> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/2667719-lead-php-developer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/2667719-lead-php-developer). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Lead PHP Developer - **Company:** Stratospherec Ltd - **Location:** Reigate, UK (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** £50,000.0 - £60,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** PHP (Programming Language), Artificial Intelligence, Software as a Service, Software Engineering - **Published:** September 2, 2026 - **Apply:** https://itjobpro.co.uk/job/lead-php-developer ## About the Role * You read unfamiliar code quickly and can explain what a change will affect before it ships - the specific language matters less to us than this * Good experience and familiarity with PHP, or the demonstrable ability to get to that point fast in a large, established codebase * Genuine fluency with AI development tools - not curiosity about them, but a working practice you can show us * You understand a business requirement well enough to challenge it, and you'd rather ask the question than build the wrong thing * The judgement to make good decisions independently and own the outcomes * Realistic about what can be delivered, and reliable in delivering it * Works well with a small, close team and earns their trust * Wants a long-term career with an established SaaS company This is a fully remote role, as is the rest of the team. My client are small and stable, - people tend to stay for years because they value the culture, the environment, and being treated with respect. ## Description You'll wear two hats. Day to day, you're the technical support for the team and the person who keeps the application running: working tickets, fixing issues, being the one people come to., For this role, our client are looking at hiring a PHP Developer who is proficient in using Artificial Intelligence tools to accelerate their software development work. The value in this role isn't in typing code - it's in understanding what the business actually needs, deciding what should be built, directing AI tooling to build it, and being the person who can tell whether what came back is right. So: we're not looking for someone who loves writing PHP code by hand, and we're not looking for someone who can't read it. We're looking for the person in between - strong judgement, business fluency, and enough technical depth to be accountable for what ships. Role Responsibilities: * Turn business problems into working software - often talking to the person with the problem * Own day-to-day technical support and keep the application running reliably * Work tickets, fix bugs, and maintain a live SaaS product * Use AI tooling as your primary means of delivery, and own the correctness of what it produces * Develop a clear plan for the system's evolution and deliver against it * Improve and restructure parts of the application as you become established * Take on architectural and technical-direction responsibility as you demonstrate you're ready ## Related Videos - [The Avengers Initiative (Practical Ethics for Software Engineers)](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2070-the-avengers-initiative-practical-ethics-for-software-engineers) - [Beyond the Hype: Building Trustworthy and Reliable LLM Applications with Guardrails](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1594-beyond-the-hype-building-trustworthy-and-reliable-llm-applications-with-guardrails) - [Edit Your Future: Queerverse Radical AI](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/909-edit-your-future-queerverse-radical-ai) - [WeAreDevelopers LIVE – PHP Is Alive and Kicking and More](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1797-wearedevelopers-live-php-is-alive-and-kicking-and-more) - [Official Opening of WeAreDevelopers World Congress 2026](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100000-official-opening-of-wearedevelopers-world-congress-2026) - [WeAreDevelopers LIVE – AI, Freelancing, Keeping Up with Tech and More](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1786-wearedevelopers-live-ai-freelancing-keeping-up-with-tech-and-more) ## Related Articles - [Fully Remote Software Engineer Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/447-fully-remote-software-engineer-jobs) - [Navigating the AI Shift](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/629-navigating-the-ai-shift) - [Find a Developer Job: 12 Best Job Sites For Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/165-find-a-developer-job-12-best-job-sites-for-developers) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [Mastering Remote Work: Tips for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/558-mastering-remote-work-tips-for-developers) - [Why Upskilling And Reskilling is Important For Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/428-why-upskilling-and-reskilling-is-important-for-developers)