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- Tasks: Lead backend development, mentor a team, and optimise systems using PHP and SQL.
- Company: Join ToucanTech, a fast-growing tech scale-up transforming community management globally.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, training support, team events, and 24 days holiday plus public holidays.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact in a nurturing environment with a focus on learning and collaboration.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in backend development, strong PHP skills, and experience leading teams required.
- Other info: Remote or office work preferred; must have the right to work in the UK.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Location: HQ in London, UK. Remote/office working as preferred.
Start date: ASAP
Reporting to: CTO
Salary: Competitive, depending on experience.
Contract: Permanent, full-time role
Company Overview:
ToucanTech is a fast-growing tech scale-up revolutionising community management with an all-in-one database, website, and comms system. The software is used by teams managing membership, alumni, fundraising, and special interest networks. It is used in over 25 countries around the world by organisations including schools, charities, universities, museums, professional associations, and sports clubs. We’ve grown from 2 co-founders to an expanding team of over 60 Toucans based between London, Lisbon, Washington DC, and Sydney.
Role Overview:
We are seeking a highly experienced and motivated Lead Back-end Application Engineer to join our growing Engineering team. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining robust and scalable backend systems using PHP and SQL. You will lead a small team of backend developers, mentor junior engineers, and drive best practices in software development. This is an excellent opportunity for a seasoned professional to make a significant impact on our product and technical direction.
Role Responsibilities:
- Lead the design, development, testing, and deployment of high-performance, scalable, and secure backend applications using PHP.
- Architect and optimize SQL databases (e.g., MySQL, Aurora) for performance, scalability, and data integrity.
- Mentor and guide a team of backend application engineers, fostering their professional growth and ensuring adherence to coding standards and best practices.
- Collaborate closely with product managers, front-end applications engineers, and other stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions.
- Conduct code reviews, ensuring code quality, maintainability, and adherence to architectural guidelines.
- Identify and resolve complex technical issues, performance bottlenecks, and security vulnerabilities.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of our development processes, tools, and infrastructure.
- Stay up-to-date with emerging technologies and industry trends, evaluating and recommending their adoption where appropriate.
- Participate in strategic technical planning and roadmap development.
- Play a key role in integrating the technical team into the heart of the business, fostering a shared culture and fun that reflects the spirit of the entire company.
Required Skills:
- 8+ years of professional experience in backend development, with a strong focus on PHP.
- Extensive experience with modern PHP frameworks, especially Symfony.
- Deep expertise in SQL database design, optimization, and administration (e.g., complex queries, indexing, stored procedures, replication).
- Proven experience leading and mentoring a team of developers.
- Strong understanding of object-oriented programming (OOP) principles and design patterns.
- Experience with RESTful API design and development.
- Familiarity with version control systems, especially Git.
- Solid understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC) and agile methodologies.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot complex technical issues.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Desirable Skills:
- Experience with cloud platforms, especially AWS.
- Experience using Flutter/Dart to create mobile applications.
- Knowledge of other programming languages, especially Python and Node.js.
- Experience with containerization technologies, especially Docker and Kubernetes.
- Familiarity with message queues, especially RabbitMQ.
- Experience with continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines.
- Contributions to open-source projects.
Some of the benefits of this role:
- Flexible working hours and style.
- Training and support to develop your skills and career.
- Friendly nurturing environment with a strict no blame only learn culture!
- Transparency internally about company direction/strategy & tactics across teams.
- Regular team events, lunches, and meetups.
- A central London office with a fully stocked drinks fridge.
- 24 days holiday per year + public holidays.
Unfortunately we are not able to sponsor foreign working visas at this time, so you will need to have the right to work in the UK.
Lead Back-end Application Engineer - Web employer: ToucanTech
Contact Detail:
ToucanTech Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Back-end Application Engineer - Web
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific technologies mentioned in the job description, especially PHP and SQL. Brush up on your knowledge of modern PHP frameworks like Symfony, as this will be crucial for your role.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight your leadership experience when discussing your background. Since this role involves mentoring junior developers, be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully led teams and fostered their growth.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your problem-solving skills by preparing to discuss complex technical issues you've resolved in the past. This will demonstrate your ability to handle challenges that may arise in the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Engage with the company culture by researching ToucanTech's values and mission. Be ready to express how your personal values align with theirs, as cultural fit is often just as important as technical skills.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Back-end Application Engineer - Web
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience with PHP, SQL, and any relevant frameworks like Symfony. Emphasise your leadership skills and any mentoring experience, as these are crucial for the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for backend development and community management. Mention specific projects where you've led teams or optimised systems, showcasing your problem-solving skills.
Showcase Relevant Projects: If you have a portfolio or GitHub repository, include links to projects that demonstrate your expertise in backend development, particularly those using PHP and SQL. Highlight any contributions to open-source projects if applicable.
Prepare for Technical Questions: Anticipate technical questions related to backend development, database optimisation, and team leadership. Be ready to discuss your approach to code reviews and mentoring junior developers, as these are key aspects of the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at ToucanTech
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your experience with PHP and SQL in detail. Highlight specific projects where you've used modern PHP frameworks like Symfony, and be ready to explain your approach to database design and optimisation.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Since this role involves leading a team, share examples of how you've mentored junior developers in the past. Discuss your leadership style and how you ensure coding standards and best practices are followed.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Scenarios
Expect to face technical challenges during the interview. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and be ready to walk through your thought process when tackling complex issues or performance bottlenecks.
✨Communicate Effectively
Strong communication is key, especially when articulating technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Practice explaining your past projects and technical decisions in a clear and concise manner.
