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- Tasks: Develop and maintain backend applications using PHP and MySQL, tackling complex data challenges.
- Company: Join Keepthinking, a leading digital platform creator for cultural institutions worldwide.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on high-profile projects in the arts and culture sector.
- Qualifications: Strong PHP skills, experience with MySQL, and a knack for problem-solving.
- Other info: Collaborative team environment with a focus on quality and innovation.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Are you a backend developer who enjoys solving complex data problems and building robust, scalable systems? Do you want your work to power digital experiences for leading arts, culture, and heritage institutions worldwide? Keepthinking is looking for a Backend Developer to join our growing team and play a key role in developing high-quality, data-driven applications.
About us: Keepthinking creates digital platforms for cultural institutions around the world. From collection management systems to richly designed public websites, our work helps organisations tell meaningful stories and engage global audiences. Based in our studio near Borough Market / London Bridge, we collaborate with internationally recognised clients including SFMOMA, Coca-Cola, Art UK, Asia Art Archive, GSK, and The Barack Obama Foundation. You’ll be joining a multidisciplinary team of 8 developers, 2 designers, and 6 project managers, working in a highly collaborative and supportive environment.
The role: As a Backend Developer at Keepthinking, you will design and build the core application logic, APIs, and data structures that power our platforms. A central part of the role involves data migration and transformation — working with legacy systems that are often complex, inconsistent, and poorly structured, and turning them into clean, coherent datasets within Qi, our next-generation collections management system. This is not a routine ETL role. It requires analytical thinking, curiosity, and problem-solving, as each dataset presents unique challenges in structure, meaning, and interpretation. You will also contribute directly to the ongoing development and enhancement of Qi, helping shape a flexible, modern platform used by institutions worldwide.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and maintain backend applications using PHP (CodeIgniter framework)
- Design and optimise MySQL databases for performance, scalability, and integrity
- Build and maintain RESTful APIs for front-end applications and integrations
- Analyse and transform legacy datasets, designing mappings and structures for migration into Qi
- Contribute to the development and evolution of Qi, our collections management platform
- Collaborate closely with front-end developers to deliver clean, efficient data interfaces
- Ensure high standards of security, performance, and code quality
- Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues across the stack
- Participate in code reviews and contribute to best practices
Requirements:
- Strong proficiency in PHP, with experience in CodeIgniter (or similar MVC frameworks)
- Ideally, experience with Elasticsearch
- Solid experience with MySQL, including schema design and query optimisation
- Experience with data transformation, ETL processes, or legacy system migrations
- Ability to analyse and understand complex or inconsistent datasets
- Experience building and consuming RESTful APIs
- Understanding of how backend systems integrate with modern front-end frameworks (e.g. Vue.js)
- Familiarity with Git and collaborative workflows
- Ability to write clean, maintainable, and well-documented code
- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
- Based in or near London, with availability to work 2–3 days per week in the office
- Right to work in the UK (no visa sponsorship available)
What we offer:
- The opportunity to work on meaningful, high-profile projects in the cultural sector
- Direct involvement in shaping a next-generation collections management system (Qi)
- Work that combines engineering with investigative data problem-solving
- A collaborative team with strong design and technical expertise
- Hybrid working (office + remote flexibility)
- Competitive salary based on experience (between £40,000 and £50,000)
- A supportive environment that values craft, quality, and long-term thinking
- Opportunities for professional growth and technical development
Backend Developer – PHP / MySQL / CodeIgniter in London employer: Keepthinking
Contact Detail:
Keepthinking Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Backend Developer – PHP / MySQL / CodeIgniter in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your best projects, especially those involving PHP, MySQL, and CodeIgniter. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do and sets you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on common backend development questions and coding challenges. Practice explaining your thought process when solving problems, as this is key for roles that require analytical thinking.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Keepthinking.
We think you need these skills to ace Backend Developer – PHP / MySQL / CodeIgniter in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience with PHP, MySQL, and CodeIgniter. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t be shy about showcasing relevant projects or achievements!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for Keepthinking. Share your passion for backend development and how you enjoy tackling complex data problems. Let your personality shine through!
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, give examples of how you've approached data migration or transformation challenges in the past. We love analytical thinkers who can turn messy datasets into clean, coherent structures!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Keepthinking
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you brush up on your PHP, MySQL, and CodeIgniter skills before the interview. Be ready to discuss your experience with these technologies and how you've used them in past projects. It’s a great way to show that you’re not just familiar with the tools, but that you can leverage them effectively.
✨Showcase Problem-Solving Skills
Since the role involves tackling complex data problems, prepare some examples of challenges you've faced in previous roles. Talk about how you approached these issues, the solutions you implemented, and the outcomes. This will demonstrate your analytical thinking and curiosity, which are key for this position.
✨Understand Data Migration
Familiarise yourself with data migration processes and be ready to discuss any relevant experience you have. Highlight your ability to analyse and transform legacy datasets, as this is a central part of the role. If you can share specific examples of how you’ve handled similar tasks, even better!
✨Collaborate and Communicate
Since you'll be working closely with front-end developers and other team members, emphasise your collaborative skills. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve worked in teams before, how you handle feedback, and how you ensure clear communication. This will show that you’re a team player who values collaboration in a supportive environment.