At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop and support digital products while owning backend infrastructure.
- Company: Join a small, innovative team with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 4.5 day work week, team days, and a relaxed atmosphere.
- Other info: Collaborate closely with a tight-knit team and mentor others.
- Why this job: Gain autonomy in building systems and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in modern PHP, AWS, and Kubernetes required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Are you a backend developer who's just as comfortable in a Kubernetes cluster as you are in a PHP codebase, and fancies Friday afternoons off?
We're looking for a Senior Backend Developer to join our growing digital team, taking on real ownership of our backend systems and the infrastructure they run on.
This is a role for someone who wants genuine autonomy over how systems are built, deployed and kept running, working alongside a small, collaborative team rather than reporting up through layers of process.
You'll report to our Head of Delivery and work closely with the rest of the backend team, but this is an individual contributor role with no direct reports.
If you're comfortable in modern PHP, properly comfortable in AWS and Kubernetes, and like the idea of owning infrastructure decisions rather than waiting for someone else to make them, you'll feel at home here.
What you'll be doing
You'll be working closely with a tight-knit dev team to build and support digital products for a range of interesting customers, while owning the infrastructure underneath them.
Day to day, that includes
- Developing new features and products using modern PHP and MVC frameworks
- Building bespoke web APIs to be consumed by frontend applications
- Mentoring other members of the dev team, sharing infrastructure and security knowledge as well as PHP practice
- Working on greenfield builds as well as supporting and improving existing client projects
- Owning and evolving our AWS infrastructure: deployment, scaling, configuration and cost
- Managing our Kubernetes environment and Docker‑based deployment pipelines
- Building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines
- Taking the lead on infrastructure security: patching, vulnerability management, access control, backups and disaster recovery
- Being the point of escalation when something breaks (informal on‑call, no formal rota, but you're the person we call)
- Triaging helpdesk tickets and supporting clients with issues or requests for work
- Getting involved in in‑house hack projects that help shape the future direction of the business
- Working with delivery managers to scope and estimate new projects
- Collaborating with designers, developers and stakeholders to deliver clean, scalable solutions
- What's in it for you
We're a small team that does big work.
Our culture is built on support, open conversations, and not taking ourselves too seriously.
Team days and our 4.5 day working week aren't just perks, they're how we make sure our team stays energized and inspired.
Senior Backend Developer employer: Sidigital
At Sidigital, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers our employees to grow and thrive. As a Portsmouth-based agency, we offer a unique opportunity for Junior Designers to develop their skills in a supportive environment while enjoying the benefits of a 4.5-day work week, allowing for a better work-life balance. Join us to be part of a creative team that values your contributions and encourages professional development through hands-on experience and mentorship.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Backend Developer
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Sidigital or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Sidigital.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Sidigital.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Sidigital that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Backend Developer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Sidigital.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Sidigital and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sidigital
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Sidigital uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
