PHP Laravel Software Engineer

Software Engineer – Lending PlatformALP (Automatic Lending Platform)Company OverviewWe are the UK's largest finance provider in the medical and dentistry sectors. We operate a financial services platform that powers automated lending, loan management, and retailer financing solutions. Our platform processes applications, manages loans, handles payments, and integrates with credit reference agencies, lenders, and payment providers. The RoleWe're looking for a mid-to-senior PHP engineer to work on our core lending platform. You'll develop features across our automated decision engine, payment processing systems, lender integrations, and customer/retailer portals. This is a full-stack role with emphasis on backend PHP development, working on a mature codebase that handles real financial transactions and regulatory compliance. We're an AI-forward engineering team – we use AI coding assistants (Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, etc.) to accelerate development and AI-powered code review to maintain quality. You'll be expected to use these tools effectively while maintaining high standards for security and correctness in financial systems. We are ISO27001 accredited and use security first principals. Key ResponsibilitiesDevelop and maintain features across application decisioning, loan management, and payment processing using AI-assisted development toolsBuild integrations with credit reference agencies (TransUnion, Equifax), lenders, and payment gatewaysImplement automated workflows using our event-driven architecture and decision engineWork on multi-tenant systems, ensuring data isolation and securityOptimise database queries and caching for performance at scaleContribute to API development for internal and external integrationsWrite and maintain tests (unit, functional) using CodeceptionParticipate in AI-assisted code reviews – both reviewing AI-generated code and using AI to review others' codeDebug production issues involving financial transactions and third-party integrationsCollaborate with AI tools effectively while maintaining ownership and understanding of all codeRequired Skills & ExperienceEssentialPHP & Yii2 Framework 3+ years PHP development experience (PHP 8.1+)Strong understanding of Yii2 framework (ActiveRecord, components, modules, behaviours)Experience with MVC architecture and OOP principlesUnderstanding of PHP namespaces, traits, and modern PHP featuresDatabase & Data Proficient in MySQL – complex queries, joins, indexing, optimisationExperience with database transactions and ensuring data consistencyUnderstanding of read replicas and query optimisation strategiesComfortable with database migrations and schema designBackend Development Strong understanding of RESTful API design and implementationExperience with authentication systems (API keys, OAuth, session management)Knowledge of queueing systems for background job processingUnderstanding of caching strategies (Redis)Frontend & Design Proficiency in CSS (Flexbox, Grid, responsive design)Mobile-first design principles and responsive web developmentExperience with CSS preprocessors (Sass, Less) or modern CSS-in-JSUnderstanding of cross-browser compatibility and progressive enhancementAbility to translate designs into pixel-perfect, accessible UI componentsGeneral Software Engineering Git version control (branching, merging, rebasing)Experience with Docker for local developmentUnderstanding of software testing principles and practicesAbility to read and understand large, legacy codebasesStrong debugging and problem-solving skillsCritical thinking – ability to review and validate AI-generated code for correctness and securityHighly DesirableAI-Assisted Development Experience with AI coding assistants (Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Cody, etc.)Understanding of prompt engineering for code generationAbility to effectively use AI for code exploration, refactoring, and debuggingExperience reviewing AI-generated code critically, especially for security vulnerabilitiesFamiliarity with AI-powered code review toolsUnderstanding when to use AI assistance vs. manual codingExperience with semantic code search tools and LSP-based developmentFinancial/Fintech Experience Experience in fintech, lending, or financial servicesUnderstanding of credit decisioning, affordability assessments, or loan managementKnowledge of UK financial regulations (FCA, GDPR)Familiarity with payment processing (Direct Debit/BACS, card payments, Faster Payments)Understanding of credit reference agencies and credit checkingTechnical Skills Vue.js 3 for frontend component developmentExperience with event-driven architecturesKnowledge of rule engines or workflow systemsExperience with multi-tenant SaaS platformsFamiliarity with open banking APIsUnderstanding of webhook integrations and handling asynchronous data flowsIntegration Experience Working with third-party APIs (credit bureaus, payment gateways, lenders)Building reliable webhook handlers with retry logicAPI versioning and backwards compatibilityNice to HaveExperience with Laravel or other PHP frameworksKnowledge of TypeScriptFamiliarity with CI/CD pipelinesUnderstanding of UK credit reporting (CAIS)Experience with PDF generation (mPDF) and document managementKnowledge of accounting/reconciliation systemsOpen Banking implementation experienceExperience contributing to or maintaining AI coding documentation (like CLAUDE.md files)Technical EnvironmentCore Stack PHP 8.x, Yii2 FrameworkMySQL (with read replicas)Redis (caching, sessions)Vue.js 3, ViteDocker for local developmentKey Libraries & Tools Composer for dependency managementCodeception for testingCarbon for date/time manipulationVarious payment gateway SDKsArchitecture Multi-application Yii2 setup (backend, frontend, retailer, API, console)Shared common codebase with 300+ ActiveRecord modelsEvent-driven architecture with trigger/action systemRule-based decision engineQueue-based background job processingRESTful APIsWhat Makes This Role Challenging & RewardingAI-Forward Engineering Culture Work with cutting-edge AI development tools to boost productivityLearn to effectively prompt and guide AI assistants for complex tasksParticipate in pioneering workflows combining human expertise with AI capabilitiesHelp shape best practices for AI-assisted development in financial servicesMaintain the critical balance between AI acceleration and human oversight for sensitive financial codeComplex Domain Work on a comprehensive lending platform with automated decisioning, loan lifecycle management, payment processing, and regulatory complianceLearn about credit underwriting, affordability assessment, and UK financial servicesScale & Reliability Handle real financial transactions requiring accuracy and audit trailsBuild systems that integrate with banks, credit bureaus, and payment providersWork on multi-tenant architecture serving multiple retailers and lendersTechnical Depth Navigate a mature codebase with AI assistanceOptimise database queries and caching for performanceBuild reliable webhook handlers and event-driven workflowsImplement complex business rules in the decision engineFull Stack Scope Backend API development and business logicFrontend components in Vue.jsDatabase design and optimisationThird-party integrationsConsole commands and background jobsPersonal AttributesAttention to detail – financial systems require precision; AI suggestions must be validatedProblem solver – comfortable debugging complex issues across multiple systemsPragmatic – balance technical debt with delivering features; know when AI helps vs. when to code manuallyCommunicative – able to discuss technical decisions and trade-offs; explain AI-assisted approachesOwnership mentality – take responsibility for your code in production, whether human or AI-generatedCurious – willing to learn about the lending/fintech domain and new AI development toolsDisciplined – follow conventions, write tests, use transactions for financial operationsAI-savvy – comfortable working alongside AI tools while maintaining critical oversightSecurity-conscious – understand OWASP Top 10; scrutinise AI-generated code for vulnerabilitiesOpen-minded – embrace new development workflows and help evolve team practicesOur Development PhilosophyWe believe AI tools should augment developer capabilities, not replace critical thinking. You'll be expected to: ✅ Do's Use AI to accelerate exploration, refactoring, and boilerplate codeUse AI for test generation and documentationApply AI-assisted code review to catch issues earlyShare learnings about effective AI prompting and workflowsValidate all AI-generated financial/security code carefully❌ Don'ts Blindly merge AI-generated code without understanding itSkip testing because "AI wrote it"Ignore security best practices in AI-generated codeUse AI as an excuse for poor code qualityEqual Opportunity Statement We're committed to building a diverse team and encourage applications from all backgrounds.