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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and development of high-performance web applications.
- Company: Join Velstar, a dynamic tech company focused on digital commerce solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and clear progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by solving complex technical challenges and mentoring others.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in backend development with expertise in PHP and Symfony.
- Other info: Collaborative team environment with opportunities for continuous improvement.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
At Velstar, we build robust, scalable digital commerce solutions for ambitious brands. We’re looking for a Senior Backend Developer to lead the design and development of high-performance web applications and help shape the technical direction of our backend team.
This is a senior, hands-on role for someone who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, mentoring others, and making architectural decisions that stand the test of scale.
The role
As a Senior Backend Developer, you’ll act as a technical leader within the team, driving architecture, improving performance, and ensuring high coding standards across projects. You’ll work closely with frontend developers, DevOps and product teams to deliver scalable, secure and reliable applications. Alongside delivery, you’ll mentor junior and mid-level developers, contribute to best practices, and help guide technical decisions from concept through to deployment.
What you’ll be doing
- Designing and architecting scalable, high-performance applications
- Leading development of complex features and new systems
- Making key technical decisions and establishing backend best practices
- Optimising performance across databases, caching and application layers
- Improving API performance and overall application speed
- Implementing robust security practices (authentication, authorisation, vulnerability prevention)
- Conducting deep troubleshooting and resolving critical issues
- Mentoring developers through code reviews, guidance and knowledge-sharing
- Collaborating with Product, Frontend and DevOps teams to align solutions with business goals
- Supporting estimation, planning and development workflows
- Ensuring strong test coverage and stable production releases
What we’re looking for
You’re a highly capable backend developer who combines deep technical expertise with strong ownership and leadership. You’re comfortable guiding decisions, improving standards, and supporting others’ growth.
You’ll likely have:
- 5+ years’ experience in backend development
- Deep expertise in PHP and Symfony (including modern Symfony versions)
- Strong understanding of Symfony components, architecture and best practices
- Advanced SQL and Doctrine ORM knowledge
- Experience with performance optimisation, caching and scalable systems
- Solid testing practices (PHPUnit, TDD mindset)
- Experience designing scalable, maintainable architectures
- Confidence mentoring and reviewing others’ code
Nice to have:
- Experience with API Platform
- Familiarity with Redis, Elasticsearch or other NoSQL tools
- Experience with event-driven or asynchronous architectures
- Some frontend awareness (React / Next.js)
- eCommerce or agency experience
Why Velstar?
- Hybrid working (minimum 3 days per week in our Liverpool or Leeds office)
- A senior role with real technical influence and ownership
- Complex, high-traffic projects that challenge and grow your skills
- A collaborative team that values quality and continuous improvement
- Clear progression opportunities for senior engineers
If you enjoy building scalable systems, mentoring others and solving meaningful technical problems, we’d love to hear from you.
Senior Backend Developer - Symfony in Leeds employer: Velstar
Contact Detail:
Velstar Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Backend Developer - Symfony in Leeds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage in online communities. 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 that highlight your experience with PHP and Symfony. This is your chance to demonstrate your technical prowess and problem-solving abilities.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on common backend development questions and coding challenges. Practice explaining your thought process while solving problems, as this will show your leadership and mentoring capabilities.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Backend Developer - Symfony in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Senior Backend Developer role. Highlight your expertise in PHP, Symfony, and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how you can contribute to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Share your passion for backend development and how your experience aligns with our goals at Velstar. Don’t forget to mention your mentoring experience and how you’ve tackled complex challenges.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: In your application, be sure to include specific examples of your technical achievements. Whether it’s optimising performance or implementing security practices, we want to know how you’ve made an impact in your previous roles.
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’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Velstar!
How to prepare for a job interview at Velstar
✨Know Your Symfony Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your Symfony knowledge before the interview. Be ready to discuss modern Symfony versions, components, and best practices. They’ll likely want to hear about your experience with performance optimisation and how you've tackled complex features in past projects.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since this role involves mentoring and guiding others, be prepared to share examples of how you've led teams or supported junior developers. Talk about your approach to code reviews and how you ensure high coding standards across projects.
✨Prepare for Technical Challenges
Expect to face some technical challenges during the interview. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and be ready to discuss how you've resolved critical issues in the past. They might ask you to troubleshoot a scenario, so think through your process beforehand.
✨Align with Their Business Goals
Understand Velstar's focus on delivering scalable and secure applications. Be ready to discuss how your previous work aligns with their business goals, especially in terms of collaboration with frontend and DevOps teams. Show them that you can think beyond just coding!