A PHP developer is responsible for writing server-side web application logic. PHP developers usually develop back-end components, connect the application with the other (often third-party) web services, and support the front-end developers by integrating their work with the application. They are also often required to develop and integrate plugins for certain popular frameworks.
A PHP developer is responsible for writing server-side web application logic. PHP developers usually develop back-end components, connect the application with the other (often third-party) web services, and support the front-end developers by integrating their work with the application. They are also often required to develop and integrate plugins for certain popular frameworks.
Writing a good job description and advertisement for a PHP developer requires attention to detail. When you are looking for an advanced PHP web developer, posting a generic web developer description in your job ad will bring numerous applications from people who may have little knowledge about good programming practices.
PHP is a difficult language to tame, and puts a greater than usual burden on the developer to ensure the application’s stability and performance. This article will provide you with a sample PHP developer job description that will help you write a perfect job ad, and assure that you easily find and hire the person that matches your specific criteria.
PHP Developer - Job Description and Ad Template
Copy this template, and modify it as your own:
Company Introduction
{{Write a short and catchy paragraph about your company. Make sure to provide information about the company’s culture, perks, and benefits. Mention office hours, remote working possibilities, and everything else you think of that makes your company interesting.}}
Job Description
We are looking for a PHP Developer responsible for managing back-end services and the interchange of data between the server and the users. Your primary focus will be the development of all server-side logic, definition and maintenance of the central database, and ensuring high performance and responsiveness to requests from the front-end. You will also be responsible for integrating the front-end elements built by your co-workers into the application. Therefore, a basic understanding of front-end technologies is necessary as well.
Responsibilities
Integration of user-facing elements developed by front-end developers
Build efficient, testable, and reusable PHP modules
Solve complex performance problems and architectural challenges
Integration of data storage solutions {{may include databases, key-value stores, blob stores, etc.}}
{{Add other responsibilities here that are relevant}}
Skills And Qualifications
Strong knowledge of PHP web frameworks {{such as Laravel, Yii, etc depending on your technology stack}}
Understanding the fully synchronous behavior of PHP
Understanding of MVC design patterns
Basic understanding of front-end technologies, such as JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS3
Knowledge of object oriented PHP programming
Understanding accessibility and security compliance {{Depending on the specific project}}
Strong knowledge of the common PHP or web server exploits and their solutions
Understanding fundamental design principles behind a scalable application
User authentication and authorization between multiple systems, servers, and environments
Integration of multiple data sources and databases into one system
Familiarity with limitations of PHP as a platform and its workarounds
Creating database schemas that represent and support business processes
Familiarity with SQL/NoSQL databases and their declarative query languages
Proficient understanding of code versioning tools, such as Git
{{Make sure to mention other frameworks, libraries, or any other technology related to your development stack}}
{{List education level or certification you require}}
While many can legitimately claim to "know" PHP, those who are true experts in the language are capable of producing software that is much more scalable, functional, robust, and maintainable. This guide offers a sampling of effective questions to help evaluate the breadth and depth of a candidate's mastery of PHP.
Toptal is a marketplace for top PHP developers, engineers, programmers, coders, architects, and consultants. Top companies and start-ups choose Toptal PHP development services for their mission-critical PHP web development projects.
United StatesFreelance PHP Developer at Toptal Since November 26, 2013
Coding HTML, CSS, and JavaScript since his armed forces days in 1997, Jay enjoys bringing value to clients via eCommerce solutions, legacy integrations, and optimized PHP and JavaScript-driven applications. His preferred DevOps environment is AWS, where he has strong skills in (and not limited to): Relational Database Services (RDS), Redshift, Dynamo DB, Data Migration Services (DMS), Lambda (serverless and microservices), Cloudwatch, Cloudtrail, and Event Bridge.
KosovoFreelance PHP Developer at Toptal Since October 22, 2014
Arianit is a dedicated and experienced tech lead and solutions architect with more than 9,500 working hours for Toptal. He has strong knowledge of WordPress, Photoshop, Illustrator, HTML5/CSS3, JavaScript, Vue, React, AngluarJS, PHP Laravel, and Node.js.
BrazilFreelance PHP Developer at Toptal Since October 20, 2013
Igor is a web developer focused on modern PHP and JS, always striving for new technologies. When he wears his back-end hat, he's focused on performant and DRY code, working on API servers or consumers. When he gets his front-end hat on, he works heavily on maintaining the best UX he can make for his users.
SpainFreelance PHP Developer at Toptal Since July 2, 2015
David is an open-source and open-data enthusiast with more than 23 years of experience as a professional developer. He has acquired various skills, including web programming (PHP and JavaScript), C, C++ (under Linux and Windows), and systems management. Of these skills, David specializes in web programming and has full-stack experience with Symfony PHP-based back ends, jQuery front ends, and WordPress/WooCommerce-based sites.
ThailandFreelance PHP Developer at Toptal Since June 20, 2016
Alexey is an experienced full-stack developer with extensive knowledge of OOP and design patterns. He specializes in creating complex web services using modern tech stacks like Node.js and PHP/Laravel. He has over nine years of experience and a bachelor's degree in computer science and certifications in PHP and MySQL from Zend and Oracle, respectively.
NorwayFreelance PHP Developer at Toptal Since June 14, 2019
Branislav is a highly-skilled, enthusiastic developer. He is hard-working, possesses extensive problem-solving skills, and loves implementing a general algorithmic approach. A team player with a can-do attitude, Branislav is interested in eCommerce and PHP in further connection with other services. He’s worked the full development lifecycle from identifying the client’s real needs to designing the systems architecture as well as implementation.
SerbiaFreelance PHP Developer at Toptal Since November 3, 2014
Milorad has over ten years of experience on IT projects involving Microsoft, Cisco, virtual systems, networking, VoIP, and other technologies. He is very self-motivated and professional QA leader and is always willing to introduce improvements into the work process. He is a strong team player, able to give support and guidance to other staff members. Milorad works well in a variety of environments.
United StatesFreelance PHP Developer at Toptal Since April 15, 2019
Alex has over ten years of experience developing software, especially web and mobile apps. He’s led the development of interactive projects for companies including AT&T, EMC, Legendary Pictures, Hewlett Packard, Foundation Capital, UCLA, Anaheim Ducks, and LA18 Television. Apps he’s developed have been featured in TechCrunch and iPod commercials. Alex graduated with a degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley.
United StatesFreelance PHP Developer at Toptal Since August 3, 2018
Along with strong communication skills and an exemplary work ethic, Tyler brings his hands-on experience with a wide range of programming languages. Recently, though, his focus has been directed towards JavaScript libraries. Throughout his career, he’s worked on multiple agile teams as a core developer and is now interested in working on anything JavaScript-related.
CanadaFreelance PHP Developer at Toptal Since December 19, 2019
Benjamin is a solid developer with career highlights of working as a senior full-stack developer for a big data analytics startup, a payment processor, and a user testing service. He's worked across the entire development lifecycle and specializes in the front end. Benjamin is meticulous with implementation details while always considering and balancing broader stakeholder concerns. Communication wise, he is prompt, relevant, and professional.
RomaniaFreelance PHP Developer at Toptal Since December 9, 2019
With over a decade of programming experience and over eight years as a business owner, Lorand knows the importance of excellent communication and understanding with a client. He's obsessed with high quality and attention to detail, and he strives to find the best solutions possible. He currently focuses on using Magento or TYPO3 in his projects.