Backend Developer
We are looking for a Backend Engineer to join a product-focused team working on search, recommendations, and experimentation across web and mobile platforms.This role goes far beyond CRUD logic — you will work on high-load systems, core product functionality, and data-driven experiments that directly impact business metrics. This role requires deep product understanding, strong algorithmic thinking, and the ability to balance innovation with system stability.
Key responsibilities
- Design and build scalable, flexible backend architecture; refactor and improve existing functionality to align with modern standards
- Develop new backend features for web and mobile applications from scratch
- Improve and optimize search functionality (Sphinx, Elasticsearch)
- Enhance content catalogs, ranking systems, and recommendation logic (in collaboration with internal ML services)
- Build backend logic and infrastructure to support frontend experiments and new product initiatives
- Lead initiatives from hypothesis validation to production release, ensuring alignment with business goals
- Write clean, maintainable, and well-documented code following engineering best practices
- Optimize database queries, APIs, and caching layers to meet performance and latency targets
- Investigate and resolve production issues, implementing preventive measures to improve system stability
- Participate in idea generation and propose product or technical improvements
- Collaborate closely with Product, Data, Design, and QA teams to deliver measurable business value
- Contribute to internal platforms and engineering tools
Required experience
- 5+ years of experience with modern PHP (8.0+) and strong knowledge of its core features and best practices
- Solid experience with MySQL: database design, query optimization, performance tuning
- Strong testing culture: unit and integration testing
- Experience working with high-load production systems
- Hands-on experience with Yii2
- Experience with Git workflows, code reviews, and CI/CD processes
- Hands-on experience with Elasticsearch: writing and optimizing queries, tuning ranking formulas, and improving search relevance.
- English level B1+
Soft skills
- Ability to independently lead projects from design to release and post-release support
- Strong estimation skills and proactive risk communication
- High level of autonomy and ability to independently resolve infrastructure and stability issue
- Collaborative approach and readiness for cross-functional teamwork
Nice to have
- UI/UX awareness
- Design and implement solutions for search optimization, and related algorithms
Benefits
Creativity every day: Make inspiring products for musicians, artists and creators – no day is the same.
Impactful work Influence the future of the music industry and change the lives of millions worldwide.
Work set up: We’ll make sure you’re set up for success with the right work equipment, whether that’s company-provided hardware or an equipment allowance.
Growth and development: Receive specialized training, language lessons, conferences and learning materials.
Team well-being: Support for your mental health and wellbeing, including confidential help during life’s tougher moments.
Muse Group empowers music makers
We create the worldʼs most popular apps for playing, recording and composing music. Through our innovative learning tools, expansive music catalogs and free open-source software, we make it easier for millions — from beginners to experienced musicians — to be creative every day. Our talented team of music lovers collaborates all over the globe, from Limassol to Seoul and Boston to Berlin.
We’re an ambitious company with the drive and culture of a startup — with many more exciting Muse Group developments to come. Hal Leonard, which joined Muse Group in 2023, is the world leader in sheet music publishing and music education. The company has a storied history of providing music learners with the very best methods and arrangements of popular music for over 70 years. Hal Leonard is also a major distributor of popular brands of instruments, gear, and software to the music trade worldwide.
