mentor a growing development team, shaping culture and standards.
* Contribute hands‑on and architecturally to a platform with strong industry visibility and creative impact.
* Be part of a visionary company pushing innovation in physical media and creator technology.
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