Deliver backend support for product features, working pragmatically across the stack when needed
Design and build scalable APIs and backend features within our existing architectural direction, with strong emphasis on performance, reliability, and maintainability
Drive initiatives focused on security improvements, stability, and database/query optimisation
Identify bottlenecks, technical debt, and production risks and execute pragmatic fixes
Optimise MySQL databases to ensure high performance and reliability, including, indexing strategies, migrations, and complex queries
Write documentation of features and concepts, and ensure existing documentation is kept up-to-date
Use monitoring and logging tools to troubleshoot and resolve software issues, to ensure reliable application performance
Collaborate with the customer support team to ensure common bugs or feature requests are prioritised or fixed

Requirements

4+ years experience as a Software Engineer, with strong knowledge of:
PHP8 and Laravel 11+, including an understanding of modern PHP best practices
Solid experience designing and working with relational databases (MySQL), including schema design and query optimisation
Proven experience improving application security, reliability, and performance in production systems
Experience writing automated tests (e.g. PHPUnit, Jest), and contributing to regression suites such as Cypress
Good understanding of software design principles (SOLID, OOP, design patterns) and pragmatic tradeoffs in a fast-moving product team
Comfortable with communicating technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
A strong growth mindset - you’re not afraid to take risks, fail, and learn
A passion for social justice and a strong desire to help Chuffed campaigners succeed
Able to iterate quickly on product features, making pragmatic UX and UI decisions when design patterns aren’t fully defined
Comfortable operating independently within defined technical boundaries
Pragmatic decision-maker who understands when to escalate larger architectural concerns
Strong executor who can take backend problems from identification through implementation without heavy oversight
Bonus points if you have:
Experience working on systems handling financial transactions or sensitive user data
Demonstrated experience managing AWS services
Proven experience working with GraphQL, in a backend and/or frontend environment
Strong working knowledge of React and/or NextJS, and confidence building production-ready UI
Experience working with IaC principles and tools, particularly Terraform

Benefits

$150,000 salary + super
We value work-life balance. We work autonomously from home and meet up with the team intermittently to collaborate in-person. We’re based in Sydney and Melbourne but open to remote employees within Australia
Work alongside industry leading marketers and digital engineers in a small and agile team with deep industry connections
Spend your days amplifying the work of campaigners pushing for progressive social change around the world

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

PHP8Laravel 11MySQLautomated testsPHPUnitJestCypressGraphQLReactNextJS

Soft Skills

communicationgrowth mindsetpragmatic decision-makingindependent operationcollaborationproblem-solvingadaptabilityexecutiontechnical documentationuser experience design