R&D Software Engineer (PHP)

Job Description

Job Description

R&D Software Engineer

Location: Atlanta, GA
Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Role

We are seeking an innovative R&D Software Engineer to explore emerging technologies, develop rapid prototypes, and help shape the future direction of our products and platforms.

This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys solving difficult technical problems, experimenting with new technologies, and transforming ideas into working solutions. You will work at the intersection of software engineering, artificial intelligence, automation, and product innovation, helping determine what technologies are worth investing in and how they can be applied to real-world business challenges.

Unlike traditional product development roles, this position focuses on research, prototyping, technical discovery, and validating concepts before they move into production engineering teams.

What You'll DoResearch & Prototyping

• Rapidly design and develop proof-of-concepts, prototypes, and experimental applications.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, frameworks, platforms, and tools.
• Transform ambiguous business challenges into technical solutions.
• Validate technical feasibility and provide recommendations for future product development.

Backend Development

• Design and build backend services, APIs, microservices, and integrations.
• Develop scalable solutions using PHP and Laravel.
• Build and maintain Python-based services, automation tools, and background processing jobs.
• Design services that communicate reliably across distributed environments.

AI & Emerging Technologies

• Integrate Large Language Models (LLMs), AI agents, and modern AI tooling into prototypes and product concepts.
• Evaluate AI-assisted workflows and identify opportunities for automation and innovation.
• Develop solutions that transform AI output into structured, reliable business functionality.
• Stay current on advancements in machine learning, generative AI, and software automation.

Systems & Integrations

• Work with third-party APIs and external technology platforms.
• Build integrations between internal systems and external services.
• Design solutions that operate effectively within cloud and Linux-based environments.
• Support experimentation involving image, video, streaming, and real-time data processing technologies.

Technical Leadership & Documentation

• Create detailed technical specifications, architecture documentation, and implementation plans.
• Translate prototype findings into development-ready requirements.
• Collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, and Infrastructure teams.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on new technologies and architectural approaches.

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional software development experience.
• Strong experience with PHP and modern backend frameworks (Laravel preferred).
• Experience developing applications and services using Python.
• Strong understanding of SQL, relational database design, and data modeling.
• Experience working in Linux environments and command-line interfaces.
• Experience building and consuming APIs and distributed services.
• Experience integrating third-party platforms and services.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical thinking abilities.
• Excellent written communication and technical documentation skills.
• Experience utilizing AI-powered development tools, LLMs, AI agents, or related technologies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with non-relational databases.
• Familiarity with computer vision, image processing, or video-based systems.
• Experience working with camera hardware, streaming technologies, or device integrations.
• Knowledge of:
  • Docker
  • CI/CD pipelines
  • Package management systems
  • Automated testing frameworks
• Experience with observability platforms such as Prometheus, Grafana, or Loki.
• Experience with Vue.js or other frontend technologies.
• Background in rapid prototyping, innovation teams, or advanced product development environments.