Technology Stack: PHP, Fat-Free Framework, MySQL/mysqli, React 18, TypeScript, Redux Saga, AWS, DevOps
Experience: Senior-level, ideally 4–5+ years
Working Model: Independent / Hands-on
About the Role
We are looking for an experienced Senior Full-Stack Technical Expert who can work independently on an existing in-house CRM platform, understand its current architecture and business processes, experience working on an equivalent production system and take ownership of enhancing and extending the platform in line with evolving business requirements.
The role requires someone who is comfortable working across the full technology stack: Backend, Frontend, Database, AWS and DevOps; and can take a requirement from initial analysis through development, testing, deployment and production support.
The successful candidate will be expected to become a key technical owner of the CRM and work closely with business stakeholders to translate business requirements into scalable, secure and maintainable technical solutions.
Key Responsibilities
• Take ownership of the existing in-house CRM and its ongoing technical development.
• Understand and assess the existing application architecture, codebase, database and integrations.
• Develop new CRM features and enhancements based on business requirements.
• Improve existing functionality, performance, scalability and user experience.
• Design and develop robust backend APIs and services using PHP and the Fat-Free Framework.
• Work with the existing direct mysqli-based MySQL architecture.
• Develop responsive and intuitive frontend functionality using React 18 and TypeScript.
• Manage application state and asynchronous workflows using Redux-Saga. • Integrate third-party systems, APIs and external services.
• Analyse production issues and troubleshoot defects across the full technology stack.
• Review and refactor existing code to improve maintainability and performance. • Manage application deployments and production environments. • Take ownership of the existing AWS infrastructure supporting the application. • Implement and maintain CI/CD pipelines and deployment processes.
• Work independently while proactively communicating progress, risks, dependencies and technical decisions.
• Work directly with business stakeholders to understand requirements and recommend appropriate technical solutions.
• Maintain technical documentation and development standards. • Contribute to the technical roadmap and future architecture of the CRM.
Required Technical Expertise
1. Backend – PHP / Fat-Free Framework / MySQL
Strong hands-on experience with:
• PHP and modern PHP development
• Fat-Free Framework (F3)
• Direct mysqli-based MySQL development
• RESTful API development
• API authentication and authorisation
• Third-party API integrations
• MySQL database design and optimisation
• Complex SQL queries
• Database indexing and performance tuning
• Data modelling and migrations
• Secure coding practices
• Error handling, logging and debugging
• Understanding and enhancing an existing PHP codebase
Important: The existing platform uses Fat-Free Framework with direct mysqli connectivity. Experience with this architecture, or the ability to work comfortably within an existing lightweight PHP framework and direct database-access model, is required.
2. Frontend – React 18 / TypeScript / Redux-Saga
Strong experience with:
• React 18
• TypeScript
• Redux
• Redux-Saga
• JavaScript / ES6+
• HTML5 / CSS3
• Responsive web application development
• Component-based architecture
• State management
• Asynchronous workflows
• REST API integration
• Form handling and validation
• Frontend performance optimisation
• Building intuitive CRM and business application interfaces
The candidate should be comfortable understanding and extending the existing React 18 + TypeScript + Redux-Saga architecture while maintaining consistency with the current codebase.
3. AWS – Current Production Environment
The candidate should have good practical hands-on knowledge of AWS and be comfortable supporting and enhancing the existing AWS environment.
Current AWS Technology Stack
The current platform is hosted using:
• Amazon EC2 – application/server infrastructure
• Apache – web server
• Amazon RDS/MySQL – database
• Amazon S3 – file/object storage
• Amazon Pinpoint – customer communication and engagement
The candidate should have practical experience with:
• EC2 configuration and troubleshooting
• Apache configuration
• RDS / MySQL connectivity and performance
• S3 integration and access management
• Pinpoint integration
• IAM and permissions
• Security Groups
• VPC and basic AWS networking
• CloudWatch monitoring and logging
• Application deployment
• Production troubleshooting
• Backup and recovery
• AWS security and access management
The candidate should be able to understand the existing AWS architecture, troubleshoot infrastructure and application issues, and independently deploy new functionality rather than having only theoretical AWS knowledge.
4. Future Technology / Cloud Evolution
The following technologies are not necessarily part of the current production environment but would be beneficial for the candidate to understand as potential future technologies as the platform evolves:
• Docker
• Amazon ECS
• Amazon EKS
• Kubernetes
• Containerised application architecture
• Container orchestration
• AWS ECR
• Auto Scaling
• Load Balancers
• Infrastructure as Code
• Cloud-native architecture
Experience with these technologies would be an advantage, particularly where they can support future scalability, deployment automation and modernisation of the CRM platform.
The candidate should be able to evaluate and support future technology adoption while maintaining stability and continuity of the existing platform.
5. DevOps
Practical experience with:
• Git/GitHub/GitLab
• CI/CD pipelines
• Linux
• AWS deployment environments
• Development/QA/Production environments
• Infrastructure configuration
• Application monitoring and logging
• Production support and troubleshooting
• Deployment and release management
• Backup and recovery
• Security and access management
Knowledge of future container-based deployment using Docker, ECS or EKS would be an advantage.
Ideal Candidate
We are looking for someone who:
• Can work independently and take full ownership of technical delivery. • Is comfortable inheriting and working with an existing CRM/codebase. • Can understand an existing architecture quickly and identify areas for improvement. • Has strong full-stack development capabilities.
• Has hands-on experience with PHP, Fat-Free Framework and direct mysqli. • Has strong experience with React 18, TypeScript and Redux-Saga.
• Has solid practical AWS experience, particularly with the existing EC2, Apache, RDS, S3 and Pinpoint environment.
• Can troubleshoot issues across application, database, infrastructure and deployment layers.
• Can translate business requirements into practical technical solutions. • Can challenge requirements constructively and recommend better approaches. • Has strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Understands security, scalability and performance.
• Can work directly with non-technical business stakeholders.
• Can manage priorities and deliver without requiring constant technical supervision.
• Is pragmatic and able to distinguish between enhancing the existing platform and introducing new technologies where there is a genuine business or technical benefit.
Nice to Have
Experience in:
• CRM platforms
• Financial services/lending
• Open Banking APIs
• Payment APIs
• Microservices
• Event-driven architecture
• Docker
• ECS / EKS
• Kubernetes
• AWS ECR
• Legacy application modernisation
• High-volume transaction processing
Overall Profile
The ideal candidate is therefore not simply a PHP or React developer. We are looking for a hands-on Full-Stack Technical Expert with strong AWS and DevOps knowledge who can independently own and evolve the entire CRM platform, while also having the technical awareness to support its future evolution towards technologies such as Docker, ECS and EKS where appropriate.
To apply for this role, send your CV to: nishad.mankame@phoenixcf.co.uk