10/04/2026 updated
partially available
info: Available evenings and weekends
Lead Backend Engineer (PHP) / Technical Team Lead
Valencia, Spain
Only remote
Master's Degree in Computer ScienceAbout me
Senior PHP Backend Engineer with 12+ years of experience and 4 years as Team Lead. Expert in PHP 7.4–8.x, Yii2, MySQL, REST APIs, Redis, RabbitMQ and Docker. Specialized in high-load systems, API integrations, performance optimization, production troubleshooting and technical leadership.
PHPApplication Programming Interfaces (APIs)Performance ManagementMySQLSoftware ArchitectureRabbitMQRedisSystems DesignTechnical ManagementBackend
PHP Backend Development
Expertise in PHP 7.4-8.3 with 12+ years of backend web development experience, including high-load system design, REST API development, and performance optimization using the Yii2 framework.
Technical Team Leadership
4 years of technical team leadership, including leading a backend team of 3 developers, coordinating 5 cross-functional specialists, conducting 100+ technical interviews, onboarding developers, and mentoring approximately 10 engineers.
Infrastructure & DevOps
Hands-on experience with Docker, GitLab CI/CD, AWS, Redis, RabbitMQ, and Vault, including leading Docker infrastructure migration and CI/CD implementation, resulting in infrastructure cost reductions of $1,000-1,500 per month.
Database Management
Proficiency in MySQL, MongoDB, and Elasticsearch, with demonstrated ability to optimize database storage, reducing usage from 190 GB to 110 GB.
Monitoring & Logging
Experience with Grafana, Graylog, and Sentry for production monitoring, logging, and issue investigation in high-load environments.
Backend Architecture & Design
Active participation in backend architecture and database design discussions, contributing to production reliability and engineering best practices.
REST API & WebSockets
Design and development of REST APIs and WebSocket-based backend services for SaaS and high-load platforms.
Security & Compliance
Improved project stability and security, reducing annual security audit findings from high and medium-severity issues to minor recommendations.
JavaScript & Frontend Collaboration
Knowledge of JavaScript and experience coordinating cross-functional work across frontend, QA, autotest, and project management teams.
Expertise in PHP 7.4-8.3 with 12+ years of backend web development experience, including high-load system design, REST API development, and performance optimization using the Yii2 framework.
Technical Team Leadership
4 years of technical team leadership, including leading a backend team of 3 developers, coordinating 5 cross-functional specialists, conducting 100+ technical interviews, onboarding developers, and mentoring approximately 10 engineers.
Infrastructure & DevOps
Hands-on experience with Docker, GitLab CI/CD, AWS, Redis, RabbitMQ, and Vault, including leading Docker infrastructure migration and CI/CD implementation, resulting in infrastructure cost reductions of $1,000-1,500 per month.
Database Management
Proficiency in MySQL, MongoDB, and Elasticsearch, with demonstrated ability to optimize database storage, reducing usage from 190 GB to 110 GB.
Monitoring & Logging
Experience with Grafana, Graylog, and Sentry for production monitoring, logging, and issue investigation in high-load environments.
Backend Architecture & Design
Active participation in backend architecture and database design discussions, contributing to production reliability and engineering best practices.
REST API & WebSockets
Design and development of REST APIs and WebSocket-based backend services for SaaS and high-load platforms.
Security & Compliance
Improved project stability and security, reducing annual security audit findings from high and medium-severity issues to minor recommendations.
JavaScript & Frontend Collaboration
Knowledge of JavaScript and experience coordinating cross-functional work across frontend, QA, autotest, and project management teams.
Experience
Professional experience10+ years
Freelancer since2026
Languages
EnglishFluentRussianNative speakerUkrainianNative speaker
Project history
Continuing development of a high-load modular multi-site platform. Responsible for development and implementation of new backend features, REST API maintenance, backend performance optimization, production issue investigation and bug fixing, task estimation and prioritization, and participation in backend architecture and database design discussions. Technologies: PHP, Yii2, MySQL, Docker, Redis, RabbitMQ, GitLab, AWS, Grafana, Graylog, Vault, Sentry.
Leading a backend team of 3 and coordinating 5 cross-functional specialists for the ggbet.co.uk (UK License) high-load platform. Responsibilities included hiring, conducting technical interviews, onboarding and mentoring engineers, 1-to-1 meetings, technical planning, task prioritization, delivery coordination, release management, production support, and participation in architectural and technical decisions. Key results: 100+ technical interviews conducted, reduced database size from 190 GB to 110 GB, reduced infrastructure costs by $1,000-1,500 monthly, improved financial reporting accuracy, improved security audit results, and led Docker migration and CI/CD implementation. Technologies: PHP, Yii2, MySQL, Docker, Redis, RabbitMQ, GitLab, AWS, Grafana, Graylog, Vault, Sentry.
Supporting a SaaS platform for the tourism industry through backend feature delivery, REST API development, performance optimization, and early-stage testing. Contributed to architecture and database design discussions while maintaining and supporting existing functionality. Technologies: PHP, Yii2, MySQL, Docker, GitLab, Google API, Facebook API.