Overview
We’re looking for a PHP developer with experience in structured, object-oriented development – preferably with exposure to MVC principles as applied in modern WordPress projects.
We use WordPress as the core platform for many of our projects, customising it extensively to meet the requirements of our clients. We therefore need a highly competent PHP developer who’s comfortable working with WordPress as an application framework.
We follow an MVC-inspired approach using Timber and Twig to build clean, maintainable WordPress themes and write modular, object-oriented PHP for custom plugin development. If you come from a similar PHP background (eg. Laravel or Drupal), we’ll likely be able to support you to adapt to WordPress.
You’ll be joining two other PHP developers, two designers (who also build front-end components when needed), and a full-stack technical lead with a front-end focus.
We have plenty of design and front-end capability already, so while a good knowledge of HTML is essential, you won’t be working with too much Sass/CSS or marking up designs. Generally speaking, designs will be translated to a component library and integrated with WordPress (using ACF Blocks) by a front-ender comfortable with the ‘front-of-the-back-end’ and theming. You’ll have support from said front-end developer to help user interfaces render in a maintainable, accessible, and performant way, and work with them to build and maintain more bespoke functionality to support theming, including developing custom plugins, and extending existing ones.
Our ideal candidate will enjoy working back-of-the-back-end, solving technical development challenges, implementing robust integrations with third-party APIs, assisting designers with the more technical aspects of custom theme development, and influencing the evolution of our technical stack.
Home working
The successful applicant will be based at home. Headscape no longer has a permanent office, but we do meet up from time to time in person.
Rights to work in the UK
Applicants must have unrestricted rights to work in the UK when they apply.
Full-time position
This is a full-time position.
Job responsibilities
- Develop and maintain WordPress websites and web applications built on WordPress
- Write well-structured, object-oriented PHP code using modern best practices
- Build and maintain custom WordPress plugins tailored to client needs
- Integrate with third-party APIs, handling authentication, data syncing, and edge cases with care
- Testing, maintenance and troubleshooting of existing sites
- Working as part of a team to find solutions to WordPress, PHP, and integration development challenges
- Maintain high standards of code quality, collaborating using version control (Git), and documentation
Essential skills
- In-depth knowledge of modern PHP (8+) and OOP principles for custom websites and web applications.
- Experience of working with MySQL
- Comfortable with REST APIs and external integrations with third-party systems
- Proficiency working in a modern development environment using an IDE, code repositories, and well managed deployment processes (we use GitHub Actions to deploy to managed hosts such as WP Engine, Kinsta and Cloudways)
- An understanding of web performance, and security best practices
- Debugging and problem solving skills
- Demonstrable ability to work collaboratively with team members, including front-end developers, and independently
- Demonstrable ability to work remotely in a focused and reliable way, even when under pressure
- Keen to learn, and to embrace emerging web technologies
- Ability to switch rapidly between projects when the inevitable demands of agency working require it
Desirable skills
- WordPress-based web development, including custom plugin development and WordPress theming
- Experience with Composer, WP-CLI, or automated testing (such as PHPUnit)
- Familiarity with React and modern JavaScript (ES6+), particularly in the context of extending or customizing the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg)
- Experience working with GitHub-based workflows, including pull requests and code reviews
- Comfortable peer reviewing code, giving and receiving constructive feedback
- If you’ve developed using Drupal too, that would be an added bonus
Employee owned
Headscape is 100% owned by a trust on behalf of its employees. This model helps to ensure that Headscape is an equitable place to work with transparent decision making.
When profits allow, employee ownership also means that bonuses can be paid tax-free.
What we offer
A baseline salary between £40k and £50k depending on experience.
You’ll get 23 days of paid holiday, plus paid bank holidays. The days between Christmas and New Year are mandatory holidays.
Also, we have a holiday bonus scheme that rewards Headscape people for long service. From your third year of employment onwards you’ll get an additional day’s paid holiday per year up to five additional days.
We’ll help you to build your knowledge and skills. Much of that will be from your new colleagues, but we’re happy to provide more formal training if that’s what’s needed.
We’re a small, close-knit team of professionals who care deeply about the quality of work we produce for our clients. We’ve built a supportive, caring environment, and we work well together. You’ll be joining a company with low staff turnover – when people join us they tend to stay part of the team for many years.
We’ll provide you with a high-end MacBook, and help with anything you need to have a comfortable, productive home working environment.
You’ll get a contribution to gym membership if you are a member of a gym.
Applying
Please send your CV together with a covering email summarising why you think you could become a part of the Headscape team to [email protected].
We particularly encourage applicants who would enhance Headscape’s diversity.