Senior PHP Developer for Custom E-commerce Platform

Type:

Ongoing contract

Location:

Remote (UK business)

Start:

Immediate

We operate a UK-based e-commerce and logistics business running on a fully custom PHP platform (no framework, no Shopify, no WooCommerce).

This is a live commercial system handling real orders daily.

We require a senior PHP developer to take over the codebase, stabilise the system, and provide ongoing development and technical support.

You must be comfortable working on existing/legacy systems and improving them safely without disrupting operations.

We also run WordPress sites alongside this system, so strong WordPress development experience is required.

⸻

Phase 1 – Paid audit (10–20 hours)

Initial engagement will be a structured audit:

• Review custom PHP codebase
• Review server and deployment setup
• Identify security, performance, and stability risks
• Document architecture overview
• Implement several high-impact fixes
• Provide a clear action plan

Successful completion leads to long-term ongoing work.

⸻

Ongoing responsibilities

• Ongoing feature development and bug fixing
• Performance optimisation
• Payment and API integrations
• Database optimisation
• Safe deployment processes
• Server and infrastructure support
• WordPress development across related sites
• Emergency troubleshooting when required

We are looking for a long-term technical partner.

⸻

Required skills (all mandatory)

• Strong PHP (7/8+)
• MySQL/MariaDB optimisation
• Experience with fully custom PHP systems
• Experience taking over legacy codebases
• Git workflow and structured deployments
• Linux server management
• Debugging live production systems
• API integrations
• Payment gateway integrations
• Caching and performance tuning
• Security hardening
• WordPress plugin and theme development
• Experience supporting live e-commerce systems

Please do not apply if you only build new sites or work purely in frameworks.

⸻

When applying, include:

1. Examples of custom PHP systems you've taken over

2. WordPress projects you've built

3. How you deploy safely to production

4. Your approach to a first-week takeover audit

5. Your availability (hours/week)

6. Hourly rate

7. Time zone

⸻

Engagement structure

Phase 1:

paid audit

Phase 2:

ongoing monthly work

• Long-term role possible

Reliability and communication are critical.

We are looking for someone dependable for long-term support.

Contract duration of more than 6 months. with 40 hours per week.

Mandatory skills:

PHP, JavaScript, Web Development, API Integration, CSS