Backend Symfony Developer

Licorn is a Swiss startup revolutionizing recruitment by flipping the traditional hiring model on its head. Our platform empowers candidates to set their expectations first - from salary ranges to job criteria - and invites recruiters to come to them, creating a transparent, candidate-first experience.

Role Overview

We are looking for a Senior Backend Developer to join our small but highly skilled team. You will work closely with our Lead Backend Developer and play a key role in designing, developing, and maintaining the core backend systems that power Licorn’s platform. This is not just a coding role - you will help shape the product, make architectural decisions, and ensure our backend is robust, scalable, and secure.

As a senior developer in a startup environment, you will need to thrive in ambiguity, adapt quickly, and bring a product mindset to everything you do. Specifications may be minimal, but quality is non-negotiable. If you love solving complex problems, writing clean and maintainable code, and working in a fast-paced environment, we’d love to hear from you.

What you will do

• Design and develop backend services and APIs using PHP and Symfony.
• Collaborate with front-end developers and product stakeholders to deliver seamless integrations.
• Own features end-to-end, from requirements gathering to deployment. Optimize performance and scalability, ensuring our systems can grow with the business.
• Implement best practices for security, reliability, and maintainability.
• Contribute to architecture decisions and help shape the technical roadmap.
• Troubleshoot and debug complex issues in production environments.

What we are looking for

• Expertise in PHP and Symfony, with at least 5+ years of professional experience.
• Solid understanding of database design and management (SQL).
• Strong knowledge of security best practices and scalability considerations.
• A product-oriented mindset - you care about the “why” behind the code.
• Ability to work autonomously, gather requirements, and make decisions in a fast- moving environment.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and adaptability to change.
• Familiarity with DevOps practices, including CI/CD pipelines and Docker (our stack is fully containerized).

Nice-to-have

• Previous experiences in startup environments or small teams.
• Experience with API Platform is a strong plus.
• Experience with ElasticSearch/OpenSearch