Lead Developer

Lead Developer (PHP/AWS) – Travel Tech Startup ($130k – $150k Base)

Join Our Journey: Shape the Future of Travel as Our Technical Leader!

Are you a visionary Lead Developer with a strong background in PHP and AWS, eager to drive the technical direction of a fast-growing travel tech startup? Do you thrive in a dynamic environment where innovation is key, and your code directly impacts the product and its users? Project Expedition is seeking a talented individual to step into a pivotal Tech Lead role, blending hands-on development with strategic oversight.

About Project Expedition

We are a fast-growing travel and tourism startup dedicated to revolutionizing how travel advisors and agencies discover, book, and offer unique experiences to their clients worldwide. Our mission is to build a seamless platform that simplifies access to curated tours and activities, making travel planning more efficient and enjoyable for everyone involved. We’re a passionate team building something truly special in the exciting travel industry.

The Opportunity: Drive Our Platform’s Future

As our Lead Developer, you won’t just be writing code; you’ll be instrumental in shaping the technical foundation and future of Project Expedition’s platform. This role involves leading technical initiatives, collaborating closely with both in-house developers and external partners, and ensuring our technology is robust, scalable, and perfectly aligned with our strategic vision. You’ll have the opportunity to make a significant impact from day one.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Strategy & Leadership: Define the technical roadmap, establish best practices for system design, infrastructure, and project execution, acting as the primary Tech Lead.
• Platform Development: Contribute high-quality code to core platform projects, focusing on development, performance optimization, and enabling productivity comparisons with external teams.
• External Team Guidance: Provide clear technical direction and oversight to external development teams, ensuring deliverables meet quality standards and technical requirements.
• Project Management: Efficiently manage multiple technical projects, coordinating tasks, resources, and timelines to ensure successful delivery and seamless collaboration across teams.
• AWS Infrastructure: Oversee and optimize our cloud infrastructure on AWS, designing and implementing scalable, reliable, and cost-effective solutions.
• System Architecture: Develop and maintain a robust, secure, and scalable platform architecture capable of supporting rapid growth and future innovations.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Product, Design, and Business Development teams to translate business requirements into technical specifications and ensure technical decisions support company goals.

What You Bring

We’re looking for a seasoned professional with the following skills and experience:

• Experience: Minimum of 5+ years in software development, with demonstrated experience in a leadership or Tech Lead capacity.
• PHP & Laravel Expertise: Intermediate to advanced proficiency in PHP, specifically with strong experience building complex applications using the Laravel framework.
• AWS Mastery: Solid understanding and practical experience with AWS services, including infrastructure management and scalable system design principles.
• Technical Project Management: Proven ability to manage complex technical projects, coordinate workstreams, and drive projects to completion across multiple teams.
• Strategic Thinking: Capability to define technical direction, evaluate technologies, and contribute to long-term development strategies.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent communication, coordination, and interpersonal skills, adept at working with technical teams and cross-functional stakeholders.

Why Join Project Expedition?

We offer more than just a challenging role; we provide a supportive environment where you can thrive and grow. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Competitive Compensation: Base salary range of $130,000 – $150,000.
• Healthcare: Comprehensive healthcare plan effective the 1st of the month following your start date (company covers 100% of the cheapest plan available, $7,564 annually).
• Retirement: 401K with a company match of 25% up to a max company contribution of $2.5K per year.
• Bonus Potential: Eligibility for quarterly company bonuses and a bi-annual company sales bonus scheme (starting H2 2025, targets apply).
• Generous PTO: 15 days of paid time off to start, increasing to 20 days after two years of tenure.
• Paid Sick Leave: 4 days per year.
• Work From Home Support: Initial monitor, keyboard, and mouse provided. Annual work-from-home credits ($500 starting Jan 1st, 2026).
• Learning & Development: Annual training budget of $250.
• Travel Perks: $750 in annual Project Expedition booking credits (starting Jan 1st, 2025).
• Team Building: Invitation to annual company meetups after 4 months of tenure (first trip Q4 2025).

This is a remote-friendly position, allowing you to work from anywhere within the United States. Occasional travel may be required for company events or essential team collaboration.

Ready to Lead the Way?

If you are excited about taking the technical helm at a company actively transforming the travel industry, and you possess the skills and leadership experience we’re looking for, we encourage you to apply! Become a key player in shaping the future of travel with Project Expedition.

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