Gather has a well-established SaaS platform built for construction record management. The software is used daily by professionals operating in real-world, often demanding site environments. It is practical, operational software that directly supports how projects are tracked, costed, and delivered.
After more than eight years of steady operation, the platform has recently been rebuilt and is now entering a new phase of growth. The business is moving from early adopters into larger, more mainstream construction companies, supported by record sales performance over recent months. The technical foundations are strong. The next stage is focused on scale, reliability, and continued product evolution.
The Role
We are looking for a strong, hands-on Lead Engineer with a backend focus to take technical ownership of the platform as it grows.
This is a role for an experienced engineer who wants meaningful ownership, someone capable of making architectural decisions, improving systems pragmatically, and remaining closely involved in building and delivering features.
You will take primary responsibility for the backend platform (Symfony/PHP), working alongside an established frontend team (React/MUI) and contributing to a wider system that includes web and Android applications, with offline-first functionality that synchronises when connectivity is restored.
You will play a key role in:
Maintaining platform stability and performance as usage increases
Shaping backend architecture and API design
Supporting the scalability of the system as new customers are onboarded
Working closely with product and business stakeholders to guide technical decisions
The role combines judgement with delivery. You will balance feature development with longer-term technical improvements, making decisions that support both the product and the commercial needs of the business.
Over time, this position is expected to evolve into a broader technical leadership role as the team grows.
What We’re Looking For
You should have strong backend development experience, ideally with PHP and modern frameworks (Symfony preferred, Laravel considered), and a solid understanding of how production SaaS systems operate at scale.
Experience designing and maintaining REST APIs is essential, along with strong SQL knowledge, including schema design and optimisation.
Exposure to frontend technologies such as React and TypeScript is beneficial, but the core focus of the role is backend ownership and system design.
You should be comfortable working within a collaborative engineering environment, contributing to Git-based workflows, and communicating technical decisions clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Most importantly, you should be pragmatic, confident in your judgement, and motivated by ownership someone who enjoys having influence over how systems are built and evolve.
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
Gather Insights is an established and growing business with a proven product and clear market demand. The platform is already in active use across major construction environments and continues to gain traction with larger customers.
The company is backed by one of the most successful construction entrepreneurs in the UK, providing strong financial stability, long-term vision, and the ability to invest meaningfully in growth.
This is not simply a development role. It is an opportunity to join a capable, experienced team at a point where your contribution will directly influence how the platform scales.
For the right individual, there is a clear pathway into formal technical leadership as the business expands. Equity is included as part of the package, aligning the role with the company’s long-term growth.
Summary
This role offers the opportunity to take ownership of a proven product at an important stage in its growth. It will suit an engineer who wants to move beyond pure delivery, taking responsibility for systems, contributing to technical direction, and growing into a leadership position over time.
