Senior PHP Backend Engineer

I build and rescue PHP backends that have to keep working for years.

APIs, system architecture, and legacy refactoring for startups and enterprises.

I also run Codyssey.dev, where I teach engineers to build maintainable software.

Work with meSee my work
Davor Minchorov
10+
Years Experience
6+
Industries
6
Client Countries
About

The Story So Far

I work with teams that have a PHP application in production and need it to keep growing without falling over. Sometimes that means designing new APIs and architecture. Sometimes it means taking over a codebase nobody understands anymore and making it safe to change again.

I'm Davor, a senior software engineer from Macedonia. I've been building software professionally since 2015, from small startups to Fortune 500 companies, across healthcare, fintech, iGaming, entertainment, and non-profit. I have worked through Toptal and Adeva with clients in the US, Canada, Switzerland, Italy, Montenegro, and the UAE.

Outside client work, I like discussing software architecture and design, and experimenting with ideas on side projects.

Services

What I Do

Backend work for teams that need their PHP application to keep working as it grows.

01

API and backend development

REST and GraphQL APIs in PHP (Laravel, Symfony). Built for teams that need the backend to be reliable and easy to extend.

02

System architecture

Designing the structure of an application so it holds up as the team and the requirements grow. Vertical slices, clear boundaries, domain-driven design where it earns its place.

03

Legacy PHP rescue and refactoring

Taking over codebases with no tests and no documentation, stabilising them, adding tests, and modernising in stages while the app stays live.

04

Performance and integrations

Search, caching, and database work on high-traffic systems. Third-party integrations including payments, blockchain, and Web3.

Selected Work

Case Studies

Client names left out. Industry, country, and what changed are what matter.

Own product

Codyssey.dev

Problem

Most developer education teaches demos, not how to build and maintain software that lasts.

What I did

  • Founded and built the platform.
  • Lead the engineering team, set the roadmap, run production infrastructure, and write the course content.
PHPLaravelLaravel CloudStatamicReactNext.jsTailwind CSSMySQLRedisTypesense
Visit Codyssey.dev

Non-profit fundraising and CRM platform

Non-profit · United States

Problem

An all-in-one platform for non-profits needed new fundraising, workflow, and CRM features, and the existing code needed to be more reliable and easier to maintain.

What I did

  • Designed and built the new features and the REST APIs behind them.
  • Refactored existing features.
  • Improved internal developer tools and cut GitHub Actions build times.
  • Presented architecture proposals (vertical slice architecture, design patterns and principles) and demoed features including the Workflows feature to stakeholders.
  • Wrote automated tests.

Result

Client testimonial available (Kevin R., Product Manager).

PHPLaravelMySQLRedisTypesense

Enterprise entertainment platform

Entertainment · Canada

Problem

A high-traffic platform serving millions of daily users had search performance and caching problems.

What I did

  • Search performance and caching work with Elasticsearch, Memcached, and Percona.
  • Built new features (server-rendered and REST API).
  • Refactored for performance and readability.
  • Worked directly with the client on requirements and delivery.
PHPPerconaMemcachedElasticsearch

Enterprise fintech application

Fintech · United States

Problem

A financial application under regulatory requirements needed new features delivered by a coordinated team.

What I did

  • Designed and built features.
  • Led a team of developers and QA engineers.
  • Wrote and presented architecture proposals.
  • Presented delivered features to business analysts and product owners.
  • Supported production releases.
PHPLaravelLumenMySQLDocker

iGaming platform with crypto payments

iGaming · Montenegro

Problem

An iGaming platform needed reusable internal packages and crypto payment support.

What I did

  • Built internal packages from scratch.
  • Integrated blockchain and Web3 services for crypto payments.
  • Wrote automated tests.

Result

Client testimonial available (Bartosz P., Staff Backend Engineer).

PHPSymfonyMariaDBKeyDBDocker

Healthcare web application

Healthcare · Italy

Problem

A medical web application handling patient records and clinical workflows needed new API features and a cleaner codebase.

What I did

  • Built REST API endpoints.
  • Refactored and optimised existing code.
  • Fixed production bugs.
  • Wrote feature tests.
PHPLaravelMySQLDocker

Community social network

Community social network · Switzerland

Problem

A community social network needed new API features, external integrations, and a consistent user interface.

