Here is the revised job description with all Node.js references removed and fully centered on a PHP-first stack.Senior Software Engineer – AI-First Product Development (PHP Stack)Role OverviewWe are seeking a Senior Software Engineer who combines classical engineering excellence with modern AI-augmented development practices.You will architect and build enterprise-scale applications using a PHP-based backend while leveraging AI-assisted tooling and agentic workflows to accelerate delivery and elevate product quality.This role is not about replacing engineering judgment with AI — it’s about amplifying your impact through:Thoughtful system designScalable architectureProduction-grade DevOps ownershipAI-accelerated development workflowsContinuous iteration in an AI-first product environmentYou will help shape both our technical foundation and our engineering culture in the AI era.Key ResponsibilitiesBackend & ArchitectureDesign and build scalable backend services using PHP (Laravel or Symfony preferred) capable of supporting high-traffic production workloads with 99.9%+ uptime.Architect maintainable systems applying:SOLID principlesDomain-Driven Design (DDD)Layered / Hexagonal architectureEvent-driven patterns where appropriateDesign and maintain clean, versioned RESTful APIs.Own data modeling decisions and database performance optimization (MySQL/PostgreSQL).Full-Stack CollaborationCollaborate closely with frontend engineers (React, Vue, or equivalent) to ensure:Clean API boundariesPerformance optimizationSecure and maintainable integrationsContribute to frontend integration and architecture discussions when needed.Scalability & ReliabilityDesign systems using:Caching strategies (Redis, Memcached)Queue systems (e.g., RabbitMQ, SQS, or equivalent)Load balancing and horizontal scalingCDN optimizationIdentify and resolve performance bottlenecks.Implement monitoring, logging, and observability best practices.Drive uptime and reliability standards across services.DevOps & CI/CD OwnershipOwn CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, etc.).Implement automated testing (unit, integration, and E2E).Contribute to infrastructure-as-code and cloud deployment strategies.Improve deployment automation and production monitoring.AI-First Engineering PracticesActively leverage AI development tools (Cursor, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, etc.) to:Accelerate implementationGenerate and refactor testsImprove documentationSupport code reviewDemonstrate fluency in:Prompt engineering for codeContext managementKnowing when to override AI output with engineering judgmentExperiment with agentic development workflows such as:AI-assisted test generationAutomated refactoringIntelligent static analysisAI-augmented debuggingHelp define internal best practices for AI-assisted engineering.Product & Cross-Functional ImpactTranslate ambiguous product requirements into scalable, maintainable solutions.Collaborate with product, design, and stakeholders.Own features end-to-end — from ideation through production monitoring and iteration.Mentor engineers in technical craftsmanship and AI-augmented workflows.Required QualificationsCritical Requirements5+ years of professional software engineering experience.Strong expertise in PHP with production experience in Laravel or Symfony.Deep understanding of:Software architecture patterns (MVC, microservices, event-driven systems)Design patterns (Factory, Strategy, Observer, Dependency Injection, etc.)Experience designing scalable systems:Caching strategiesLoad balancingDatabase optimizationDistributed systems fundamentalsHands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines and automated testing.Proven track record debugging complex production issues and optimizing performance.Experience building and maintaining enterprise-grade applications serving real users.Active proficiency with AI-assisted development tools and workflows.Preferred QualificationsExperience integrating LLM-powered features or AI-driven workflows.Familiarity with event streaming systems.Cloud platform experience (AWS, GCP, or Azure).Experience scaling systems significantly in users, traffic, or data volume.Startup or 0-to-1 product experience.Strong written technical communication skills.Bonus DifferentiatorsContributions to AI tooling or internal AI workflows.Experience building LLM-powered or agentic product features.Published technical writing or open-source contributions.Experience modernizing legacy PHP systems into scalable architectures.