Software Architect / Team Lead

Veracross provides SaaS-based School Information Systems (SIS) designed to meet the specific needs of independent K-12 schools worldwide. Our one-record solution combines the power of a fully integrated single-record database, personalized communication tools, and an elegant architecture that is unique in our industry.

We are a growing, values-led community of 350 employees in the US, UK and Australia who share a vision to unify school communities, improve the quality of education, and enhance learning. And we’re succeeding! As of early 2024, we are supporting 3200+ schools in 60 countries.

Veracross is five product brands in one global tech company

• Veracross SIS is a one-person, one-record school management platform

• Magnus Health provides cloud-based Student Health Record (SHR) solutions
• Digistorm connects with their communities through Digistorm Websites, Digistorm Funnel, and Digistorm Apps.
• Epraise incentivizes student well-being and connects teachers, students, and families.
• Firefly provides an online learning space for students and teachers

Position Description

Software Architect / Team Lead - Reports to VP of Engineering - United Kingdom 

We are seeking a Software Architect and Team Lead with deep expertise in PHP, the Laravel framework, and MySQL to join our Software Engineering team. You will play a key role in designing, architecting, and implementing a green field web application as part of a major modernisation and transformation initiative. You will lead the development of the architectures ensuring they are scalable, performant, secure and maintainable. 

You will have a small team of software engineers reporting to you and will be responsible for their progression. Leading these developers, you will be mentoring them in design and development; working to ensure consistency of coding practices and patterns. Collaborating with your team to make sure the solutions that are put in place align with business direction and technical objectives, whilst breaking down tasks, estimating and setting delivery expectations.

You will be able to advise on technologies, as well as plan and implement appropriate solutions that solve the technology challenges faced by the business and the team, with a strong focus on benefits realisation and value. You will also have direct input into the budget to ensure that business value is achieved through architectural initiatives.

You will support the adoption of a continuous delivery focused environment, working with our DevOps Engineers and taking advantage of the services in AWS.

Job Responsibilities

• Architecting and developing highly scalable and robust Web and API applications using PHP. Laravel, and MySQL. 
• Leading code reviews, setting development standards, and ensuring the adoption of best practices in software engineering. 
• Ensuring the security of applications by implementing robust security practices and protocols. 
• Managing and mentoring your team, providing technical guidance, fostering a collaborative environment, and encouraging professional development. 
• Reporting to the VP Engineering on planning, estimation and timelines. 
• Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, such as the Product and DevOps, to define project requirements and technical solutions. 
• Overseeing the full software development lifecycle (SDLC) from architecture and development through to deployment and post-launch support. 
• Troubleshooting and resolving complex technical issues, optimizing application performance and scalability. 
• Mentoring and guiding the development team to foster innovation and continuous improvement. 
• Staying current with the latest technologies and trends in PHP, Laravel, Vue.js, and web development. 

• Extensive experience in PHP and Laravel (5+ years). 
• Proven experience in system architecture, ensuring system scalability and performance. 
• Experience with RESTful APIs, including designing, integrating, and securing APIs for scalable web applications 
• Team leadership experience, including the ability to manage developers, provide technical guidance, and foster a collaborative team environment. 
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, including GitHub Actions, automated testing, deployment to AWS, and integration processes using technologies such as Docker. 
• Strong knowledge of object-oriented programming (OOP) principles and coding design patterns. 
• Proficient with database technologies including relational databases such as MariaDB and ORM frameworks such as Eloquent. 
• Familiar with JavaScript front-end technologies such as Vue.js and Inertia. 
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. 

• Fully remote
• 25 days holiday, plus public holidays
• 4% matched pension contributions
• Payroll Giving
• Private medical
• Discounted Gym Membership
• Cycle Scheme
• Enhanced Sick pay
• Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, Adoption and shared Paternity Leave pay.
• Employee Assistance Program