BairesDev
  1. Technologies
  2. PHP
  3. Hire PHP Developers

Hire PHP Developers

Skip the recruitment bottlenecks.
Hire vetted PHP talent.

Our top 1% of tech talent has already undergone a rigorous vetting process. Get bilingual, nearshore PHP developers on your team within 2 weeks.

Hire Top PHP Developers
Clients rate our PHP services
4.4
Excellent

No time to find the top talent yourself? Skip the hassle of recruitment.

Onboard our senior PHP developers in a matter of days. This is just a small sample of the high-caliber talent working for us already.
Javier A.
Javier A.
Senior PHP Developer
10 Years of Experience
Javier is an experienced PHP developer specializing in Laravel. He has a strong background in developing dynamic web applications, with expertise in MySQL and modern JavaScript frameworks like Vue.js.
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Paula F.
Paula F.
PHP & Web Development Expert
9 Years of Experience
Paula is a PHP expert with extensive experience in Symfony framework. She excels in creating responsive and accessible web interfaces, and is proficient in developing RESTful APIs.
São Paulo, Brazil
Carlos R.
Carlos R.
Lead Software Engineer
12 Years of Experience
Carlos is a lead software engineer with a focus on PHP and the Zend Framework. His experience includes working on large-scale database-driven applications and incorporating containerization with Docker.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Diego S.
Diego S.
Senior PHP Architect
11 Years of Experience
Diego is a senior PHP architect with a strong background in CMS development, particularly with Drupal. He is also experienced in JavaScript and NoSQL databases like MongoDB, and is adept in Agile methodologies.
Panama City, Panama
Hire PHP Developers

Nearshore Savings Calculator.

Calculate your potential savings when you hire through BairesDev.
Over 82% of our developers have more than 10 years of experience.

How many developers do you need?

Need any other roles?

Desired length of engagement

The Ultimate Guide for Hiring PHP Developers

The demand for skilled PHP developers is on the rise. PHP continues to be a preferred language for web development, powering a significant portion of the internet. For businesses focused on enhancing their online functionality, finding a qualified PHP developer is crucial. But identifying the right tech talent can be challenging.

 

Leveraging our expertise in the field since 2009, we recruit the top 1% of PHP development professionals—and we've crafted a comprehensive guide to assist you in the hiring journey. This guide encompasses essential considerations for recruiting PHP developers, highlighting both technical and soft skills that are vital for success in the role.

Before You Start Hiring

Niche Experience in PHP

PHP professionals should bring a wealth of expertise within development at large. Along with PHP development, they should have expertise in other areas of development for cohesive cross-collaboration. Your PHP developer should have a history of successfully navigating diverse projects and challenges within the PHP ecosystem.

Culture Fit

Beyond technical prowess, it’s important to find a harmonious cultural fit by aligning the values, communication styles, and work ethic of the developers with the ethos of your team. This ensures a seamless integration of technical skills while also fostering a collaborative working environment. This will enhance the overall success of your project.

Collaborative Mindset

When hiring any type of developer, go beyond technical proficiency. Place a strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and collective problem-solving as well. Find developers who not only excel in technical areas but also have a commitment to collaboration.

Portfolio and References

There is no shortage of tech talent, but finding the right people for your project can be challenging. Looking at past clients throughout a developer's career can help shed light on their work. Likewise, reviewing references can help you confirm a track record of satisfaction from those former clients. A developer with a strong portfolio of client testimonials validates their expertise.

Location and Time Zone

Seamless communication and collaboration are critical for any tech project. Hiring developers who are situated in convenient time zones is helpful. Look for tech professionals in areas with overlapping operational hours to avoid blockers, maintain consistent communication, and foster efficient and responsive working relationships regardless of geographical distances.

17 Skills Every PHP Developer Should Have

PHP, a server-side scripting language, is important in web development. Its versatility and ability to seamlessly integrate with various databases empower developers to create dynamic, interactive, and feature-rich websites.

