Senior Backend Developer; m​/w​/d) Cologne KLN

Are you up for great jobs and great people? Writing the rules for brands, or breaking them? Inspiring friction at the intersections between brand, design, and technology; or between human and machine? Then keep on reading!

We are Fork: a brand and digital agency in one. Our services range from brand development, dynamic design systems, and contemporary web applications, via React and Next.js frameworks, to complex API-first architectures – all homegrown and in-house. We've been around since 1996. Since 2010, we've been part of the owner-managed fischer

Appelt Group. You can find us in Hamburg (mothership), Berlin, Cologne, and Munich.

• Architecture & Development:
  Conceptualize and develop maintainable software architectures within the team, based on modern web standards
• Continuous Improvement:
  Identify and drive optimization potential across projects and processes
• Collaboration:
  
  Work within an interdisciplinary environment
• Growth:
  Enjoy the space for your personal development and your own ideas
• Flexibility:
  Flexible working arrangements are second nature to us
• Culture & Communication:
  Benefit from transparent company communication and an open feedback culture
• Innovation:
  Explore future-proof technologies and methodologies to continuously integrate into our dev stack
• Team Spirit:
  Enjoy plenty of humor, empathy, and good taste in music
• Socials:
  Join regular team events
• Tech Time:
  Take monthly dedicated time to contribute to our internal standards, develop our infrastructure, or pursue professional training

• Experience:
  
  Many years of practical software development experience (ideally 5+ years) with a focus on complex PHP projects
• PHP Frameworks:
  In-depth knowledge of frameworks such as Symfony or Laravel
• CMS & DXP Platforms:
  Expertise in Ibexa DXP, TYPO3, or Craft CMS, along with experience setting up complex platform structures efficiently and sustainably
• Dev Ops & Infrastructure:
  Extensive experience in server administration, Docker environments, and building automated CI/CD pipelines
• System Integrations:
  Hands-on expertise in connecting third‑party systems (ERP, PIM, CRM) via REST or GraphQL APIs
• Code Quality: A deep understanding of Clean Code, object‑oriented programming, and agile development methodologies
• Technical Consulting:
  Confident acting as a technical sparring partner for project managers and clients—from initial evaluation to clearly communicating complex solutions
• Mindset:
  Genuine passion for web technologies and the drive to independently push your own ideas forward within an innovative team
• Work Style: A structured approach to work with a clear focus on solution‑oriented results

• Working Hours & Flexibility:
  We offer a hybrid working environment—3 days in the office and 2 days remote.
• Mobility:
  We keep you moving sustainably, whether through a public transport subsidy (ÖPNV) or our attractive bike leasing offer.
• Health & Balance:
  Your mental and physical health are our main priority. Benefit from a subsidized Urban Sports Club corporate membership and receive regular mental health support to maintain a healthy balance.
• Feedback & Growth: 360-degree feedback is an integral part of our culture and takes place annually. At the same time, we drive your career forward together with various internal and external training programs.
• Future:
  We invest in your future by providing the statutory contribution to your company pension scheme (bAV).
• Culture:
  We cultivate a culture of mutual respect, quick communication, and flat hierarchies. We regularly celebrate our successes at company events.

It's fun to work with us – most of the time. We value a warm studio atmosphere, complete with a healthy dose of (sarcasm) humor. We balance out bread-and-butter jobs with the kinds of projects that push you up a steep learning curve. We support you in your personal growth, helping us move the bigger picture forward together.

Our parent company, fischer

Appelt, supports us with hiring, administration, and team development for the Fork crew. Skadi Hartemik and her team are your primary contacts and will arrange meetings with the right folks  no need to panic if the reply to your application comes from a  email address. We look forward to hearing from you!