About MDPI
At MDPI, technology is not just a support function -it’s a core driver of our innovation, performance, and customer experience. We are proud to develop most of our software in-house and host our systems on-premises, further enriching our already diverse technology landscape. Our commitment to building on open-source stacks empowers our teams to work with flexible, modern, and community-driven tools. From cutting-edge submission systems to advanced digital services, our IT environment is a dynamic playground where creativity meets complexity. Here, you won’t just be writing code -you’ll be shaping the future of science and publishing services. With a strong focus on continuously growing our technology capabilities, MDPI offers a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of digital transformation in publishing. Join us and be part of a team where your ideas matter, your skills are valued, and your passion for technology can truly thrive.
About the position
We are looking for several PHP Developers (medium to senior level) to join our technology team in Belgrade. As a PHP Developer you will contribute to the design, development, and maintenance of scalable backend services with a focus on code quality, performance, and best practices.
You will work on one of three products: (1) An API platform and administration backend for a content platform for scholarly publications; (2). An API platform for a new public-facing applicationfor our customers; or (3) An internal administration backend used by several hundreds of our staff. The former two products involve exclusively backend development, while the latter product involves primarily backend with occasional frontend tasks (HTML, SCSS, vanilla JavaScript or jQuery).
Key Responsibilities
Develop and maintain robust backend features using PHP (Symfony framework)
Design and implement RESTful APIs and database interactions in PHP, Doctrine, DQL / SQL
Implement business logic and design services in PHP including unit tests
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver features and improvements
Write clean, testable code and participate in code reviews
Ensure high standards of software quality and reliability
Optionally support junior developers through mentoring (based on experience)
For one of the products (3): Contribute to basic frontend tasks using HTML, SCSS, and JavaScript/jQuery
Your Tech Skills
Core requirements:
Excellent knowledge of PHP
Experience with Symfony (or Laravel, with willingness to work in Symfony)
Strong SQL and MySQL skills
Solid understanding of REST API development
Understanding of clean code concepts
For one of the products (3): Basic frontend experience (HTML, SCSS, Javascript / jQuery)
Nice to have :
Experience with search indexes (Elasticsearch and/or Solr)
Experience with document databases (e.g., MongoDB)
Experience in software architecture and/or data modelling
Experience with test-driven development (TDD)
Qualifications & Profile:
Degree in Computer Science (or related STEM field with strong coding experience)
Minimum 3 years (medium level) or 6 years (senior) of experience in PHP backend development
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Good communication and team collaboration abilities
Ability to work with other team members locally and abroad (Serbia, China, Switzerland)
If you are interested in this position, we look forward to receiving your complete application. Please submit your cover letter and CV, as we look forward to welcoming you to our Belgrade office.
Initiatives
At MDPI, we develop and maintain various platforms in order to better serve the scientific community.
Please find here-below a list of our main platforms:
https://www.mdpi.com/
https://sciprofiles.com/
https://sciforum.net/
https://www.scilit.net/
https://www.preprints.org/
https://encyclopedia.pub/
#LI-Onsite
#J-18808-Ljbffr