 

A developer well-versed in PHP can significantly impact your project's scalability and overall success. That’s because they can craft dynamic web applications, manage databases, and implement security measures to ensure a solid foundation for any engagement. We've identified 17 important skills PHP developers should have:

Technical Skills to Look for in Your Ideal PHP Developer

1. Proficiency in PHP Programming

Every PHP developer needs to have deep knowledge of PHP's syntax and features. This is important for writing clean and efficient code..

2. Understanding of PHP Frameworks

Frameworks improve a developer's efficiency by providing a structured way of building PHP applications. PHP developers should have knowledge of frequently used frameworks like Laravel, Symfony, or Codelgniter.

3. Front-End Technologies

Full-stack developers who work with PHP should also have expertise in front-end languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They should also know how to use JavaScript frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.

4. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

This is important for PHP developers to write modular and reusable code.

5. Database Management

Knowledge of database management and database management systems like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB is important for activities like data storage and retrieval, creating dynamic content, and user authentication and management. 

6. API Development/Integration

APIs allow systems to communicate with one another. PHP developers should have experience in developing and integrating APIs, particularly RESTful APIs.

7. Security Practices

Security is paramount in PHP development. A PHP developer must understand web application security best practices and common vulnerabilities in apps developed with the language, such as SQL injection, XSS, and CSRF attacks.

8. Version Control Systems

Version control systems like Git are important for team collaboration, revisions, and managing code changes over time. 

9. Testing and Debugging Skills

It's important to keep code clean by testing and debugging. Knowledge of PHP testing frameworks like PHPUnit is especially helpful for a PHP developer.

10. Knowledge of Web Servers

It's important to have an understanding of web server technology such as Apache or Nginx, including configuration and deployment of PHP applications.

11. Performance Optimization

PHP developers should understand caching mechanisms, code profiling, and query optimization to optimize applications for speed and efficiency.

12. Understanding of CMS

PHP developers should have experience with Content Management Systems like WordPress, Drupal, or Joomla if the project involves working with such platforms.

13. Composer and Dependency Management

Composer is PHP's package manager. It's important for managing dependencies in PHP projects.

Soft Skills to Look for in Your Ideal PHP Developer

14. Problem-Solving

Problem-solving is fundamental to software development, particularly for PHP developers. Proficient PHP developers can think critically about the software they are constructing, demonstrating adeptness in resolving intricate issues and challenges that may arise during the development lifecycle.

15. Communication Skills

PHP developers need strong communication skills to effectively collaborate with team members and convey technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Clear communication facilitates an efficient development process and promotes effective problem-solving within the technical teams and company at large.

16. Time-Management

PHP developers need to balance various tasks, prioritize tickets, and deliver high-quality code within specified timeframes. Time-management skills are crucial for them to be successful in effectively allocating resources and meeting deadlines.

17. Decision-Making

Sound decision-making is essential for PHP developers to navigate through various development choices, architectural decisions, and problem-solving scenarios. They must make informed decisions about technology stacks, coding approaches, and project strategies to successfully deliver scalable web applications.

By now, you should have a basic understanding of the technical and soft skills to look for in an experienced PHP developer. Next, let’s look at a few sample technical interview questions you can ask to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Skip the recruitment bottlenecks. Outsource your PHP software development.

11 Questions to Identify Top PHP Developers

When interviewing PHP developers, it's important to ask questions that first assess the candidates' technical skills and knowledge. Employers will also usually conduct a coding test to further assess specific on-the-job knowledge.

 

The following set of questions aim to uncover not only the developer's technical knowledge but also their problem-solving abilities, teamwork, communication skills, and adaptability—all crucial traits for success in a collaborative environment.

 

Here are a few examples of technical interview questions:

1. How do you ensure the creation of reusable and maintainable PHP code in your development projects?

Sample Answer

Maintaining clean and organized code is pivotal. I adhere to PHP coding standards, emphasize modularization, and employ clear naming conventions to foster reusability and ease of maintenance.

2. Can you share an experience where your decision-making skills played a crucial role in the success of a PHP project?

Sample Answer

In a recent project, I had to choose between different PHP frameworks based on project requirements. I carefully weighed the pros and cons, considering factors like scalability and community support. I ultimately opted for Laravel due to its features and extensive community resources.

