PHP Team Lead (with Laravel)

*This position is fully remote only for employment in Bulgaria. However, people can also work in one of our offices in Sofia or Varna if they prefer to. 

About DataArt

DataArt is a global software engineering firm and a trusted technology partner for market leaders and visionaries. Our world-class team designs and engineers data-driven, cloud-native solutions to deliver immediate and enduring business value.

We promote a culture of radical respect, prioritizing your personal well-being as much as your expertise. We stand firmly against prejudice and inequality, valuing each of our employees equally.

We respect the autonomy of others before all else, offering remote, onsite, and hybrid work options. Our Learning and development centers, R&D labs, and mentorship programs encourage professional growth.

Our long-term approach to collaboration with clients and colleagues alike focuses on building partnerships that extend beyond one-off projects. We provide the ability to switch between projects and technology stacks, creating opportunities for exploration through our learning and networking systems to advance your career.

Position Overview

Our client is a dynamic fintech company specializing in retail finance solutions, helping consumers split payments over time with ease. As part of one of the UK’s leading digital banks, they are driving innovation to create flexible, accessible, and seamless payment experiences for shoppers.

We are looking for a Senior PHP Team Lead with strong Laravel experience to join and guide our engineering team. The role combines hands-on development with technical leadership responsibilities. You will play a key role in maintaining and evolving the platform, mentoring team members, and driving engineering excellence across the backend team.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of backend engineers, promoting best practices in software design, development, and testing.
• Take ownership of the PHP (Laravel) backend, ensuring code quality, scalability, and performance.
• Conduct regular one-on-ones, support career growth, and contribute to performance evaluations.
• Collaborate closely with product managers and stakeholders to refine technical requirements and align development with business goals.
• Participate in hiring processes, from screening and interviewing candidates to onboarding new team members.
• Drive initiatives to modernize the codebase, improve test coverage, and optimize CI/CD pipelines.
• Encourage cross-team collaboration and facilitate knowledge sharing within the engineering organization.

Requirements

• 5+ years of backend development experience with PHP.
• Strong expertise in Laravel (or Symfony, with a willingness to work in Laravel).
• Previous experience in a Team Lead or Tech Lead role.
• Proven experience mentoring or leading other engineers.
• Solid background in relational databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.).
• Hands-on experience with automated testing and test-driven development.
• Familiarity with microservices architecture and modern CI/CD practices.
• Experience working with cloud infrastructure, preferably AWS.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work in a distributed team.

Nice To Have

• Frontend knowledge (Vue.js or Angular).
• Exposure to Kotlin.
• Background in fintech or payment integrations.
• Familiarity with monitoring and observability tools (e.g., Grafana, Prometheus, Datadog).

What We Offer

• Unique corporate culture – no micromanagement, friendly atmosphere, freedom, and mutual respect
• Flexible schedule – ability to change projects, to work from home, and to try yourself in different roles
• Professional Development Map – a comprehensive map of your professional development within DataArt
• We hire people not for a project, but for the company. If the project (or your work in it) is over, you go to another project or to a paid “Idle”.
• Social benefits – additional health insurance, life insurance, sports card, etc.
• Opportunity to work from another DataArt office in a different city or country (temporarily or permanently)
• Free English courses
• Cozy office with a great atmosphere
• Snacks, drinks, and fruits are always available

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