PHP Full Stack Architect

About the Role : We are seeking an experienced PHP Full Stack Architect to lead the design, architecture, and implementation of scalable, secure, and high-performance web applications. The ideal candidate is a hands-on technologist with deep expertise in PHP-based backend systems, modern frontend frameworks, cloud-native architectures, and DevOps best practices. You will be responsible for driving architectural decisions, mentoring development teams, and ensuring the overall technical health of the organizations software ecosystem. Key Responsibilities : - Lead the end-to-end architecture design and development of full-stack applications using PHP and modern web technologies. - Define scalable, modular, and secure architectures that align with business and product goals. - Design APIs, microservices, and service-oriented architectures (SOA) for high scalability and reliability. - Ensure best practices for data modeling, code organization, and application performance optimization. - Create and maintain architecture blueprints, technical documentation, and design standards. - Architect and develop backend services using PHP (7.x/8.x) and modern frameworks such as Laravel, Symfony, or CodeIgniter. - Design and implement RESTful APIs and GraphQL endpoints. - Optimize application performance through caching strategies, query optimization, and load balancing. - Integrate with external APIs, SDKs, and third-party services securely and efficiently. - Ensure robust error handling, logging, and monitoring practices. - Provide technical leadership for frontend architecture using React.js, Vue.js, or Angular. - Ensure clean, maintainable, and modular UI components following responsive and accessible design principles. - Implement state management solutions (Redux / Vuex / Context API). - Collaborate with UX/UI designers for seamless user experience and design consistency. - Design and manage relational databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL) and NoSQL systems (MongoDB, Redis, Elasticsearch). - Architect efficient data pipelines, indexing, and replication strategies for large-scale systems. - Ensure proper use of ORMs (Eloquent, Doctrine) and optimize query performance. - Implement backup, disaster recovery, and data retention policies. - Architect cloud-native applications on AWS, Azure, or GCP with scalable deployment models. - Manage containerization and orchestration using Docker and Kubernetes. - Set up CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or GitLab CI for automated build, test, and deployment. - Implement infrastructure as code (IaC) using tools like Terraform or CloudFormation. - Ensure continuous monitoring and observability using Prometheus, Grafana, or ELK Stack. - Enforce secure coding standards and best practices (OWASP Top 10). - Implement authentication and authorization frameworks (OAuth2, JWT, SSO). - Conduct code audits, penetration testing, and vulnerability assessments. - Ensure compliance with data protection regulations (GDPR, PCI-DSS, HIPAA as applicable). - Act as a technical mentor for developers and guide them on design patterns, frameworks, and emerging technologies. - Collaborate with product managers, QA engineers, and business stakeholders to align technical solutions with business needs. - Participate in technical interviews, team building, and skill development initiatives. - Advocate a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and engineering excellence. Required Skills & Qualifications : - Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field. - 8+ years of experience in web application development, including 3+ years in an architectural or leadership role. - Strong proficiency in PHP (7.x/8.x) and frameworks such as Laravel, Symfony, or Zend. - Experience with frontend frameworks like React, Vue, or Angular. - Deep understanding of object-oriented design, MVC architecture, RESTful APIs, and microservices. - Expertise in MySQL, PostgreSQL, and at least one NoSQL database (MongoDB, Redis, or Cassandra). - Working knowledge of cloud services, DevOps tools, and container orchestration. - Strong grasp of security concepts, authentication mechanisms, and API protection. - Familiarity with testing frameworks (PHPUnit, Jest, Cypress) and TDD/BDD practices. - Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills. (ref:hirist.tech)