At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and scale high-performance backend systems using custom PHP frameworks.
- Company: Join an award-winning fintech startup transforming Accounts Payable automation with AI.
- Benefits: Highly competitive salary, remote work, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Fully remote role with occasional travel to Germany; excellent career advancement potential.
- Why this job: Work directly with a technical CTO and make a real impact in a rapidly scaling company.
- Qualifications: 7+ years of strong PHP experience and proven skills in custom framework development.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Remote (UK / Europe) | Occasional travel to Germany/US
Highly competitive (top-tier talent focus)
This is NOT a typical Laravel/Symfony role. We are looking for engineers who have experience building or working with custom frameworks, core backend systems, and high-performance PHP applications. If your experience is primarily CMS or standard web development (WordPress, Drupal, basic Laravel apps), this role will not be the right fit.
Experience required:
- Building or maintaining a custom framework
- Contributions to open-source backend libraries/frameworks
- Working on high-load, scalable backend systems
You’ll be working directly with a highly technical CTO who is deeply experienced in PHP and backend system design.
MakersHub is an award-winning fintech startup transforming Accounts Payable automation using AI. Backed by top investors, the company is scaling rapidly and building highly complex, high-performance backend systems.
The Role:
We’re looking for a top-tier Senior PHP Backend Engineer to help build and scale a custom, high-performance backend infrastructure. This is NOT a standard PHP/Laravel role.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and maintain custom frameworks, libraries, and core classes
- Design scalable, high-performance APIs and services
- Work closely with the CTO (PHP expert) on system design and architecture
- Drive best practices in security, testing, and performance
Tech Stack:
- PHP (custom architecture – not relying on Laravel/Symfony)
- React (frontend)
- MySQL, Redis
Requirements:
- Strong PHP engineering background (7+ years)
- Proven experience building or working with custom frameworks (ESSENTIAL)
- Experience building applications/platforms (not just websites)
- Building custom libraries/reusable components
- Performance optimization & database tuning (MySQL)
- Async processing, queues, and caching (Redis)
- Secure systems (payments, financial data processing)
- Worked on high-load, low-latency, or financial systems
Fully remote (UK / Europe) with occasional travel (1–2 times per year).
Backend Senior Software Engineer employer: Lorien
At MakersHub, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration. As a rapidly scaling fintech startup, we offer our employees the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology in a fully remote environment, with occasional travel to Germany for team-building and strategic meetings. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through direct mentorship from our experienced CTO and a focus on best practices in software development, ensuring that you can thrive both personally and professionally while contributing to transformative projects in Accounts Payable automation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Backend Senior Software Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the tech industry, especially those who might know about opportunities at fintech startups. A personal recommendation can make all the difference.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your custom frameworks and high-performance PHP applications. This is your chance to demonstrate what you can bring to the table beyond just a CV.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your core PHP knowledge and system design principles. Be ready to discuss your experience with low-latency systems and how you've tackled performance issues in the past.
✨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, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step!
We think you need these skills to ace Backend Senior Software Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your PHP Skills:Make sure to highlight your experience with core PHP and custom frameworks. We want to see how you've tackled high-performance systems, so don’t hold back on the details!
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor your application to reflect the specific skills and experiences that match our job description. We love seeing how you fit into our vision.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward communication, so avoid fluff and get straight to your achievements and relevant experiences.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lorien
✨Know Your PHP Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your core PHP skills, especially if you've been working with frameworks like Laravel or Symfony. This role is all about custom frameworks, so be ready to discuss your experience building or maintaining them. Prepare examples of high-performance systems you've worked on and how you tackled challenges.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be prepared to dive into technical discussions about system design and architecture. Think of specific instances where you optimised performance or solved complex problems in backend systems. The CTO will appreciate your ability to think critically and creatively about backend challenges.
✨Highlight Your Experience with High-Load Systems
Since this role involves working on high-load, scalable backend systems, make sure to highlight any relevant experience. Discuss the strategies you used for database tuning, async processing, and caching. If you've contributed to open-source projects, bring those up too—they show your commitment to the community and your expertise.
✨Prepare Questions for the CTO
Interviews are a two-way street, so come armed with insightful questions for the CTO. Ask about their vision for the backend infrastructure or how they approach security and performance optimisation. This shows you're genuinely interested in the role and eager to contribute to the team's success.
