Principal Full-Stack Engineer, Contract

What will you be doing?

• Manage your own time while adhering to priorities set by the company.
• Own complex engineering problems end-to-end, from problem framing and design through to delivery and iteration.
• Take responsibility for critical areas of the platform, ensuring they remain reliable, performant, and maintainable.
• Build new features and improve existing ones across our platforms.
• Refactor legacy and modern codebases pragmatically, balancing long-term health with delivery needs.
• Write tests (unit, integration, and end-to-end) to ensure software reliability.
• Be involved in every phase of the software lifecycle, from ideation to deployment.
• Participate in (and at times lead) deep technical discussions, helping drive sound decisions and trade-offs.
• Work hands‑on across backend and frontend systems, stepping in wherever the problem lives.
• Identify inefficiencies and help streamline workflows, reducing unnecessary work.
• Collaborate closely with other senior engineers, raising the bar through example rather than authority.
• Take ownership of your work, ensuring high‑quality results and maintainable solutions.

What will you bring along?

• 15+ years hands‑on experience building and maintaining complex web applications
• Clear technical communication; able to explain and defend design decisions to senior engineers and non‑engineers alike
• Expert PHP developer (12+ years); Symfony or equivalent frameworks
• 10+ years modern JavaScript; React or Vue (Next/Nuxt a plus)
• Expert level knowledge in at least one more programming language (Python a plus)
• Full‑stack architecture expertise: monoliths, services, and hybrids
• Power user cloud deployment and scaling (AWS preferred) experience and abilities
• Expert Linux user; including daily containerised workflows with Docker
• Expert in infrastructure automation: Terraform, Ansible
• Power user level CI/CD pipeline and release workflow ownership
• Experience in automated testing: unit, integration, E2E; TDD where appropriate
• Expert level knowledge in and around web security fundamentals: auth, authorization, data protection, secure coding
• Legacy + modern codebase fluency; ability to work on incremental modernization
• Strong independent technical ownership and accountability

How We Support Our Contractors

• An annualised rate of €139,000 + retention bonus scheme: Competitive contractor rate with a generous bonus paid every 6 months based on your time with us.
• Top‑Notch Workstation: We provide the latest MacBook, branded merchandise, and everything you need for an optimal work environment.
• Global Co‑Working Access: Work from a global network of co‑working spaces to keep your work‑life dynamic and flexible.
• Flexibility: Enjoy full flexibility in work location and hours, supporting a work‑life balance tailored to your needs.
• Events and Gatherings: Participate in exciting events throughout the year, including team gatherings, cultural events, and other fun activities.