PHP Team Lead

In this hourly, remote contractor role, you will work as a PHP Quality Assurance Lead (QAL) to oversee quality, consistency, and trainer performance across PHP AI training projects. You will review AI-generated PHP code and trainer/QA work, evaluate output quality against project guidelines, provide precise written feedback, and ensure contributors follow expected quality standards.

You will assess work for code correctness, runtime behavior, framework awareness, debugging accuracy, readability, maintainability, performance, security, test coverage, formatting, instruction-following, and rubric adherence. This role requires strong PHP expertise, English communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage quality workflows across remote technical teams.

This role is with SME Careers, a fast-growing AI Data Services company and subsidiary of SuperAnnotate, delivering training data for many of the world’s largest AI companies and foundation-model labs. Your PHP quality leadership will help ensure PHP training data is accurate, executable, secure, clearly explained, and aligned with client expectations.

Selection process involves an AI interview, a domain-specific task, and an interview with a recruiter.

Important: There is no immediate project for this role; however, if qualified, you will be among the first experts we reach out to when relevant opportunities arise. This will also provide you with access to future projects available through our expert network.

Key responsibilities

• Spot-check PHP items and provide ongoing feedback through DMs.
• Review AI-generated PHP code, backend snippets, debugging responses, API examples, database logic, and tests.
• Update trainers/QAs on Discord about guideline changes and PHP-specific quality standards.
• Answer questions around PHP syntax, frameworks, runtime behavior, security, testing, and rubric interpretation.
• Activate inactive contributors through DMs and follow-up tracking.
• Create and maintain PHP documentation, style guides, examples, trackers, FAQs, honeypots, and onboarding materials.
• Run onboarding/training calls for PHP trainers and QAs.
• Flag insecure, outdated, misleading, or non-production-ready PHP recommendations.
• Identify recurring quality gaps and improve QA processes.

Your profile

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, IT, or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong grasp of English to follow guidelines and provide clear technical feedback.
• 3+ years of professional PHP development, backend engineering, code review, QA, mentoring, or related workflows.
• Strong understanding of PHP 8+, OOP, namespaces, Composer, autoloading, arrays, exceptions, type declarations, sessions, HTTP, REST APIs, database access, and error handling.
• Ability to evaluate PHP content and identify issues such as non-executable code, insecure SQL handling, weak validation, flawed logic, outdated syntax, hallucinated APIs, or incomplete explanations.
• Familiarity with Laravel, Symfony, PHPUnit, Pest, MySQL/PostgreSQL, Redis, Docker, GitHub, CI/CD, static analysis tools, and PSR standards is preferred.
• Experience leading or supporting remote teams of trainers, annotators, reviewers, engineers, or QAs is strongly preferred.
• Comfortable with Discord, Google Sheets, Google Docs, trackers, dashboards, GitHub, and PM systems.
• Highly organized and able to maintain documentation, style guides, trackers, FAQs, calibration tasks, and honeypots.
• Experience with AI training, LLM evaluation, code QA, or rubric-based review is a strong plus.

🌍 Geographic Availability This role is available to qualified experts globally. However, as a U.S.-based company, SME Careers complies with U.S. export control and sanctions regulations. Eligibility depends on your country of residence and any applicable trade restrictions. Some projects may have additional language or region-specific requirements.

💰 Pay Rate May Vary Based on Your Location Your actual compensation will be determined based on your location and local market conditions. See regional job listings for localized pay information, or the application process will clarify your specific rate.

If you're unsure whether you're eligible, proceed with the application—SME's screening will determine your jurisdiction status and applicable compensation.