Lead PHP/Symfony Engineer (Remote, Full-Time) - [HR191]

Job Description

**About Smart Working**
At Smart Working, we believe the right job should do more than strengthen your CV --- it should challenge you, inspire you, and feel right every day. We connect experienced professionals with long-term, full-time remote roles where engineering excellence truly matters.
Our mission is to remove geographic barriers and match top talent with global teams building high-impact, mission-critical products. We partner with companies that value precision, ownership, and long-term growth, empowering our people to thrive both professionally and personally.
Join one of the highest-rated workplaces on Glassdoor and experience what it means to work in a truly remote-first environment.

**About the Role**

**Important: Laravel-only experience is not qualifying --- proven Symfony experience is mandatory!!!**
We're hiring a **Lead PHP \& Symfony Software Engineer** to work on mission-critical backend systems where code quality, reliability, and accountability are non-negotiable. This role goes far beyond feature delivery --- it's about engineering craftsmanship, technical ownership, and building systems you can truly stand behind.
You'll be part of a highly collaborative Agile team, working closely with product, QA, and other engineers across the full lifecycle --- from ticket definition and design through testing, review, and production deployment. This role is ideal for someone who values clean architecture, Test-Driven Development, thoughtful technical decisions, and mentoring others while building robust, scalable solutions.

Responsibilities
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* Design, develop, and maintain high-quality backend systems using PHP and Symfony
* Own features end-to-end, from ticket creation and technical design to production release
* Write clean, strongly-typed, maintainable, and testable code that meets strict quality standards
* Apply design patterns thoughtfully and consistently
* Build and maintain comprehensive automated test coverage using PHPUnit and similar tools
* Follow and promote Test-Driven Development (TDD) practices
* Use static analysis, linters, and code quality tools to ensure reliability and consistency
* Participate actively in code reviews, providing and receiving constructive feedback
* Collaborate closely with product, design, and QA teams to deliver robust solutions
* Break down complex initiatives into well-defined, actionable tasks and guide implementation
* Monitor systems and participate in a rotating on-call schedule when required
* Promote secure coding practices and ensure code is free from known vulnerabilities
* Document architecture, decisions, and processes to support team-wide knowledge sharing
* Mentor junior and mid-level engineers and contribute to a strong engineering culture

Requirements
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* 5 years of professional experience with PHP (7.4 / 8 )
* 3 years of hands-on experience with the Symfony framework
* Strong understanding and practical use of design patterns
* Solid experience with unit and integration testing (PHPUnit, Behat, or similar)
* Hands-on experience with Test-Driven Development (TDD)
* Familiarity with static analysis tools (PHPStan, Psalm, or similar)
* Strong understanding of CI/CD pipelines, code coverage, and deployment workflows
* Excellent technical communication skills and ability to explain and defend technical decisions
* High ownership mindset and strong sense of accountability

Nice-to-Have
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* Experience working with MongoDB
* Familiarity with JavaScript, React, Node.js, and/or TypeScript
* Experience with Docker and/or Kubernetes
* Experience working on high-availability or mission-critical systems

Benefits
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* Fixed Shifts: 12:00 PM - 9:30 PM IST (Summer) \| 1:00 PM - 10:30 PM IST (Winter)
* No Weekend Work: Real work-life balance, not just words
* Day 1 Benefits: Laptop and full medical insurance provided
* Support That Matters: Mentorship, community, and forums where ideas are shared
* True Belonging: A long-term career where your contributions are valued