At a Glance
- Tasks: Design, build, and maintain web applications and APIs for education professionals worldwide.
- Company: Join a dynamic organisation redefining the future of education.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on students' lives while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in PHP and Symfony, with strong problem-solving skills.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on continuous improvement and innovation.
The predicted salary is between 32000 - 45000 ÂŁ per year.
Permanent role, 37 hours per week
Competitive Salary (ÂŁ32,000 to ÂŁ45,000 FTE dependent on experience)
Hybrid role – home working with minimum 2 set office days in Leeds
The role
Are you ready to join an innovative and dynamic organisation redefining the future of education? This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join a passionate and forward‑thinking team, driving impactful change and shaping the educational landscape for future generations. You will help to support White Rose Education's vision of empowering educators, enhancing student outcomes and expanding our reach and impact globally.
Working as a Mid‑Level PHP / Symfony Developer, the core purpose of your role will be to play a key role in designing, building, and maintaining our web applications and APIs using modern development practices that serve education professionals worldwide. The ideal candidate will be passionate about clean, efficient code, enjoy solving complex problems, and thrive in a collaborative working environment. You will need to be a great team player, as excellent teamwork is at the heart of everything we do. A natural ability to develop and maintain excellent professional working relationships, solve complex problems and manage multiple priorities with tact and discretion is essential. This role will be immensely rewarding, and you will relish the excitement of helping to transform lives.
Applications
Closing date: 4pm on Friday 30th January 2026
Interview date: To be confirmed
Start date of role: ASAP, but no later than 01st March 2026
Interview Process
All applications will be considered in line with our recruitment practices. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an assessment day.
Requirements
We're looking for a Mid‑Level PHP / Symfony Developer to join our talented engineering team. You will play a key role in designing, building, and maintaining our web applications and APIs using modern development practices that serve education professionals worldwide. The postholder will be passionate about clean, efficient code, enjoy solving complex problems, and thrive in a collaborative working environment.
Key accountabilities
- Develop, maintain, and optimise Symfony‑based APIs and backend services.
- Write clean, scalable, and well‑documented PHP code following best practices.
- Integrate with and deploy services on AWS, including EC2 and AWS Lambda.
- Participate in code reviews, testing, and continuous integration processes.
- Collaborate closely with front‑end developers, QA engineers and stakeholders.
- Support and maintain existing systems, troubleshoot issues, and contribute to technical documentation.
- Contribute ideas and technical insight to help shape architectural decisions and improve development workflows.
Other duties
All staff must have an awareness and commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students. It is an expectation that all staff will share this commitment. All staff must abide by company policies and procedures, copies of which are available on our HR system.
Key relationships of the role
- Heads of Departments
- Direct reports N/A
Person Specification – Skills & Experience
Essential
- Proven experience developing with PHP (8 or above) and Symfony (6) frameworks.
- Strong understanding of RESTful API design and integration.
- Hands‑on experience with AWS services, particularly EC2 and Lambda.
- Experience with Git, modern CI/CD pipelines and JIRA for ticket management.
- Familiarity with relational databases (MySQL) and ORM tools (Doctrine).
- Ability to write maintainable, testable, and efficient code.
- Excellent problem‑solving skills and attention to detail.
Desirable
- Front‑end experience with JavaScript, TypeScript, or React.
- Exposure to Docker or containerised deployment environments.
- Understanding of serverless architectures and microservices.
- Experience working in Agile environments.
- Familiarity with automated testing frameworks (PHPUnit 11, Codeception 5).
Essential personal attributes
- A proactive, self‑motivated approach with strong ownership of tasks.
- Good communication skills, able to explain technical ideas clearly.
- A collaborative team player who enjoys learning and sharing knowledge.
- Commitment to continuous improvement and keeping up with new technologies.
Mid-Level PHP Development Engineer in Leeds employer: White Rose Education
Contact Detail:
White Rose Education Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Mid-Level PHP Development Engineer in Leeds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the tech world, especially those who work in education or PHP development. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Brush up on your PHP and Symfony skills, and be ready to showcase your problem-solving abilities. Practise coding challenges and be prepared to discuss your past projects in detail.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for education! When you get the chance to speak with potential employers, share why you're excited about using your skills to make a difference in the educational landscape. It’ll set you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We love seeing applications directly from candidates who are eager to join our mission. Plus, it gives you a better chance to stand out in the hiring process.
We think you need these skills to ace Mid-Level PHP Development Engineer in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your PHP and Symfony experience. We want to see how your skills align with our needs, so don’t be shy about showcasing your best projects!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Tell us why you’re passionate about education and how you can contribute to our mission. Keep it engaging and personal – we love a good story!
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, give examples of how you've tackled complex problems in the past. We’re looking for those who thrive on challenges, so let us know how you’ve made an impact!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at White Rose Education
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you brush up on your PHP and Symfony skills before the interview. Be ready to discuss your experience with RESTful APIs, AWS services, and any relevant frameworks. This will show that you're not just familiar with the tech but can also apply it effectively.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to share specific examples of complex problems you've solved in previous roles. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. This will demonstrate your analytical thinking and ability to tackle challenges head-on.
✨Emphasise Team Collaboration
Since teamwork is crucial for this role, be ready to talk about how you've worked with others in past projects. Highlight your communication skills and how you’ve contributed to a positive team environment. This will help convey that you’re a great fit for their collaborative culture.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the company’s vision, the engineering team’s workflow, or their approach to continuous improvement. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if the company aligns with your values and career goals.