AI Native Software Engineer (Background core PHP)

Quick answer: what is this job?

PALO IT is hiring a Senior PHP Developer – PHP Version Migration Specialist in São Paulo, Brazil, to lead the migration of legacy applications to PHP 8.3+. The role sits in a technology consultancy of 400+ experts across 9 countries and is offered on a contractor (PJ) basis, with a hybrid work model.

Who We Are

Building the AI-first frontier enterprise

We are a global technology consultancy with a trademarked, AI-first approach, Gen-e2™ . It redefines how enterprises build digital products and transform their organizations with AI. We do the right thing, and we do it right. We're proud to be a World Economic Forum New Champion , and a B Corp-certified company .

• We are small enough to care locally, big enough to deliver globally ( 9 countries, 400+ experts from 50+ nationalities )
• We are becoming an agentic organization, adopting the AI-native operating model we bring to our clients.
• We are robust and resilient (100% independent, 0 debt, founded 2009)
• We are AI-native professionals who invest in what we believe and work as a collective intelligence
• We are positive, courageous and deliver at the leading edge

What does a Senior PHP Developer do at PALO IT?

As a Senior PHP Developer at PALO IT, you will oversee the migration of legacy business-critical systems from outdated PHP versions to PHP.

• Assessing the current environment, including PHP versions and dependencies.
• Mapping out incompatibilities and deprecated features while defining the migration strategy.
• Upgrading dependencies and ensuring all frameworks are compatible.
• Automating refactoring with tools like Rector and validating with PHPStan/Psalm.
• Creating and implementing regression tests prior to updates.
• Conducting performance, security, and stability validations post-migration.
• Documenting technical decisions and facilitating knowledge transfer to client teams.
• Acting as the technical lead by reporting progress and risks throughout the project.

What experience do you need for this role?

You're a strong fit for this Senior PHP Developer role if you have

Required

• 8+ years of experience with PHP in production environments.
• At least 2 successful PHP version migrations (e.g., 5.6 → 7.x, 7.x → 8.x), preferably as a technical lead.
• Expertise in changes from PHP 5 to 8 (strict typing, named arguments, breaking changes).
• Strong experience with Laravel or Symfony, along with legacy codebases.
• Proficiency in Composer and dependency conflict resolution.
• Familiarity with introducing automated tests (PHPUnit) in legacy applications.
• Hands-on experience with Rector, PHPStan, or Psalm.
• Experience with relational databases (MySQL/MariaDB or PostgreSQL) and query optimization.
• Daily use of Git, CI/CD, and Docker.
• Excellent client communication skills for effort estimation and risk management.

Nice-to-have

• Zend Certified PHP Engineer or similar.
• Contributions to the PHP open-source community.
• Experience with infrastructure migration during PHP upgrades (e.g., Apache to Nginx).
• Knowledge of software architecture principles (e.g., DDD, Clean Architecture).
• Experience with observability tools (New Relic, Datadog) and PHP application security (OWASP Top 10).
• Background in consulting or projects with external clients.
• Intermediate or advanced English proficiency.

More About PALO IT

Why join PALO IT as an AI Native Software Engineer?

• A forward-thinking, collaborative environment join a passionate international team pushing the boundaries of AI-native development.
• Continuous personal and professional growth through PALO IT Academy, specialized training, R&D projects, and a knowledge-sharing culture.
• Global opportunities international mobility and collaboration with visionary clients and frontier tech partners.
• Empowerment to innovate shape and implement next-level AI methodologies as part of a collective intelligence.
• Competitive compensation and benefits reflecting your skills, impact, and leadership.

More on PALO IT's team culture and benefits is available on the PALO IT careers page .

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

As a B Corp, PALO IT provides equal opportunities and assesses candidates solely on skills, potential, and motivation. PALO IT welcomes applications regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, background, ethnicity, religion, disability, or any other protected attribute.

Frequently asked questions about this role

Q: What is the work model for this position?

A: The position operates on a hybrid work model.

Q: What is the duration of the contract?

A: The contract is project-based, with specifics to be defined after the initial assessment.

Q: What are the language requirements?

A: Fluency in both Portuguese and English is required.

Q: What are the expected qualifications for potential candidates?

A: Candidates should have significant experience in PHP and migration projects, along with strong communication skills and technical leadership capabilities.