Company Description
Founded in 1840, Gillman & Soame provide specialist photography services to schools, universities, and more
TL;DR:
Gillman & Soame is hiring a
Senior Software Engineer
(5+ years experience) to own and modernise our bespoke Web Admin System. You'll balance maintaining business-critical operations with driving modernisation, security, and scalability. Strong PHP, MySQL/MariaDB, and AWS skills are essential. Experience with legacy systems, CI/CD, testing frameworks, and data protection (GDPR) is highly valued.
The role
We are looking for an experienced Senior Software Engineer to take full ownership of our Web Admin System. This role is both hands-on and strategic: you will ensure continuity of a mission-critical platform while leading efforts to modernize and evolve the system.
You'll troubleshoot, optimize, and secure the system, while gradually introducing best practices such as automated testing, CI/CD, and improved documentation. This is a unique opportunity to make a real impact on a business-critical platform used daily across our organisation.
Key Responsibilities
* Maintain and support the Web Admin System and Web Shop (PHP/MariaDB on AWS).
* Manage AWS infrastructure (EC2, RDS, S3) and disaster recovery processes.
* Implement automated testing frameworks and CI/CD pipelines.
* Identify and deliver system modernisation projects while ensuring stability.
* Optimise database performance and maintain our system security.
* Create and maintain comprehensive system documentation.
About You
You are a versatile engineer with strong technical depth and the maturity to balance modernisation with business continuity. You thrive in complex, bespoke environments and are motivated by solving real-world challenges.
Essential skills:
* 5+ years of professional software development experience
* Strong PHP (8.x) and MySQL/MariaDB expertise
* AWS (EC2, RDS, S3) experience
* Web application security best practices
* Experience implementing automated testing frameworks
* Ability to work independently and communicate effectively
Highly desirable:
* Experience modernising legacy systems
* Background in e-commerce or order processing
* Familiarity with GDPR and secure data handling
* Knowledge of Git workflows, CI/CD, and documentation systems
* Printing workflow or image processing experience
What We Offer
* Competitive salary
* Significant influence over a business-critical system
* Professional development opportunities
* Collaborative and supportive work environment
* Projects with real, tangible impact