Full-Stack / Backend Engineer (PHP, Automation, API Integrations) (Remote)

We are looking for a skilled Full-Stack / Backend Engineer to support the development and scaling of an internal platform used for managing a large domain portfolio, websites, and automated content operations. The platform runs in production, has a modular (component-based, API-first) architecture, complex business logic, external integrations, and a high degree of automation. Your primary focus will be on platform architecture, backend stability, performance optimization, and implementation of new modules.

A specialist with 3+ years of experience in PHP, confident working with platforms, APIs, hosting panels, automation pipelines, performance tuning, and complex distributed logic. A proactive engineer who can manage large volumes of domains/websites, work with intricate datasets and integrations, and directly influence architectural decisions and the evolution of the entire system.

Details
Location: Remote
Employment Type: Full-time, long-term
Start Date: ASAP
Language Requirements: English – Intermediate+

Key Responsibilities
Platform Development & Architecture

• Maintain and develop a modular platform (component-based, API-first).
• Design and implement REST APIs: authentication, error handling, data structures, JSON contracts.
• Work with complex business logic: domains, sites, indexing, internal processes.
• Optimize performance: caching, refactoring, profiling, load-handling improvements.

Integrations & Automation

• Integrate external APIs: hosting panels (HestiaCP/VestaCP or equivalents), Cloudflare API (DNS/CDN/SSL), site management tools.
• Automate routine operations: cron jobs, bash scripts, WP-CLI flows, bulk actions across hundreds of domains/websites.
• Work with WordPress: plugin development/extension, automated content workflows, database structure management.

Observability & Stability

• Monitor logs, profile queries, detect bottlenecks, and resolve system issues.
• Implement backup and recovery mechanisms (logic, content, configuration level).

Data Engineering

• Design, update, and migrate database schemas.
• Build and optimize complex SQL queries with indexing and performance tuning.
• Process, transform, and manage large datasets within internal tools.

Requirements
Backend Expertise

• Strong experience with PHP 8.1+ (preferably 8.3): OOP, strict typing, exceptions, traits, namespaces, PSR-4/12.
• Advanced MySQL 8.x skills: JOINs, aggregations, subqueries, index optimization, transactions (ACID), migrations.
• Solid understanding of RESTful API design, validation, error handling, authN/authZ.

Frontend Fundamentals

• Strong JavaScript (ES6+) knowledge: async/await, Fetch API, modular architecture.
• Solid HTML5/CSS3: semantics, responsive layout, Flexbox/Grid, CSS variables.

Practical Experience

• Hosting panels: HestiaCP / VestaCP or similar.
• WordPress: administration, automation, DB structure, WP-CLI — strong advantage.
• Cloudflare API or other DNS/CDN providers.
• Experience with multi-domain / multi-website platforms.

Nice to Have (AI & Automation)

• Semantic search (embeddings + vector DB).
• RAG pipelines for internal data.
• Automated SEO tools, content/config generation.
• Experience with LLM integrations: OpenAI / Anthropic / Gemini API.
• Node.js or Python for wrappers and tooling.
• Vector databases: PostgreSQL + pgvector, Qdrant, Milvus, Redis Search.