Senior Laravel backend dev / AI Oriented

Role Overview

We are looking for a Senior PHP Backend Developer with 5+ years of experience to join our core engineering team. You will be a key architect of our backend systems, moving beyond traditional development to embrace an AI-first workflow. You aren't just a coder; you are an owner who takes full accountability for the application lifecycle, from the first line of a unit test to the final deployment on Google Cloud.

Our Proposed Tech Stack

• Language & Framework: PHP 8.4+ and Laravel 12.
• Testing: Pest PHP or PHPUnit (Feature & Unit testing).
• Cloud Infrastructure: Google Cloud Platform (Cloud Run, Cloud SQL, Cloud Build).
• AI Tooling: Gemini-CLI, GitHub Copilot, Codex, and Cursor for agentic development.
• Database: PostgreSQL / MySQL (Managed via Cloud SQL).

Key Responsibilities

• High-Performance Backend: Architect and maintain scalable server-side logic using Laravel, focusing on clean code, design patterns, and high-concurrency handling.
• AI-Native Workflow: Integrate Gemini-CLI and Codex into your daily terminal workflow to automate boilerplate, refactor complex legacy logic, and generate migration scripts.
• Total Test Coverage: Implement a "Test-First" culture. You will write comprehensive Unit Tests for isolated logic and Feature Tests (Integration) to ensure API endpoints and business flows are bulletproof.
• Cloud Ownership: Manage and optimize the application on Google Cloud. This includes configuring Cloud Run for auto-scaling, managing Cloud SQL instances, and setting up IAM roles for security.
• CI/CD & DevOps: Build and maintain automated pipelines using Cloud Build or GitHub Actions, ensuring every commit is automatically tested and deployed to staging/production.
• Ownership Mentality: You take "Extreme Ownership" of the codebase. This means proactive monitoring (Google Cloud Observability), identifying bottlenecks before they hit production, and refactoring for long-term health.

Technical Requirements

• Experience: 5+ years of professional backend development with a deep mastery of PHP and the Laravel ecosystem.
• TDD Champion: Strong commitment to Test-Driven Development. You must be proficient in writing Unit and Feature tests before implementation to ensure high-quality, bug-free code from day one.
• GCP Knowledge: Hands-on experience with Google Cloud services, specifically containerized deployments (Docker/Artifact Registry) and serverless environments.
• AI Mastery: Demonstrated ability to use AI Agents (like Cursor) and terminal-based AI tools (Gemini-CLI) to accelerate development speed by at least 2x.
• Database Design: Expert level at Eloquent ORM, database indexing, and query optimization to handle large-scale datasets.
• Security Mindset: Knowledge of OWASP principles, secure API design, and data encryption within a cloud environment.

Bonus Points

• Experience with Laravel Pulse or Horizon for real-time monitoring.
• Familiarity with Spatie packages or advanced Laravel architectural patterns (Actions, DTOs).
• Contributions to open-source PHP libraries or AI-related dev tools.

Why Join Us?

We offer a "zero-friction" development environment. We provide the latest AI subscriptions and Google Cloud credits for experimentation. We value developers who treat the application as their own product, giving you the autonomy to make high-level architectural decisions.