PHP / Drupal Developer

(ID: 2026-1549)

Axle is a bioscience and information technology company that offers advancements in translational research, biomedical informatics, and data science applications to research centers and healthcare organizations nationally and abroad. With experts in biomedical science, software engineering, and program management, we focus on developing and applying research tools and techniques to empower decision-making and accelerate research discoveries. We work with some of the top research organizations and facilities in the country including multiple institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Benefits We Offer:

• 100% Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage for Employees

• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays

• 401K match up to 5%

• Educational Benefits for Career Growth

• Employee Referral Bonus

• Flexible Spending Accounts:

• Healthcare (FSA)

• Parking Reimbursement Account (PRK)

• Dependent Care Assistant Program (DCAP)

• Transportation Reimbursement Account (TRN)

Position Overview

Axle is seeking a Mid-Level PHP Developer to support a mission-critical federal government program. The ideal candidate will possess strong PHP development skills, familiarity with federal IT standards, and a collaborative mindset to deliver robust and secure web applications that align with government requirements. We are especially looking for candidates who have worked in federal government space and currently hold an active clearance with the federal government. Candidates will work closely with solution architects, business and technology specialists to design and develop solutions and provide expertise and implementation support to project teams. Candidates will also create / update solution architecture documents and assist testing and DevOps teams with debugging and deployment support.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop, maintain, and enhance web applications using PHP (Laravel, Symfony, or similar frameworks).

• Work closely with UI/UX designers, project managers, and other developers to meet technical and functional requirements.

• Write clean, scalable, and well-documented code.

• Integrate third-party APIs and ensure secure data handling.

• Participate in code reviews, testing, debugging, and performance tuning.

• Ensure compliance with federal security standards and accessibility requirements (e.g., FISMA, FedRAMP, Section 508).

• Collaborate in Agile/Scrum development processes, including daily standups and sprint planning.

• Assist with the deployment and maintenance of applications in development, staging, and production environments.

Required qualifications to be successful in this role:

• 3–5 years of hands-on PHP development experience.

• Experience with PHP frameworks such as Laravel, Symfony, or CodeIgniter.

• Strong knowledge of front-end technologies (HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, jQuery).

• Experience with relational databases such as MySQL or PostgreSQL.

• Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git).

• Understanding of secure coding practices and data privacy.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.

• Ability to be on-site two days a week in Bethesda, MD.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working on federal or government contracts.

• Familiarity with DevOps tools and CI/CD pipelines.

• Knowledge of containerization (Docker) and cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP).

• Experience with RESTful APIs and microservices architecture.

• Working knowledge of accessibility standards (Section 508) and compliance testing tools.

• Experience with Drupal, WordPress, or other CMS platforms used in federal agencies.

Why Join Us

At Axle, we’re proud to support NIH’s mission to advance biomedical research and improve public health outcomes. You’ll join a team of dedicated professionals using data to make a measurable difference in research administration and scientific discovery.

Disclaimer: The above description is meant to illustrate the general nature of work and level of effort being performed by individuals assigned to this position or job description. This is not restricted as a complete list of all skills, responsibilities, duties, and/or assignments required. Individuals may be required to perform duties outside of their position, job description or responsibilities as needed.

The diversity of Axle’s employees is a tremendous asset. We are firmly committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and will not tolerate any illegal discrimination or harassment based on age, race, gender, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, covered veteran status, sexual orientation, status with respect to public assistance, and other characteristics protected under state, federal, or local law and to deter those who aid, abet, or induce discrimination or coerce others to discriminate.

Accessibility: If you need an accommodation as part of the employment process please contact: [email protected]

This role has a market-competitive salary with an anticipated base compensation range listed below. Actual salaries will vary depending on a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location.

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Salary Range
$100,000—$110,000 USD