3. How do you approach communication within a development team, and how do you ensure effective collaboration with non-technical stakeholders?

Sample Answer

I regularly lead and engage in team discussions, provide comprehensive documentation, and communicate technical aspects in a clear and understandable manner for non-technical team members. I also actively seek feedback from stakeholders to ensure alignment with project goals.

4. Describe a situation where tight project timelines required adept time-management skills. How did you ensure timely delivery without compromising code quality?

Sample Answer

In a time-sensitive project, I prioritized tasks based on criticality and utilized agile methodologies to maintain a balance between speed and code quality. Regular checkpoints and continuous integration helped my team, and I ensure timely delivery without sacrificing the integrity of the codebase.

Additional Interview Questions

5. Can you describe a challenging PHP project you worked on and how you handled it?

This question helps you see how the candidate deals with challenges.

6. What coding standards do you follow when writing PHP code?

The standards should be consistent with your team and business approach.

7. How do you manage tight deadlines and project changes?

This will help you better gauge how the PHP developer balances multiple priorities and changing objectives.

8. How do you stay updated with the latest PHP trends and best practices?

It's important for the PHP developer to stay abreast of the news and goings-on in the field to produce higher-quality code.

9. How do you ensure that a PHP application is responsive and works well across different browsers and devices?

PHP web developers must confirm that the app is cross-browser compatible. This helps you assess their approach.

10. How do you diagnose and fix performance bottlenecks in PHP?

This question allows you to understand the candidate's approach to dealing with problems in the program.

11. How do you use version control systems, like Git, in your PHP projects?

Version control systems are helpful for collaboration and tracking code changes. 

FAQ

Why should you hire dedicated PHP developers?

You should hire PHP developers to create or augment your web development efforts. There are several ways to work with PHP developers, such as hiring an in-house professional or outsourcing the work to a dedicated provider. The different models appeal to different needs. For example, if you need key specializations or want the flexibility to scale your efforts, an outsourced team is a good choice.

What skills should a PHP developer have?

Hire PHP programmers with experience in the language, a strong understanding of PHP frameworks like Laravel and Symfony, knowledge of front-end technologies, and database management skills, among other qualifications.

What programming languages should a web developer know?

In addition to the PHP programming language, a backend developer should know languages such as Ruby and Python. A frontend developer should know JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, among others.

Can PHP Developers Work Remotely?

Yes, there are many remote PHP developers. The field is well-suited to remote work because of collaborative tools, version control systems, and other tools.

What kind of projects require a PHP developer?

Typically, PHP developers work on web development projects. They may include web applications, e-commerce sites, content management systems (CMS), APIs, and others.

What are the benefits of hiring a PHP developer?

There are many benefits of hiring a PHP developer. Your developer can create custom web apps, improve existing applications, integrate databases, and build backend solutions for different web services.

How important is it for a PHP developer to have front-end development skills?

While not always necessary, front-end skills are valuable for full-stack development and can be beneficial for projects where the developer needs to handle both front-end and backend. Backend PHP web development does not require front-end skills.

What should I focus on when hiring PHP developers?

When hiring PHP developers, it's essential to create a comprehensive PHP developer job description that clearly outlines the required skills, experience, and responsibilities. This will help attract the right candidates. Additionally, if you're looking to outsource PHP development, ensure your job description is detailed and precise to find the best outsourcing partner who can meet your project needs.

<strong>Hire PHP devs?</strong> Check out our complete hiring guide.
Hire PHP devs? Check out our complete hiring guide.
This complete guide teaches you where to find expert PHP talent, how to assess their skills, and tips for attracting top candidates. Build a strong PHP team to meet your business needs.
Read now

How Businesses Can Overcome the Software Development Shortage

BairesDev Ranked as one of the Fastest-Growing Companies in the US by Inc. 5000

250+ PHP projects and counting. Accelerate your PHP development now.Schedule a Call
By continuing to use this site, you agree to our cookie policy and privacy policy.