Senior Full Stack Developer (PHP / Vue.js)

Mothernode Job Description

Mothernode is seeking an experienced Full Stack Developer to help build, maintain, and improve our cloud ERP and CRM software for signage and custom manufacturing businesses. This is a hands-on role spanning back-end and front-end development, databases, APIs, and production infrastructure.

Our platform is a mature, custom-built PHP application that does not rely on a PHP framework. Our technology environment includes PHP, JavaScript, Vue.js, MySQL/MariaDB, MongoDB, Linux, Apache, NGINX, and AWS services including EC2, S3, and EBS.

We are looking for a disciplined developer who can work effectively across the full application stack, takes pride in dependable software, understands how changes affect the overall system, and follows work through to completion. Strong technical skills, clear communication, problem-solving ability, and sound judgment are essential.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and improve application features across the back end, front end, databases, APIs, and integrations.
• Translate business requirements into practical technical solutions and consider the complete application workflow.
• Investigate defects, identify root causes, and deliver lasting fixes while protecting existing functionality and data integrity.
• Improve application and database performance through efficient code, queries, indexing, caching, and appropriate use of server resources.
• Troubleshoot issues across the application, database, web server, and Linux environment.
• Test normal use, edge cases, permissions, integrations, and error handling before submitting work for review or release.
• Collaborate with development, product, and support teams.
• Document meaningful changes, participate in code reviews, and communicate progress, estimates, and blockers promptly.

Required technical qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of professional full-stack or PHP web application development experience building and maintaining production applications.
• Strong PHP fundamentals, including object-oriented programming, with the ability to work effectively in a mature codebase without relying on a PHP framework.
• Strong front-end development skills with JavaScript, Vue.js, HTML, and CSS.
• Strong experience with MySQL/MariaDB, including SQL, relational database design, transactions, indexing, and query optimization.
• Experience with MongoDB, including querying, data modeling, and indexing.
• Working knowledge of Linux, Apache, NGINX, REST APIs, JSON, and AJAX.
• Hands-on experience with AWS, particularly EC2, S3, and EBS.
• Proficiency with Git and practical experience using logs, browser development tools, database tools, and Linux command-line utilities to investigate and debug problems.
• Understanding of secure web development practices, including input validation, parameterized queries, authentication, authorization, and common web vulnerabilities.
• Ability to understand an established system, follow existing conventions, and make controlled improvements without unnecessarily rewriting working software.

Communication requirements

• Excellent command of spoken and written English is required. Candidates must communicate clearly with colleagues, understand requirements, ask relevant questions, and explain technical concepts in plain language.
• Clear documentation and professional written updates are equally important. These skills will be evaluated through conversation and discussion of prior work.

AI tools and independent development ability

Mothernode supports the responsible use of AI to improve productivity, but AI is not a substitute for fundamental programming knowledge, technical judgment, or independent problem-solving ability.

Candidates must be able to independently write, understand, explain, debug, and maintain software without AI assistance. Developers are responsible for understanding and validating all code they produce, including AI-generated code.

Candidates must be able to:

• Read and understand an established codebase and determine appropriate changes.
• Diagnose problems using logs, debugging tools, documentation, and direct investigation.
• Evaluate AI-generated code for correctness, security, performance, and compatibility.
• Protect proprietary source code, credentials, customer information, and other confidential data when using AI tools.

The technical interview will include coding, debugging, and code-reading exercises performed without AI assistance.

Professional standards

We value developers who are organized, accountable, and self-directed; take pride in clean, maintainable code; and balance delivery speed with quality. The right candidate researches problems before escalating, asks for help when appropriate, welcomes constructive feedback, and owns mistakes and their resolution.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with ERP, CRM, SaaS, or other business management applications.
• Familiarity with quoting, order fulfillment, invoicing, inventory, manufacturing, or job costing workflows.
• Experience with Composer, dependency management, CI/CD, and additional AWS services.
• Experience supporting software used by multiple customer organizations, with attention to permissions and data separation.

Application requirements

Submit a resume and a portfolio, code samples, or demonstrable examples of completed applications. For each example, explain your individual contribution, the problem solved, and key technical decisions. If prior work is confidential, provide a permitted demonstration, sanitized sample, or personal project that demonstrates comparable skills.

Candidates should be prepared to walk through their work and discuss how they use AI. Share only materials you are authorized to disclose.