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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 48000 - 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 in demonstrating your expertise during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to discuss your experience in leading and mentoring teams. Think of specific examples where you've guided junior developers or improved team performance, as this role places a strong emphasis on leadership.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your problem-solving skills by preparing for technical questions that may involve troubleshooting complex issues. Be ready to explain your thought process and how you approach resolving technical challenges.
✨Tip Number 4
Research ToucanTech's products and their impact on community management. Understanding their mission and how your role can contribute to their goals will help you articulate your fit for the company during discussions.
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 8+ years of backend development experience, particularly with PHP and SQL. Emphasise any leadership roles you've held and your experience with modern PHP frameworks like Symfony.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role at ToucanTech. Mention specific projects where you've led teams or optimised backend systems, and how your skills align with their needs.
Showcase Relevant Skills: When detailing your experience, focus on your expertise in SQL database design and RESTful API development. Highlight any familiarity with cloud platforms like AWS and containerisation technologies such as Docker.
Prepare for Technical Questions: Be ready to discuss your problem-solving approach and past experiences in troubleshooting complex technical issues. Prepare examples that demonstrate your understanding of OOP principles and agile methodologies.
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 the 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 technical questions that assess your problem-solving abilities. Be ready to walk through complex technical issues you've resolved, particularly those related to performance bottlenecks or security vulnerabilities.
✨Communicate Effectively
Strong communication skills are essential for this role. Practice explaining technical concepts in a way that non-technical stakeholders can understand. This will demonstrate your ability to collaborate effectively with product managers and other teams.
