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PHP Developer

Rockville, MD

(ID: 2025-0486)


Axle is a bioscience and information technology company that offers advancements in translational research, biomedical informatics, and data science applications to research centers and healthcare organizations nationally and abroad. With experts in biomedical science, software engineering, and program management, we focus on developing and applying research tools and techniques to empower decision-making and accelerate research discoveries. We work with some of the top research organizations and facilities in the country including multiple institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Axle is seeking a PHP Developer to join our vibrant team at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) supporting the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) located in Rockville, MD.

 

Benefits We Offer:

  • 100% Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage for Employees
  • Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
  • 401K match up to 5%
  • Educational Benefits for Career Growth
  • Employee Referral Bonus
  • Flexible Spending Accounts:
    • Healthcare (FSA)
    • Parking Reimbursement Account (PRK)
    • Dependent Care Assistant Program (DCAP)
    • Transportation Reimbursement Account (TRN)

 

Position Overview

We are seeking a PHP Developer to support a mission-critical federal government program. The ideal candidate will bring strong PHP development skills, familiarity with federal IT standards, and a collaborative mindset to build robust, secure, and compliant web applications. Prior experience working in the federal government space and active clearance (or eligibility) are highly preferred.

As a PHP Developer, you will work closely with solution architects, business analysts, and technology specialists to design, develop, and deploy secure applications. You will also assist with creating solution architecture documentation and support testing and DevOps teams with debugging and deployment activities.

Responsibilities

  • Develop, maintain, and enhance web applications using PHP
  • Collaborate with UI/UX designers, project managers, and fellow developers to implement technical and functional requirements
  • Write clean, scalable, and well-documented code
  • Integrate third-party APIs and ensure secure data transactions
  • Participate in code reviews, unit testing, debugging, and performance tuning
  • Ensure compliance with federal security and accessibility standards (FISMA, FedRAMP, Section 508)
  • Engage in Agile/Scrum development practices, including sprint planning and daily standups
  • Assist with application deployment in development, staging, and production environments

Required Qualifications

  • 3–5 years of hands-on PHP development experience
  • Experience with PHP frameworks such as Laravel, Symfony, or CodeIgniter v3 (v4 preferred)
  • Proficiency with PHP v7.x or newer
  • Strong knowledge of front-end technologies: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, jQuery
  • Experience with relational databases such as MySQL or PostgreSQL
  • Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git)
  • Understanding of secure coding practices and data privacy principles
  • U.S. Citizenship (required due to federal contract requirements)
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance
  • Availability to be on-site two days per week
Preferred Qualifications
  • Prior experience supporting federal or government contracts
  • Familiarity with DevOps tools and CI/CD pipelines
  • Experience with Composer and managing packages in a secure environment
  • Experience with Bitbucket Server (preferred)
  • Knowledge of containerization (Docker) and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
  • Experience with RESTful APIs and microservices architecture
  • Working knowledge of Section 508 and compliance testing tools
  • Experience with federal CMS platforms like Drupal or WordPress

 

Disclaimer: The above description is meant to illustrate the general nature of work and level of effort being performed by individuals assigned to this position or job description. This is not restricted as a complete list of all skills, responsibilities, duties, and/or assignments required. Individuals may be required to perform duties outside of their position, job description or responsibilities as needed.

The diversity of Axle’s employees is a tremendous asset. We are firmly committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and will not tolerate any illegal discrimination or harassment based on age, race, gender, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, covered veteran status, sexual orientation, status with respect to public assistance, and other characteristics protected under state, federal, or local law and to deter those who aid, abet, or induce discrimination or coerce others to discriminate.

Accessibility: If you need an accommodation as part of the employment process please contact: careers@axleinfo.com

This role has a market-competitive salary with an anticipated base compensation range listed below. Actual salaries will vary depending on a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location.

#INDPSD

Salary Range

$80,000 - $100,000 USD

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