Good platform work is rarely visible.
It shows up when systems bend without breaking. When future changes are easier than expected. When other people can extend what you've built without cursing your name.
That kind of work doesn't happen by accident. It comes from clear thinking, sound judgement, and a willingness to design for time, not just delivery.
This role is for someone who cares about that.
We're looking for a senior platform engineer who understands that code is only part of the job. Architecture, trade-offs, and long-term maintainability matter just as much as implementation. You like solving problems that don't come with neat edges, and you're comfortable owning the decisions that shape how systems evolve.
This role exists because the platforms we build for clients need to be robust, adaptable, and thoughtfully designed. Not rushed. Not clever for the sake of it. Built to last.
The role, plainly
You'll work as a senior platform engineer in a PHP-based environment, building and extending systems that underpin client platforms, products, and services.
You'll be involved early, while questions are still forming. You'll help decide how things should be built, not just how fast they can be shipped. You'll work closely with designers, producers, and other developers to make sure what's proposed makes sense technically, commercially, and operationally.
This isn't a role for someone who wants tightly scoped tasks handed down fully formed. It's for someone who wants responsibility for the shape, health, and durability of the systems they work on.
What you'll actually be doing
* Designing and building backend and platform systems in PHP
* Making architectural decisions that balance robustness, clarity, and pragmatism
* Working within existing platforms and codebases without fighting them
* Improving structure, reliability, and extensibility over time
* Collaborating closely with design and production to shape feasible solutions
* Providing technical guidance and recommendations across projects
* Taking responsibility for the long-term quality of what you ship
This work includes detail, iteration, refactoring, and occasionally undoing things that shouldn't have been built in the first place. Senior ownership means being comfortable with all of that.
You will need
* Strong experience as a backend or platform-focused PHP developer
* A solid grasp of programming fundamentals and system design
* Experience working within established platforms or frameworks, not just greenfield builds
* Comfort making trade-offs and explaining them clearly
* The ability to work autonomously while contributing actively to a multidisciplinary team
* Good judgement about when something needs more work and when it's fit for purpose
If you're looking for a role where requirements are fixed and decisions are already made, this won't be the right fit.
Non-negotiables
* You have the right to work in Australia
* You are able to work onsite from our Richmond office
* This is a full-time role
Extra credit, not essentials
* Experience working with CMS-driven platforms such as WordPress or Drupal
* Experience building bespoke applications using frameworks like Symfony
* Exposure to AWS or similar cloud infrastructure
* Experience mentoring or supporting other developers
Working at August
Working at August is deliberate. It's not chaotic, and it's not rigid. It's designed to give experienced people room to do their best work without unnecessary friction.
We're building something here. Not in a rush, and not for scale at any cost, but with intent. We want our work to influence how organisations make decisions, not just how they market themselves. That ambition shows up in the standard we expect of the work and the problems we choose to take on.
You'll work with smart, pragmatic people across design, strategy, production, and development. You'll have autonomy, paired with clear expectations about quality, judgement, and follow-through.
The work is thoughtful and often complex. It rewards people who like to think things through, ask better questions, and take responsibility for outcomes. A sense of play still matters, but it's grounded in craft, not chaos.
If this feels worth exploring
If you'd like to express interest, send us:
* Your CV
* A short note about why this role caught your attention
* The name of one August client you've looked into
If you have a personal site, GitHub, or examples of work you're proud of, include them if you'd like.
If you've got questions, ask them. We pay attention to how people think, not just what they've built.