Lead PHP Engineer

Job Description

Who we are

Employment Hero is on a mission to make employment easier and more valuable for everyone. Our Employment Operating System brings hiring, HR, payroll and benefits into an all-in-one solution. 

Since our inception in 2014, we’ve scaled to a $2 billion valuation and gained a presence in 6 countries globally - Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, the UK and Canada. We now service over 300,000 businesses and more than 2 million employees. 

The EH Way

At Employment Hero, we’re proud of our unique DNA, which we call The EH Way.  

1. We are Mission First - everything we do (from what we work on, to how we allocate capital and where we focus) is driven by our Mission
2. We are Remote First - we champion a remote environment with a preference for asynchronous communication and a high degree of autonomy 
3. We are AI First - we are committed to using AI to accelerate our mission; AI is not just a tool, it’s a fundamental part of how we operate, innovate, and scale
4. We are Apolitical - we do not take a position on political or social topics, unless it relates to our Mission
5. We Live by Our Values - we role model our values 100% of the time
6. We Expect High Performance - we set a high standard and we’re not satisfied with being average

This role 

As a Lead PHP Engineer you will

• Take ownership of both technical delivery and team leadership within your squad.
• Build high-performance, scalable WordPress solutions, leveraging the Gutenberg editor and modern PHP practices.
• Ensure solutions are optimised for performance, security, and scalability, with minimal reliance on external plugins.
• Lead and mentor a squad of engineers, setting coding standards, conducting code reviews, and fostering a mission-first, high-performance culture.
• Collaborate closely with Product, Design, and Engineering peers to deliver impactful outcomes in a fast-moving product environment.

Who you are 

To thrive at Employment Hero, you’ll need to embody The EH Way - operating with focus, agility, and an obsession with impact. For this role, you’ll also bring

• Proven hands-on expertise in PHP, WordPress, and Gutenberg.
• Understanding of JavaScript (React), particularly for Gutenberg block development.
• Knowledge of modern frontend technologies (React, Vue.js, Tailwind CSS).
• Strong background with modern PHP frameworks (e.g., Laravel, Symfony).
• Solid understanding of OOP, design patterns, and SOLID principles.
• Experience with MySQL/MariaDB/PostgreSQL, including query optimization and database design.
• Proficiency with Git and collaborative workflows.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, Docker, and cloud deployments (AWS)
• Experience with unit testing and E2E testing.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to lead by example and mentor others.
• Experience working in Agile environments.
  

Bonus if you bring

• Proficiency in RESTful API design and integration.
• Familiarity with headless CMS architectures.
• Experience in SaaS or product-based environments.
• Exposure to hosting infrastructure, Reverse Proxy, CDN, WAF, etc.

What we can offer

At Employment Hero, we don’t just talk about a better way to work - we live it. Joining Employment Hero means

• You will work remotely, with the flexibility to own your time and impact
• You will access cutting-edge tools to amplify your work, knowledge and outputs 
• You’ll surround yourself with ambitious, outcome-driven colleagues who challenge you to do the best work of your life
• You’ll own ESOP (employee share options) in one of the world’s fastest-growing tech companies 
• You’ll also have access to a wide range of benefits that includes - a very generous parental leave policy, subsidised egg freezing (so you can make the choice that’s right for you, on your terms), a WFH office expense budget, and outstanding learning & development opportunities 

At Employment Hero, we are committed to safeguarding the privacy of your application data. To understand how we do so, you can read our Applicant Privacy Policy here employmenthero.com/legals/applicant-policy/

Employment Hero celebrates diverse perspectives and experiences, we invite people of all backgrounds and identities to apply for this position.