Lead PHP Developer – Full Stack & AI Integration

About the role

We are seeking a Lead PHP Developer to head the design and delivery of web‑based professional services and finance systems. The role combines full‑stack development, cloud‑native architecture and AI‑enhanced features, working in a hybrid setting across London and remote locations.

Key responsibilities

• Define, manage and deliver projects together with Project Managers and Data Scientists.
• Lead the architecture and design of PHP applications using Laravel, Symfony or CodeIgniter.
• Develop, test, deploy and refactor code across the full software lifecycle.
• Build and maintain integrations with internal and external APIs.
• Conduct code reviews for PHP, Go/Golang, SQL/MySQL, HTML/CSS and JavaScript frameworks.
• Design and deploy scalable, cloud‑native solutions on AWS, incorporating AI Search and automation tools.
• Mentor and grow a multidisciplinary team of developers, DevOps, AI and data specialists.

Required profile

• Senior‑level, hands‑on PHP experience with OOP and at least one major framework (Laravel, Symfony, CodeIgniter).
• Proven ability to work across the full stack, including front‑end JavaScript, HTML and CSS.
• Strong database design and optimisation skills with MySQL.
• Experience delivering enterprise applications on AWS and applying micro‑services architecture.
• Familiarity with AI platforms, preferably AWS AI Search.
• Comfortable leading agile teams and driving best‑practice development processes.

Required skills

• PHP
• Laravel
• Symfony
• CodeIgniter
• Go / Golang
• SQL / MySQL
• HTML
• CSS
• JavaScript
• Vue
• React
• AWS
• AI Search
• Micro‑services
• API integration

What we offer

• Competitive salary £130k‑£150k per year.
• Hybrid working model (2‑3 days in London office).
• Opportunity to work on AI‑driven, cloud‑native products.
• Professional development and leadership growth.
• Comprehensive benefits package.