Senior PHP Developer

Island Bridge Networks is a company which specialises in internet infrastructure. In a nutshell, we don't manage the networks of just one ISP but we do it for many ISPs. We also look for interesting and technically challenging projects, both in Ireland and abroad. Feel free to reach out to us to discuss roles by emailing jobs@islandbridgenetworks.ie. If you'd just like to chat to us and find out more, arrange a coffee with Barry or Nick here (discretion guaranteed and our office is always available as a less public place). Working at Island Bridge Networks We strongly believe in a balanced life and do not encourage long working hours. If you're not on call, then when you leave the office you should be switched off until the next working day. We're extremely flexible about working from home, family, working hours that suit, avoiding peak commuting hours, etc. We also do our best to avoid stress - there are no arbitrary deadlines; we try to actively mitigate stressful situations; and we intervene when it looks like a "situation" may be brewing. Our staff are based in our offices in Dublin city centre but we support working from home if that is your preference. As a small company, we would prefer Irish-resident staff for logistic and administrative simplicity - but that rule can be flexible for the right candidates. Open Roles We have a number of open positions which you can find below. If you're interested in any of them - even if you're not sure you fit all the criteria - please contact us and we can discuss a suitable role. To apply for any of the following, please email your CV to jobs@islandbridgenetworks.ie and feel free to contact us with any questions or to have an informal discussion about any of the roles. Systems AdministratorPHP DeveloperNetwork EngineerNetwork / Systems Engineer Senior PHP Developer for the IXP Manager Project Help build the software that keeps the internet running. IXP Manager is a free, open-source platform used by Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) around the world - the critical hubs where networks interconnect to exchange traffic efficiently and reliably. Born at INEX in Ireland, IXP Manager now powers over 250 of the ~450 active IXPs globally. If you’ve ever wondered how the internet stays fast, resilient, and interconnected... this is it. We’re looking for an experienced PHP Developer who wants to work with modern technologies, contribute to open source, and become a key voice shaping the future of a project used by major network operators worldwide. This job is at the heart of internet infrastructure - and provides the opportunity to grow into the lead developer role, guiding the project’s technical direction. Why This Role Is Unique Your work directly impacts global internet infrastructure.You’ll be the core developer of a respected, widely deployed open-source project.You’ll work closely with Barry O’Donovan, the long-time lead developer and project manager, and Nick Hilliard, INEX's CTO and a widely respected IXP expert.You’ll be part of a friendly, expert engineering community of network operators around the world.Opportunities to speak at conferences and travel, if that interests you.Full autonomy in tooling and workflow - we support what works best for you. What You'll Do You will take ownership of the ongoing development and evolution of IXP Manager: Write clean, maintainable, high-quality PHP code that improves the platform in meaningful ways.Participate actively in the open-source community: GitHub issues, pull requests, and our user mailing list.Contribute to the wider ecosystem - documentation, website improvements, guides, and tooling.Prioritise security in development, and respond efficiently to security disclosures.Enhance and expand the project’s automated test coverage, integrating testing more deeply into our development cycle. Tech Stack You'll Work With Backend:Laravel, PHP 8.4+MySQL & Eloquent ORMFrontend:Tailwind CSSLight-weight static UI with optional modern JS frameworks (Vue, Alpine, Livewire, etc.) Tooling & Equipment We’re flexible - use what you’re most productive with. Typical team tools include: PHPStormBeyondCode toolsTablePlusGit / GitHub We’ll Provide A MacBook Pro of your choice>= 24" monitorLicences for any tools you need Desirable Experience We’re Looking For Someone Who Can Demonstrate 5+ years of professional PHP experience or equivalent expertise.Prior contributions to open-source projects are an advantage.Good understanding of web technologies: CSS, JavaScript, and ideally frameworks such as Tailwind, VueJS, Livewire, or AlpineJS.Good working knowledge of MySQL, Git, and secure web application development.Familiarity with PHP best practices and modern web security principles.Clear, thoughtful technical communication and documentation skills. Who You Are The Ideal Candidate Shows genuine interest in internet infrastructure, networks, or open-source software (no networking knowledge required - we’ll teach you!).Can work independently and take ownership of problems.Learns quickly and enjoys solving technical challenges.Wants to make a real impact on a project that is widely used and trusted globally. More Information Our company is based in Dublin 2, but remote work from anywhere in Ireland is possible. To apply, please send a PDF version of your CV and a cover letter explaining why you're interested in joining this project and why you are a good candidate to jobs@islandbridgenetworks.ie. Queries can also be sent to this address. Thanks for your interest!