Overview

We are recruiting for a PHP Developer to join our expanding digital team. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic, hard-working, keen to develop and ready for a new opportunity. As our in-house specialist for our back-end platform, you will drive our system to new levels with an ambitious improvement and innovation plan, providing the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and expertise.

Main Responsibilities

• Build and maintain our organisation's back-end platform.
• Write clean, maintainable code that is understandable by others.
• Contribute to the planning of digital projects.
• Lead on all phases of the development lifecycle.
• Work with key stakeholders to understand the needs of both the organisation and our users.
• Provide technical resource to tie together all of our digital systems.

Essential skills and knowledge

• At least 2 years’ experience creating and maintaining PHP-based systems.
• Understanding of MVC programming.
• Experience with MySQL.
• Demonstrable knowledge of web technologies including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery & Bootstrap.
• Experience using frontend frameworks like Vue.js.
• Experience programming within WordPress, including WP plugins.

Beneficial skills and knowledge

• Linux usage and administration.
• MySQL, SQL and administration.

What SUSU can offer

• A 35-hour working week.
• Hybrid working (minimum 3 days in our office on Highfield Campus, Southampton).
• 46 days off annually with 30 days of annual leave to take at your choosing, 2 closure days in August, 2 at Easter and 4 at Christmas. Plus 8 bank holidays. Colleagues may purchase up to an additional week of annual leave.
• Defined contribution pension scheme with SUSU contributing 10%.
• Discounted bus passes (UniLink and Blue Star) and a cycle scheme.
• A friendly, fun and dynamic team.
• Opportunities to join the organisation’s wellbeing and social activities throughout the year.

To Apply

If this sounds like an exciting opportunity and you have the skills detailed in our job description, please send your CV and a covering letter by clicking on Apply Now. In your covering letter please provide information specifically related to your PHP experience, confirming whether it is a language you use in your current role or have used in the past. Lack of this information may prevent shortlisting.

Application process

Applications will be reviewed throughout the advert posting. You may be contacted to complete a PHP-based task prior to the closing date. Following successful completion of this task, candidates may proceed to an in-person interview. A further task may be completed at interview. In-person interviews are currently scheduled for 4 November 2025.

Contact

If you have any questions prior to submitting your application, please contact the People Team by emailing suhr@soton.ac.uk.

Before applying

Regretfully, SUSU is NOT a sponsoring organisation and is not able to sponsor visas if required to work in the UK (e.g., Tier 2).

Equal opportunity

SUSU is an equal opportunities employer that values a diverse workforce and reflects the student body we represent. We value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination, and our recruitment activities are mindful of equality and diversity matters.