What I did

  • Built REST and GraphQL API features.
  • Integrated third-party APIs.
  • Wrote unit and feature tests using TDD.
  • Designed and built a reusable UI component library.
PHPLaravelVue 2GraphQLElasticsearchMySQLRedis
How I Work

How I Work

  • I plan before I build and put the plan in writing.
  • I write tests. If a codebase has none, that is the first thing I fix.
  • I keep stakeholders informed with plain updates, not jargon.
  • I have led teams and mentored engineers, so I can work alone or inside an existing team.
  • I am in North Macedonia (UTC+1) and overlap with US and European working hours.
Experience

Where I've Worked

A decade of building for startups and enterprises across many industries.

Founder

Nov 2024 – Present

Codyssey

EdTech (developer education) · Remote

  • Planned, architected, and implemented features for Codyssey, an educational platform that teaches software engineers how to build and maintain long-term software products rather than quick demos and prototypes.
  • Led, managed, and mentored the engineering team responsible for building and shipping the platform.
  • Defined the product vision and owned the feature roadmap, prioritizing work aligned with the platform's long-term direction.
  • Reviewed code submitted by team members to maintain quality, consistency, and long-term maintainability across the codebase.
  • Set up and configured the infrastructure that runs the product in production.
  • Prepared and produced educational content for the platform, covering software engineering practices for building durable products.
PHP Laravel Laravel Cloud Statamic React Next.js Tailwind CSS TanStack Query XState Store MySQL Redis Typesense Product Management Team Leadership

Senior Back End Engineer

Aug 2023 – Aug 2026

Adeva · Toptal

Nonprofit SaaS platform · Client: United States · Remote

  • Planned, designed, and implemented new complex features for an all-in-one nonprofit platform serving a US-based client, including fundraising, workflows, CRM functionality, and RESTful APIs.
  • Improved and refactored existing features across the platform to strengthen the reliability and maintainability of the codebase.
  • Enhanced internal developer tools and sped up GitHub Actions build times, reducing wait time for the engineering team on every push.
  • Investigated and fixed support issues reported by end users, restoring functionality and improving the customer experience.
  • Presented ideas on software architecture and design decisions, along with features delivered by the team, to internal stakeholders.
  • Wrote automated tests to expand coverage and protect existing functionality against regressions.
PHP Laravel MySQL Redis Typesense
Testimonials

What My Clients Say

"Davor consistently proved to be one of the most engaged and forward-thinking engineers on the team. He didn't just deliver features. He actively shaped the direction of the product. His understanding of modern development practices, design patterns, and emerging tools was always up to date, and he used that knowledge to improve the entire codebase."

Bartosz P.

Staff Backend Engineer · iGaming

"Davor consistently delivers high-impact features that drive real customer and business impact. He's built foundational capabilities that transformed how our customers manage donor relationships and organizational data. His systematic approach to complex technical challenges ensures customers can successfully scale their operations. Davor's reliable execution on high-impact projects makes him essential to our team's success."

Kevin R.

Product Manager · Non-Profit / Fundraising

Skills

Tools & Technologies

The tools I use most, and the ones I am comfortable working in.

Core

PHP Laravel Symfony MySQL PostgreSQL Redis Elasticsearch Typesense Docker PHPUnit TDD REST GraphQL

Architecture

Software architecture and design Domain-driven design Vertical slice architecture Code refactoring Database design

Also comfortable with

JavaScript TypeScript React Next.js Vue.js Tailwind CSS Node.js GitHub Actions Laravel Cloud NGINX

Spoken Languages

English Macedonian
Talks & Writing

Talks & Writing

A conference talk and articles on building PHP applications that stay maintainable.

Talks

Building Maintainable PHP Applications

Talk · PHPSkopje 1 ·

Writing

Building Maintainable PHP Applications: Foundations

Course ·

7 PHP Tools That Pay Off Three Years From Now

Insight ·

The PHP Books That Changed How I Build Software

Insight ·

PHP Mastery

Learning Path ·
More on Codyssey.dev
Contact

Work with me

If you have a PHP application that needs new features, a better architecture, or a rescue, send me a short note about what you are working on. I reply within a day.

Hire me on Upwork Hire me on Toptal LinkedIn GitHub