Lead Back-End Developer

Lead Back-End Developer at Twilo Creative Limited

This is a fully remote, full-time position based in the UK, with in-person team meetups in Leeds twice monthly. The annual salary is £50,000.

About Us

For over a decade, Twilo Creative has delivered bespoke websites and applications for clients. Our recent projects include a consumer loan funnel with eligibility checking and an enquiry CRM, a vehicle configurator for a global automotive brand, a multi-site platform and brand repository for an international restaurant group, custom software, and many other applications of various sizes.

Each department at Twilo Creative is led by one person who holds full accountability for their area. This role specifically owns the development department, leading a small team that includes a Front-End Developer and a Back-End Developer. You will be responsible for the department’s delivery, security, and standards, regardless of who performs the hands-on work. Day-to-day, you will collaborate closely with our Designer and Operations Manager.

We operate fully remotely and meet in person in Leeds twice a month.

The Role

We are seeking a Lead Back-End Developer to be a key contributor and integral part of our team. This is a senior, decision-making agency role where you will lead the development team while maintaining a continuous feedback loop with our Designer and Operations Manager.

You will be hands-on across our websites, applications, and custom internal systems, taking real ownership from building bespoke tools that solve genuine business problems to setting the technical direction for the development team. Fluency with AI tools such as Claude and/or Codex is central to our workflow. If you value variety, autonomy, and seeing your work make a direct impact, you will thrive here.

What You’ll Do

• Lead back-end development of web applications, websites, and e-commerce platforms
• Build custom Laravel applications from the ground up, including finance and forecasting tools, and document storage and repository solutions
• Design and build APIs and manage third-party integrations
• Own the department’s security and quality standards, reviewing work and ensuring systems remain patched and protected
• Make and guide key technical and architectural decisions
• Plan and run development sprints, directing and unblocking other developers daily
• Work in close, continuous collaboration with our Designer and Operations Manager
• Write clean, maintainable code and test it end-to-end: load the page, click the button, and verify downstream effects before considering anything complete

Experience

• A senior developer with substantial commercial experience, including in a senior or decision-making capacity
• Experience leading other developers: organizing work, reviewing code, and setting standards
• Agency experience, with a strong track record of client contact and communication
• Client and project management experience: comfortable owning relationships and delivery
• Strong PHP skills with deep, hands-on experience in Laravel
• Uses AI coding tools such as Claude or Codex as a core part of their building process, demonstrated at interview. This carries equal weight to framework knowledge, and applicants unable to demonstrate this will not progress.
• Experience building custom business systems and tools from scratch
• Solid understanding of servers and infrastructure, able to oversee deployments and step in when needed
• A security-conscious mindset and experience keeping systems patched and safe
• Experience handling personal and financial data securely and in line with UK GDPR
• Sound judgment on architecture, performance, and code quality

Person Description

• A natural collaborator, accustomed to working with clients
• Proactive: anticipates needs, takes initiative, and drives work forward without waiting to be asked
• An excellent communicator who works professionally and builds strong working relationships
• Sees beyond their own ticket: understands the front end, the user journey, and the knock-on effects of their work
• Holds themselves to high standards that match the company’s own
• Reliable with process and deadlines: able to follow procedures and deliver on time
• A key contributor and integral team member, comfortable making decisions at a senior level

Benefits

• Life cover
• Income protection
• Private medical insurance
• Fully remote working
• 32 days’ holiday including bank holidays
• Company events
• Company pension
• Work from home

Application Question: Tell us about the AI tools you use and how they're integrated with your daily workflow.

Required Experience: Senior Developer: 10 years

Work Location: Remote