Back-End Developer – PHP/Laravel & WordPress

## About the Company Crowd Favorite is an enterprise open-source agency that develops and maintains content management platforms and custom software solutions for enterprise clients. The company focuses on building stable, scalable, and high-performing digital platforms using open-source technologies. Its development teams work on custom Laravel applications, WordPress platforms, APIs, system integrations, database migrations, and other complex back-end solutions. ## About the Role Crowd Favorite is seeking an experienced **Back-End Developer specializing in PHP/Laravel and WordPress** to join its distributed engineering team. The role focuses on developing scalable APIs, custom Laravel applications, performant WordPress plugins, database migrations, and integrations with external platforms. The successful candidate should be comfortable debugging complex systems, making thoughtful technical decisions, writing maintainable code, and explaining technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. You will work closely with senior developers and contribute to enterprise-level websites and applications where stability, performance, security, and maintainability are important priorities. This is a **fully remote position available worldwide**, with required availability during **U.S. Pacific Time business hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PST/PDT**. ## Key Responsibilities * Work with senior developers on custom Laravel applications involving complex business logic and integrations. * Develop performant WordPress plugins that extend core functionality and connect with external systems. * Follow PSR-4 autoloading standards and PHP namespace conventions. * Build and maintain organized Laravel and WordPress codebases. * Develop RESTful APIs for front-end applications and third-party integrations. * Design and implement database migrations from legacy systems to modern platforms. * Transform and migrate content between different CMS platforms and databases. * Integrate applications with third-party CRM, payment, and marketing platforms. * Optimize database queries and overall database performance. * Implement caching strategies for high-traffic websites. * Develop queue-based background processing systems for data-intensive operations. * Troubleshoot existing websites and applications. * Write automated unit, integration, and functional tests. * Support reliable deployment processes. * Document code, architecture, and technical decisions. * Communicate technical concepts effectively with clients and internal teams. ## Required Experience Candidates should have strong hands-on experience with both Laravel and WordPress development. ### Laravel and PHP * 2–3+ years of Laravel development experience. * Experience with Laravel Eloquent ORM. * Experience working with Laravel queues. * Familiarity with basic Laravel package development. * Strong understanding of PHP. * Strong object-oriented programming knowledge. * Understanding of software design patterns. * Experience with PSR-4 autoloading. * Knowledge of PHP namespaces and maintainable application architecture. ### WordPress * 2–3+ years of WordPress plugin development. * Experience following established WordPress coding standards. * Understanding of WordPress content architecture. * Experience with custom post types. * Experience with meta boxes. * Knowledge of WordPress hooks and filters. * Ability to develop custom functionality rather than relying exclusively on existing plugins. ### Databases and APIs * 2+ years of MySQL database design and development experience. * Experience optimizing database queries. * Experience designing and implementing database migrations. * Experience with content transformations between different systems. * 2+ years of experience building and consuming RESTful APIs. * Strong understanding of JSON data structures. * Experience handling data validation and sanitization. ### Testing and Development Tools * Experience with PHPUnit. * Familiarity with WordPress testing frameworks. * Proficiency with Git workflows. * Experience with deployment pipelines. * Understanding of Docker and virtual development environments. * Working knowledge of Nginx or Apache. * Understanding of SSL and hosting environments. ## Integration and Infrastructure Skills The role involves working with a variety of third-party platforms and infrastructure technologies. Relevant experience includes: * Migrating data from Drupal, Joomla, and other CMS platforms to WordPress. * Salesforce and HubSpot integrations. * Mailchimp and Constant Contact integrations. * Stripe and PayPal payment integrations. * Subscription management systems. * Database performance tuning. * Redis and Memcached caching. * CDN implementation. * Secure data migration and transformation. * Docker-based development environments. Candidates do not necessarily need to have experience with every platform listed, but strong experience with complex integrations and back-end architecture is important. ## Code Portfolio Requirements Crowd Favorite requires applicants to provide **clear evidence of their development abilities**. Applications should include: * A GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket profile containing a WordPress plugin or significant feature developed by the applicant. * At least **300+ lines of the applicant's own code** in the demonstrated WordPress project. * Examples of Laravel projects involving API development and database work. * Examples of database migration or data transformation scripts. Applicants should be prepared to explain their implementation decisions, architecture, coding approach, and testing strategies during the hiring process. ## Communication and Collaboration Because the position is fully remote, strong communication and documentation skills are essential. The successful candidate should: * Have B2-level spoken and written English proficiency. * Work effectively within a distributed development team. * Explain technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders. * Break projects into practical development phases. * Provide realistic project estimates. * Communicate technical risks and potential solutions. * Maintain clear technical documentation. * Document code and system architecture effectively. * Collaborate productively with senior developers and other technical team members. Crowd Favorite recognizes that qualified developers can come from different professional backgrounds. Candidates who meet most, but not necessarily all, of the listed requirements are encouraged to apply. ## Compensation and Benefits The listed base salary range is **$75,000–$85,000 USD per year**. Actual compensation may vary according to skills, experience, and other relevant factors. Crowd Favorite provides a benefits package focused on flexibility, professional development, and work-life balance. Benefits and support include: * Flexible time-off policy. * Location-specific holidays. * Time away for illness and professional development. * Family leave policy. * Health insurance options for eligible full-time U.S.-based employees. * Employer contribution toward health insurance premiums. * Dental and vision coverage. * Life insurance. * Telemedicine benefits. * 401(k) retirement plan for U.S.-based team members. * Employer 401(k) matching of up to 4%. * Discretionary profit-sharing-style bonus program. * Company-provided hardware when needed. * Additional workspace equipment upon request. * Company-paid software tools and subscriptions. * Educational and training accounts. * Support for eligible professional development travel and related expenses. ## Remote Work Environment This is a **fully remote position available worldwide**, although candidates must be available during U.S. Pacific Time business hours from **9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PST/PDT**. The role requires developers who can independently manage their responsibilities while remaining engaged with a distributed team. Clear documentation, communication, project planning, and collaboration are therefore important parts of the position. ## Equal Opportunity Crowd Favorite is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where employees can contribute and work effectively regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, or family status. The company emphasizes an environment where employees are respected, supported, and able to contribute their skills and perspectives.