Senior PHP Developer

📌 Heads up before you apply!

This is a project-based recruitment, which means that the contract will be tied to the duration of our collaboration with the client. Once the project ends or the cooperation is terminated, your contract with Merixstudio will also end. We anticipate the project to be long-term — while the initial scope is planned for 6–12 months, we estimate the overall collaboration may extend up to 2 years or more. The recruitment process consists of two stages: a 30–45 minute intro call with HR and the technical interview - this part will be held entirely in English and usually takes around 1.5 to 2 hours.

That said – we’re putting together a long-term team and looking for someone who’s not just into quick MVPs but rather enjoys taking technical ownership and continuously improving a complex product. You’ll be leading backend developer within agile cross-functional team of Product Owner, Frontend Dev, QA, DevOps and Product Designer - so we’re looking for someone independent, confident in working with legacy code, and ready to lead from the backend side.

You'll work on the continued development of a comprehensive software solution designed specifically for youth welfare organizations in Germany.

This is not just a typical maintenance gig – although you'll spend time improving and stabilizing the existing codebase, you'll also play a key role in designing and building new features, with a strong focus on cash management and invoicing modules. These are critical for the platform’s growth and commercial success.

• experienced PHP Developer with extensive hands-on experience with Symfony 6.2.9 and API Platform;
• familiar with testing using PHP Unit;
• long-term mindset and readiness to work with legacy code;
• ability to work independently and take technical leadership in the backend;
• have solid experience working with REST APIs;
• are familiar with relational databases (e.g., MySQL/PostgreSQL);
• know your way around Docker and basic DevOps processes;
• are used to CI/CD workflows;
• care about clean, testable, maintainable code;
• strong communication and problem-solving skills, both with internal teams and client stakeholders;
• fluent in spoken and written English (minimum B2 level, ideally C1).

• experience working in product teams with full ownership over delivery;
• a track record of leading or mentoring other developers;
• the ability to explain technical concepts in a clear and friendly way;
• proactive attitude and initiative when suggesting improvements or technical directions.