I maintain a production-level application written in core PHP and powered by a fairly large MySQL instance. I need another seasoned backend hand to jump in and help me push new features while tightening up what already exists. Here’s what you’ll be doing day-to-day: • Extend and refactor existing server-side scripts so that new business logic is cleanly separated and fully tested. • Design and document REST-style APIs that my front-end team can consume right away; every endpoint must return consistent JSON and follow our current auth logic. • Take ownership of the database layer—everything from modelling new tables to rewriting slow queries, adding the right composite indexes, and generally keeping response times snappy. Key skills you’ll put to use: native PHP 7/8, MySQL (schema design, query optimisation, EXPLAIN plans), and a solid grasp of HTTP/REST principles. Familiarity with Git and a Linux command-line workflow is expected because that’s where all deployments happen. Deliverables for each task are straightforward: clean, well-commented PHP files committed via pull request, updated ER diagrams where the schema changes, and a short changelog so the rest of the team can follow along. If that sounds like your wheelhouse, let’s get started—there’s plenty waiting in the queue.