Laravel Backend Scalability Expert

I’m extending a fast-growing platform and need an experienced Laravel developer who can architect a robust backend from the ground up, then refine it as traffic and feature complexity increase. The focus is true system design rather than simple site work: clean code, sound domain modelling, and a clear path for horizontal scaling.

Core objectives
• Build and optimise REST APIs that return JSON responses with consistent versioning and solid test coverage.
• Keep the codebase modular so adding user-facing features—such as account management, payment flows, or data-driven dashboards—remains straightforward.
• Set up and document a repeatable deployment pipeline (Git, CI/CD, migrations, rolling releases) that lets us ship confidently.
• Advise on and implement third-party integrations as needed; payment gateways and email services are on the near-term roadmap, with social logins a likely follow-up.

What I provide
• A clear domain model, UI wireframes, and access to a small internal team for questions.
• Rapid feedback on pull requests so we keep momentum high.

Acceptance criteria
1. API endpoints follow REST best practices, return JSON, and achieve ≥90 % PHP Unit / Pest coverage.
2. All business logic sits behind well-documented service classes; controllers stay thin.
3. Database schema supports indexing and sharding strategies discussed during kickoff.
4. A README explains local setup, env variables, and deployment in under 5 minutes.

If scalable architecture, elegant Laravel code, and performance profiling are your strengths, let’s talk.