Senior Backend Developer - (m/f/d)

Location: Cologne (WeWork) or Remote from Germany (CET‑time) · Team: Product & Engineering · Type: Full‑time

Why Ordio

80% of employees worldwide don’t work at a desk. Ordio 💙 is the all‑in‑one SaaS platform that helps organisations manage and empower this workforce: shift planning, time tracking, absence & document management, powered by modern AI.

We’re an ambitious HR tech startup, scaling fast in Germany. We believe AI can make work better for millions of people by simplifying admin, enabling smarter decisions, and giving employees the tools they deserve.

The Role

We’re looking for a Senior PHP Developer to help build and scale Ordio’s new Payroll Plus — a product that simplifies German payroll by automating everything from wage calculations to payslip distribution for blue-collar teams.

You’ll use Symfony, AWS, and modern development practices to build reliable, scalable systems that integrate seamlessly with Ordio’s shift planning & time tracking. You’ll create tools that make our payroll admins more efficient and extend the platform with new features for workspace admins & employees whilst collaborating closely with Product to ship impactful features & improve architecture.

What You'll Do

• Build and maintain core features of Ordio's SaaS platform using PHP and Symfony

• Design, implement, and optimise scalable backend systems on AWS cloud infrastructure

• Write clean, testable, and maintainable code that follows best practices

• Architect solutions for complex problems in workforce management, time tracking, and scheduling

• Collaborate with Product and Design to translate requirements into technical solutions

• Participate in code reviews and mentor junior engineers

• Contribute to technical decisions around architecture, tooling, and development workflows

• Work with databases (SQL), APIs (REST/GraphQL), and third-party integrations (payroll, compliance tools)

• Monitor, debug, and optimise application performance and reliability

• Champion engineering excellence: testing, documentation, CI/CD, and automation

What Sets You Up For Success

Must-haves

• 5+ years of professional experience with PHP, with deep expertise in Symfony framework

• Strong experience deploying and managing applications on AWS (EC2, RDS, S3, Lambda, CloudFormation, etc.)

• Solid understanding of object-oriented programming, design patterns, and SOLID principles

• Experience building and maintaining RESTful APIs and integrating third-party services

• Proficient with SQL databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and database design

• Comfortable with version control (Git), CI/CD pipelines, and agile workflows

• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently

• Excellent communicator who can collaborate across Product, Design, and Engineering

• Fluent in English; German is a plus

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in HR tech, workforce management, or SaaS products for frontline workers

• Familiarity with AI/ML integration, vector databases, or LLM-based features

• Knowledge of Docker, Kubernetes, or other containerisation technologies

• Experience with event-driven architecture, message queues (SQS, RabbitMQ), or microservices

• Understanding of European labour compliance, payroll systems, or shift scheduling logic

• Experience with frontend technologies (JavaScript, React, Vue) for full-stack collaboration

• Contributions to open-source projects or technical writing

How We Work

• Empowered squads: PM + Design + Eng work as a trio on discovery and delivery

• Agile & lean: we value learning quickly over shipping perfectly

• Transparent & data-driven: clear goals, outcomes measured rigorously

• Culture of ownership: autonomy with accountability

• Engineering excellence: code reviews, testing, documentation, and continuous improvement

What You'll Get

💰 Competitive compensation and benefits (e.g. equity, flexible time off, generous parental leave)

🏋️‍♀️ Enjoy true ownership of your development in an early-stage environment - accelerating Ordio’s global expansion while charting your own professional path from day one

🚀 Thrive in an open, innovative culture where autonomous teams tackle ambitious projects and drive meaningful impact

📱 State-of-the art technical equipment & tooling (MacBook Pro with M4 at minimum)

🏝️ Enjoy full flexibility - remote work, home office options, and flexible hours

💪 Prioritize both physical and mental well-being with subsidized gym memberships and regular wellness-focused initiatives

🌎 A clear set of company values that guide everything we do: Live for Customer Value, The Best Team Wins, We Own It, and Earth Is Our Future

Our Process (fast & respectful)

1. Intro chat (30 min) – mutual fit & role context with our Talent Lead

2. Hiring Manager Interview – Tech discussion with the Hiring Manager

3. Live Coding Interview – small collaborative exercise in PHP with the Team Lead

4. CEO Chat – values, ways of working, Q&A

We move quickly and respect your time—offers typically follow promptly after final interviews.

About Ordio

We at Ordio 💙 are looking for people who want to be more than just another employee: ambitious, forward thinking, ready to shape our industry. 🚀.

We believe that by giving people the best tools to solve their own problems, we can better solve the world's problems together. We are always looking for talented people who are interested in shaping the future together - shape it with us 💙

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. Share your CV, LinkedIn, and a short note on your most impactful product launch via our careers page at ordio.com.

Ordio is an equal‑opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.