Web Developer (PHP / MySQL) - Booking Engine Development

A Travel Agency/Tour Operator is looking for a full-time Web Developer to maintain and enhance an existing custom-built booking engine using PHP, MySQL, and Bootstrap. Collaborate with founder to improve performance, add features, and ensure security and scalability.

This role is ideal for a developer who enjoys working on real-world business systems, understands backend logic deeply, and can think beyond just writing code.

Key Responsibilities

Core Development

● Continue development and enhancement of an existing booking engine

● Implement new features such as:

○ Booking workflows

○ Availability & pricing logic

○ Payment integrations

○ User dashboards (admin, agents, customers)

● Write clean, reusable, and well-documented PHP code

Backend & Database

● Maintain and optimize MySQL database structures

● Improve query performance and database security

● Handle data validation, error handling, and system logging

● Develop APIs or backend endpoints when required

Frontend Integration

● Work with Bootstrap-based templates

● Integrate backend logic with frontend UI

● Ensure responsive design and cross-browser compatibility

● Improve UX where necessary in collaboration with stakeholders

System Maintenance & Optimization

● Debug and fix bugs efficiently

● Improve system performance and scalability

● Ensure code follows best practices and security standards

● Implement backups and recovery mechanisms

Collaboration & Documentation

● Work closely with product owners to understand business requirements

● Document system architecture, features, and workflows

● Suggest technical improvements and future enhancements

● Assist in onboarding future developers if required

Required Technical Skills

● Strong proficiency in PHP (procedural and/or OOP)

● Solid experience with MySQL (queries, joins, indexes, optimization)

● Experience working with Bootstrap and HTML5/CSS3

● Strong understanding of:

○ MVC concepts (even if not using a framework)

○ Sessions, authentication, and role-based access

○ RESTful principles (preferred)

● Experience integrating:

○ Payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, or similar)

○ Email systems (SMTP, transactional emails)

● Familiarity with Git or version control systems

● Good understanding of web security best practices

Additional Skills (Advantageous)

• Experience in running paid ads on social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Google Ads)

• Ability to analyse campaign performance and align results with sales targets

Nice-to-Have Skills (Not Mandatory)

● Experience with Laravel or other PHP frameworks

● JavaScript / jQuery or modern JS frameworks

● Experience with booking, reservation, or e-commerce systems

● Knowledge of server management (Apache/Nginx)

● Experience with third-party APIs

● Basic DevOps or deployment experience

Soft Skills & Personal Traits

● Strong problem-solving skills

● Ability to work independently and take ownership of a system

● Good communication skills (technical & non-technical)

● Attention to detail and commitment to quality

● Willingness to understand business logic, not just code

What We Offer

● Full-time, long-term role

● Opportunity to work on a live production booking platform

● High level of autonomy and technical ownership

● Growth opportunities as the platform scales

● Flexible working environment (if remote)

Application Requirements

Applicants should provide:

● CV / Resume

● Portfolio or examples of previous web applications

● Brief explanation of experience with PHP & MySQL systems

● (Optional) GitHub or code samples