PHP Developer

We’re recruiting on behalf of an established organisation for an experienced Lead Laravel Developer to take a senior role within a substantial and long-standing technology environment. This is not purely a development position. We’re looking for someone who combines strong Laravel/PHP experience with excellent people, project and stakeholder management skills. You’ll take day-to-day ownership of a dedicated four-person development team and work closely with the organisation to manage priorities, projects and ongoing development across a significant digital estate, including four mobile apps, two websites and a number of internal web applications. You’ll oversee projects from initial requirements and planning through to development, testing, release and ongoing improvement. The role offers a high level of ownership and autonomy across the client relationship, team and delivery. What you’ll be responsible for Leading and managing a dedicated four-person development teamProviding technical leadership across a Laravel/PHP development environmentRemaining hands-on with Laravel development when required, including development, troubleshooting, code review and technical problem solvingManaging multiple projects and development workstreams from initial requirement through to deliveryWorking directly with stakeholders to understand requirements, priorities and wider business objectivesBuilding strong relationships across the organisation, from operational and marketing teams through to senior leadershipTranslating business requirements into clear technical requirements and achievable delivery plansManaging priorities, resources, estimates, timelines, dependencies and delivery expectationsRunning meetings, project reviews and planning sessionsCommunicating progress, risks and issues clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholdersProactively identifying opportunities where technology can improve operations, customer experience or commercial performanceSupporting estimates and technical scoping for new projects and featuresMentoring and supporting developers within the teamMaintaining high standards across development quality, security, performance and maintainabilityTaking genuine ownership of the relationship rather than simply responding to development requests What we’re looking for You’ll have 5+ years of commercial PHP/Laravel development experience, ideally with experience at Senior, Lead or Technical Lead level. Just as importantly, you’ll have experience of: Leading peopleManaging software projectsWorking directly with clients and stakeholdersTranslating business requirements into technical solutionsManaging competing priorities and delivery expectationsCommunicating effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences We’re particularly interested in someone who has developed strong commercial and people skills alongside their technical career. Technical experience Strong commercial experience with PHP and Laravel is essential. We’d also expect good knowledge of: APIs and third-party integrationsMySQL and relational databasesGit-based development workflowsTesting and debuggingApplication securityPerformance and scalabilityCode review and development standards Experience with modern frontend technologies, cloud infrastructure, CI/CD, e-commerce platforms or high-volume transactional systems would be beneficial, but isn’t essential. The type of person we’re looking for This role would suit someone who started their career as a developer and still enjoys being technically involved, but whose capabilities and interests have grown beyond simply writing code. You might currently be a Senior Laravel Developer, Lead Developer, Technical Lead or Development Team Lead, and already find yourself increasingly involved in clients, projects, mentoring and commercial conversations. You’ll enjoy understanding why something is being built, not just how to build it. You’ll be comfortable taking ownership of a significant relationship and becoming someone both stakeholders and the development team trust to get things done. You’ll also have the commercial awareness to recognise opportunities, suggest improvements and help the organisation get more value from its technology investment. Working arrangements 2 days per week working on-siteRemaining days working remotelyOccasional UK travel for meetings, workshops or other business requirementsReasonable travel and accommodation expenses covered There will also be opportunities to collaborate with the wider technology and delivery teams and get involved with the broader organisation. If you’re an experienced Laravel developer who is ready to take the next step into a role combining technical leadership, people management, project delivery and stakeholder management, apply today!