Senior PHP Developer | Automotive Industry Zwolle • Haystack People

This fast-growing tech scale-up focuses on digitizing and simplifying car transport across Europe. Through their own platform, they make vehicle transportation as easy as shipping a package, fully automated from planning to delivery. Customers can schedule, track, and manage shipments in one clear and user-friendly environment.

The company started as a logistics service provider, but is now clearly transitioning into a full-fledged tech company. A key part of this transition is bringing all software development in-house. The focus lies on building smart, scalable software that makes the transport chain more efficient.

Currently, their solution handles about 25% of all used car transports in the Netherlands, and international expansion is well underway including in Germany, France, and Italy. Revenue grew from €10 million in 2022 to an expected €55 million in 2025, with the ambition to grow to €100 million within a few years.

From a tech perspective, the platform runs on Laravel (PHP) and React, with a MySQL database and hosting in a private cloud environment. The upcoming focus is on evolving toward a future-proof architecture: API first, event driven, scalable, and ready for international growth. Think features like dynamic pricing, route optimization, self-billing, and mobile apps for both customers and carriers.

The team works in a pragmatic, professional environment where freedom and trust are key. They operate in a hybrid setup from an easily accessible office right next to the train station in Zwolle and offer plenty of room for personal development.

As a Senior PHP Developer, you’ll be co-responsible for the continued development of a high-impact platform in the automotive industry. The backend is built in Laravel, the frontend in React, and everything runs in a private cloud environment (Shock Media) using a MySQL database. You’ll play a central role in architecting a more scalable, future-proof solution.

You’ll work on backend functionalities within a codebase that's constantly evolving toward an API first approach, with room for event driven components, advanced integrations (e.g., with logistics systems), and possibly a microservices architecture. You’ll actively contribute to domain modeling, performance, security, and scalability, with the freedom to apply your own technical vision.

The technical roadmap is challenging and exciting: from apps for customers and carriers, to dynamic pricing, route optimization, self-billing, and international platform expansion. You’ll work in sprints with a small, experienced development team that emphasizes knowledge sharing and ownership.

In addition to building and optimizing new features, you'll contribute to improving the CI/CD pipeline, test coverage, and help shape decisions around future tooling, architecture, and hosting strategy.

Important to know: You’ll be one of the first developers in the new in-house tech team.

• Minimum of 7 years' experience as a PHP Developer
• Strong experience with PHP and Laravel; knowledge of TypeScript, JavaScript, or React is a plus
• Strong communication skills and a proactive, solution-oriented mindset
• Strategic thinker who takes ownership and helps build the in-house development team
• Focused on quality over quantity

• Salary: Up to €6,200/month (based on 40 hours), depending on your experience
• Hybrid working: Expected on-site 3 days per week in Zwolle (easily accessible by car and public transport
• Benefits: Comprehensive package of secondary employment benefits
• Development: Room for training, personal growth, and innovation
• Team: Opportunity to help build your own team, together with the lead developer

Interested or have questions about this vacancy?
Feel free to contact Jill:

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