Most software isn't built from scratch. It's inherited.

We build and look after platforms written in PHP. Some of that work is new. A lot of it is understanding something that already exists and improving it without breaking the parts people depend on.

That work is rarely visible. It's also where most of the real learning happens.

We're looking for a system developer who understands that code is only part of the job. How something is structured, the trade-offs behind it, and how easy it is to work on later matter just as much as getting it running. You like problems that don't come with neat edges, and you want to understand the decisions that shape how systems evolve.

You don't need a long track record. We're hiring for what you can do, not how long you've been doing it. Most people ready for this role have a year or two behind them, but that's a pattern we've noticed, not a rule we're holding to.

This role exists because the platforms we build for clients need to be robust, adaptable, and thoughtfully designed. Not rushed. Not clever for the sake of it. Built to last.

We're ambitious about this. We want to be the team organisations turn to when the decision actually matters, not just when something needs to look valuable. That's a high bar, and we're not there yet. It's why we take people early in their career seriously, and why we expect a lot of them.

The role, plainly

You'll work as a system developer in a PHP-based environment, building and extending systems that underpin client platforms, products, and services.

You'll be involved early, while questions are still forming. You'll help decide how things should be built, not just how fast they can be shipped. You'll work closely with designers, producers, and other developers to make sure what's proposed makes sense technically, commercially, and operationally.

This isn't a role for someone who wants tightly scoped tasks handed down fully formed. It's for someone who wants responsibility for the shape, health, and durability of the systems they work on. You'll have senior developers around you who will explain their reasoning if you ask, and who expect you to ask.

How people grow here is written down. We assess how far ahead you work, whether you find work or wait for it, what you're trusted to decide on your own, what you take responsibility for, and how deep the craft goes. It measures what you reliably do, not what you're reaching for on a good day. You'll know where you sit and what would move you, which is the part most places leave vague.

What you'll actually be doing





- Building backend and platform systems in PHP

- Making decisions that balance robustness, clarity, and pragmatism

- Working within existing platforms and codebases without fighting them

- Improving structure, reliability, and extensibility over time

- Collaborating closely with design and production to shape feasible solutions

- Taking responsibility for the long-term quality of what you ship

This work includes detail, iteration, refactoring, and sometimes rebuilding something that was right at the time and isn't any more. Ownership means being comfortable with all of that.

You will need

This list is about ability. If you can do these things, how long it took you to get there isn't the point.

- Real hands-on experience building backend or platform systems, ideally in PHP
- A solid grasp of programming fundamentals and an interest in system design

- Some experience working within established platforms or frameworks, not just greenfield builds

- Willingness to make trade-offs and explain them clearly
- The ability to work with a degree of independence while contributing actively to a multidisciplinary team

- Developing judgement about when something needs more work and when it's fit for purpose
- The drive to get your own work done, dealing with obstacles early rather than letting them stall
- A start on spotting what needs doing without waiting to be handed it

If you're looking for a role where requirements are fixed and decisions are already made, this won't be the right fit.

Non-negotiables

- You have the right to work in Australia

- You are able to work onsite from our Richmond office

- This is a full-time role

Extra credit, not essentials

- Experience working with CMS-driven platforms such as WordPress or Drupal

- Exposure to frameworks like Symfony or Laravel

- Any familiarity with AWS or similar cloud infrastructure

- Side projects, open source contributions, or anything you built because you wanted to

None of this needs to be perfect on paper. If you're close to it and keen, we'd rather hear from you than not.

You'll probably enjoy this role if





- You want to understand how something works before you change it

- You'd rather ask a blunt question early than guess and fix it later

- You treat a job as yours until it's actually done, not until it's handed on

- You want to know exactly what would move you to the next level

- You like learning from people who explain their reasoning rather than just their answer

Working at August

Working at August is deliberate. It's not chaotic, and it's not rigid. It's designed to give experienced people room to do their best work without unnecessary friction.

We're building something here. Not in a rush, and not for scale at any cost, but with intent. We want our work to influence how organisations make decisions, not just how they market themselves. That ambition shows up in the standard we expect of the work and the problems we choose to take on.

You'll work with smart, pragmatic people across design, strategy, production, and development. You'll have autonomy, paired with clear expectations about quality, judgement, and follow-through.

The work is thoughtful and often complex. It rewards people who like to think things through, ask better questions, and take responsibility for outcomes. A sense of play still matters, but it's grounded in craft, not chaos.

As a team member, you can also expect:

- A competitive salary package with various incentives and rewards

- Flexible and hybrid arrangements, built around a team that works together onsite
- To work within a highly motivated, talented, and technology-driven team
- A team of people who will invest in your career progression and development

- Generous company policies that help you grow and balance life

If this feels worth exploring

If you've read this far and it sounds like your kind of work, we'd like to hear from you. Everyone who expresses interest gets a reply from a person.

If you'd like to express interest, send us:

- Your CV
- A note (aka cover letter) about why this role caught your attention

- Mention the name of one August client you've looked into in your note ⬅️ This one is important.

If you have a personal site, GitHub, or examples of work you're proud of, include them if you'd like.

If you've got questions, please ask them. Call 03 9445 0*** and ask for Dan.

Are you a recruiter?

We know it's a competitive field, and a listing like this is an obvious lead. We're running this one ourselves, so please don't contact us about people for this role. We'd rather hear from them directly.

📌 System Developer (Richmond)
🏢 August
📍 Richmond