PHP Developer

Whisker is looking for a mid-level PHP Developer to help design, build, and maintain the software that powers its operations, including the fulfillment workflow for Litter-Robots and other pet products. This onsite role in Auburn Hills, MI supports cross-functional teams in an Agile environment, turning business needs into reliable PHP-based solutions while delivering clean, scalable code across backend and frontend platforms.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development and ongoing refinement of Whisker’s operations management systems.
• Partner with operations, manufacturing, and shipping teams to understand challenges and craft effective solutions.
• Convert requirements into incremental deliverables, provide accurate estimates, and participate in Agile ceremonies (planning, stand-ups, reviews, retros).
• Write, test, and deploy clean, maintainable code across both server-side and client-side components.
• Engage in code reviews, offering and receiving constructive feedback to improve quality.
• Assist in designing and maintaining database schemas and queries.
• Develop and support integrations with third-party systems such as shipping, returns, and ERP.
• Troubleshoot and resolve system issues with urgency and attention to detail.
• Create and maintain technical documentation for system functionality and processes.
• Write and maintain unit and integration tests to ensure application reliability.
• Follow best practices in software development, including coding standards, testing, and Agile methodologies.
• Stay current with emerging technologies and propose improvements for systems and processes.
• Assume additional responsibilities as required to support the team and product.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 2–3+ years of professional web development experience with strong PHP expertise.
• Experience with modern MVC frameworks such as Laravel or Symfony.
• Experience developing REST APIs and integrating with third-party APIs.
• Hands-on experience with relational databases and writing efficient queries.
• Familiarity with project management tools for task and issue tracking.
• Experience participating in Agile teams and ceremonies.
• Exposure to maintaining and refactoring existing applications.
• Experience with unit testing frameworks (e.g., PHPUnit).
• Proficiency in PHP (7.x/8.x) and object-oriented programming.
• Strong understanding of MVC frameworks and clean code principles.
• Basic knowledge of cloud hosting and deployments, with Azure preferred.
• Front-end skills including JavaScript, jQuery, and SASS/LESS; familiarity with build tools (Webpack, Gulp, or Grunt).
• Familiarity with modern JavaScript frameworks (React, Vue, Angular, or Svelte).
• Exposure to CI/CD pipelines, containerization (Docker), and version control (Git).
• Maintains confidentiality of proprietary information and conducts themselves professionally in a fast-paced setting.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with team members and adapt to multiple interactions and interruptions.
• Comfortable working in an environment with office pets (cats and dogs).

Technologies

• PHP, Laravel, Symfony
• REST APIs, PHPUnit
• JavaScript, JQuery, SASS, LESS
• Webpack, Gulp, Grunt
• React, Vue, Angular, Svelte
• Docker, Git
• Azure, Redis, Memcached, RabbitMQ
• AWS, GCP

Benefits

• Premium Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Paid parental leave and Whisker Parents Program
• One day of pet adoption leave (pawternity)
• Pet insurance discount and 401K match
• Flexible spending accounts and company-paid short-term disability and life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and generous paid time off
• 14 paid holidays, top-tier equipment, and a pet-friendly office
• Whisker product swag and continuing education support
• On-site gym with Peloton and a referral program

Not Required but Nice to Have

• Experience with ERP, MES, or other enterprise systems
• Experience migrating PHP applications across major versions (7.x to 8.x)
• Familiarity with caching (Redis, Memcached) and message queues (RabbitMQ or similar)
• Hands-on experience containerizing applications
• Familiarity with accessibility/ADA compliance in web apps
• Cloud certifications (Azure, AWS, or GCP)
• Experience collaborating with non-technical stakeholders to translate business needs into technical deliverables
• Not required to have pets, but considered a plus