Senior Backend Developer

Netherlands, Utrecht, Utrecht
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Mission of this role

As a Senior Backend Developer, you’ll help design and build new strategic product areas — such as crew & equipment management and a project management board — while safeguarding long-term quality and scalability. You’ll bring technical depth to a young, enthusiastic team, provide mentorship, and play a key role in raising the maturity of technical decision-making.

What are you going to do?

  • Lead the design and implementation of new backend features in PHP and MySQL, ensuring scalability and maintainability.
  • Take ownership of new product areas (crew & equipment, project management) from architecture to deployment.
  • Contribute to technical refinement, helping the team balance new feature excitement with sustainable practices.
  • Mentor junior and mid-level developers, guiding code reviews and supporting their growth.
  • Collaborate with frontend engineers, product managers, and architects to align requirements and anticipate trade-offs.
  • Help the team transition from a custom PHP framework toward Symfony/Laravel practices.
  • Proactively identify risks, surface technical debt, and propose solutions.

Our Stack

Rentman is a modern cloud-based web application relied on daily by our users to administer the movement of equipment and access data on the go.

Back-end

  • From a back-end perspective, Rentman consists of our internal API, a public API and a set of microservices. The internal API is quite intense on complex database calculations.
  • Modern version of PHP and MySQL, used in our internal API
  • Modern versions of Laravel, used by some of the microservices
  • Our backend is deployed on AWS
  • We work based on Continuous integration, so our systems can be separately run on different versions

Testing Approach

  • Automated unit testing on every pull request
  • Automated E2E tests with Ghost Inspector, running weekly and on-demand
  • Automated mobile app tests with Appium and Webdriverio
  • Weekly manual regression testing
  • Manual testing on-demand

Methodology

We follow Scrum with two-week sprints and weekly releases. Our five self-organising development teams each focus on their own product stream and consist of a product owner and 4 to 6 frontend or backend developers, one of whom has the role of Scrum Master. A dedicated QA team supports testing and manages regression tests and releases. During a weekly Tech Alignment meeting, developers together with the CTO discuss technology, address technical debt and decide on our technical roadmap. A 20% sprint capacity can be allocated to initiatives on the technical roadmap.

Essential attributes to be a successful Backend Developer

  • 6+ years of backend development experience, with at least 3 years in a senior role.
  • Strong PHP skills (modern versions), with proven experience scaling real-world systems.
  • Deep SQL expertise, including database design and performance optimisation.
  • Experience leading complex feature development end-to-end.
  • Mentorship mindset — able to coach, review, and set technical standards for younger teammates.
  • Strong problem-solving ability, balancing long-term quality with fast-paced delivery.
  • Collaborative communicator who can bring focus and structure to an enthusiastic team.

Nice-to-have attributes

  • Experience with Symfony, Laravel, or other modern PHP frameworks.
  • Familiarity with microservices, API design, and AWS.
  • Background working in SaaS platforms with real-time collaboration or resource scheduling.
  • Exposure to frontend or full-stack development.

What makes this role attractive

  • Chance to shape new product areas from the ground up in a global SaaS platform.
  • Join a young, motivated team and help raise its technical maturity.
  • Scale-up environment that values enthusiasm, ownership, and innovation.

What you'll get

  • An ambitious, inclusive, diverse international team
  • A 13th month annual bonus based on company results
  • 25 days of paid vacation, plus one extra day off each year up to your 5th anniversary
  • A paid 4-week sabbatical after 5 years to go on an adventure
  • Flexible WFH policy & work from anywhere for 4 weeks a year
  • A shiny Windows, Linux or Mac of your choice
  • An Annual training budget to boost your skills
  • A pension plan via BrightPensioen
  • Access to OpenUp for mental well-being and personal growth
  • Sports activities (Rentman football team, squash and padel) and a fitness subscription
  • An OV Business card if you live further than 10km away from the office
  • A flexible and engaging work environment with free lunches, office perks (PS5, Ping Pong, D&D), legendary karaoke parties, and various team activities
  • An amazing office in the heart of Utrecht, Netherlands, at the historical Drift

Our process

Here's a breakdown of our recruitment process to give you a clear idea of what to expect:

  • Call with Recruiter (30 mins), an introduction to Rentman & the process
  • Call about past experiences with two team members (45 mins)
  • Take home assignment (max 120 mins)
  • Onsite final - Skills & Culture Fit interview (60 mins)

If this sounds like the challenge you’re looking for, we’d love to hear from you.

Note: Due to high application volume, we encourage all candidates to apply directly. At Rentman, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.