Job Description

PHP / Laravel Developer IT - Software Development
Cape Town - Western CapeENVIRONMENT:Our client is a full-service, integrated ad agency with offices in both Cape Town and Johannesburg, and they're one of the largest independently owned agencies in South Africa. Theyre looking for a PHP Developer with experience in PHP, Laravel, and Node.js to join their team. As a Back End Developer, you'll play a key role in building and refining their tech infrastructure, ensuring their back-end systems are scalable, reliable, efficient, and secure. The ideal candidate will bring a solid mix of technical skills, a curious mind, and strong analytical abilities. Youll be responsible for maintaining systems while collaborating with IT, operations, and innovation teams to keep everything future-proof.DUTIES:General Responsibilities:

• Develop server-side logic and databases for websites, microsites and apps, ensuring high performance and responsiveness.
• Collaborate with frontend developers to integrate user-facing elements with server-side logic and API build and integration requirements.
• Design and develop scalable, efficient, and maintainable back-end systems, APIs, and database schemas.
• Database management particularly with MySQL or similar database experience.
• Optimize application performance, scalability, and reliability through code optimization, caching mechanisms, and other best practices.
• Troubleshoot and debug issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement timely solutions.
• Implement and maintain security measures and best practices to protect sensitive data and maintain data integrity in order to protect against unauthorized access, data breaches and other security threats.
• Conduct code reviews, identify areas for improvement, and provide constructive feedback to team members.
• Write clean, efficient, and well-documented code, following best practices and coding standards.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g.: Git) and collaboration tools.
• Stay up to date with the latest industry trends, technologies, and best practices.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Maintain and enhance existing internal systems to meet evolving business needs.
• Working with the companys IT to set up, secure and maintain internal server instances / stacks such as Ubuntu
• Full stack deployment on Ubuntu
• Ensuring all assets are secure with latest patches and security upgrades applied
• Ensuring that data protection and POPI requirements are met
• Determine end of life strategy for data retention per project
• Database security, encryption and firewalls
• Running monthly penetration tests
• Maintaining AWS Infrastructure
• Live Frontend S3 bucket and Cloudfront
• Staging S3 bucket and Cloudfront
• Master database
• Master API
• Staging database
• Staging API
• CMS instance
• CMS database
• CMS assets in the S3 bucket
• Maintaining email servers and templates (PostMark)
• Managing Auth0 account
• Maintaining Algolia Search System and syncing entries through multiple databases
• Experience with open AI technology
• Maintaining and developing the backend components to the companys Internal Systems
• API technical documentations and integrations
• Continuous integration and automated testing
• Maintenance and set up of Jenkins pipelines for internal projects

Internal Systems and Platforms used for integrations:

• Workbook
• Sage
• Microsoft

Client Offering Requirements:

• Setting up tech stacks, servers, and instances for client campaign websites
• Collaborate with IT department with DNS settings, SSL Certificate set up and renewals and Domain registration
• Set up of staging and master environments
• Managing any data call set ups or requirements based on the project scope
• Q&A testing
• Management of deployment process
• Monitoring and maintaining client security requirements

Qualifications & Requirements:Education & Experience:

• Bachelors degree in computer science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• Proven experience 3-5 years as a Backend Developer with a portfolio of strong projects.
• Solid understanding of PHP and Laravel frameworks, including dependency injection, routing, migrations, and ORM.
• Researching new and emerging backend technologies, with a focus on the increasing use of AI.

Technology Stack Experience:

• Frameworks: A proven track record working with the PHP, Laravel and Node.JS.
• Servers: Proficiency in network, server instance management and associated security is required. Experience with web servers like Apache.
• Cloud Platforms: An excellent working knowledge of Amazon Web Services (AWS), Azure and associated technologies.
• Knowledge of version control systems and CI/CD pipelines.
• Databases: Experience with relational and non-relational databases e.g. MySQL. Strong understanding of Big Data structures and schemas.
• Proficiency in RESTful API development and integration. Skilled at creating and securing API endpoints to be used by the frontend dev team.
• Experience in Power Apps (Proficiency in Microsoft Power Suite and Active Directory)

Bonus Experience, Qualities or Skills:

• Experience in the advertising or creative industry.
• Knowledge of other backend languages or frameworks (e.g. Python, C#, Django or Ruby on Rails etc.).
• Understanding of broader frameworks used by the team (e.g. JavaScript, VueJS, SAAS/Bootstrap, Quasar or Vuetify etc.)
• Experience with containerization technologies (e.g. Docker or Kubernetes etc.).
• Previous experience working in an Agile/Scrum development environment.
• Umbraco.net CMS and framework experience
• Adobe AEM experience

ATTRIBUTES:

• Excellent problem-solving and debugging skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Attention to detail with a commitment to producing high-quality code.
• Deadline-driven with good time management skills.

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