Senior PHP/Symfony Freelance DeveloperBackends, APIs & Architecture since 2008
Modern web backends that support your product, not fight it.
A well-engineered backend means fewer production incidents, a codebase that stays
safe to extend, and new developers who get productive fast. I bring over 17 years
of hands-on experience as a freelance backend developer, helping product teams
design, refactor and ship backends and APIs in PHP/Symfony and TypeScript/Node.js.
I specialize in hexagonal architecture, Domain-Driven Design and legacy
modernization, and I work with product teams on short-term or long-term
engagements depending on project needs.
I treat the backend as a product on its own: clear APIs, solid boundaries
and smooth integration with front-ends and third-party systems.
🔁
From legacy to manageable
Progressive refactoring for existing PHP/Symfony or Node.js services:
no big rewrite, just steady improvement aligned with your roadmap.
🌐
Backend-first, full-stack capable
Strong backend focus with the ability to step into front-end work
when needed to keep delivery and integration moving forward.
How I work
1
Discovery call
We talk through your codebase, team and constraints. No commitment, no generic pitch.
2
Scoped proposal
A clear proposal covering scope, timeline and how we'll measure progress together.
3
Kickoff
I get access, read the code, and ship the first meaningful change fast, not weeks of onboarding.
4
Steady delivery
Regular check-ins and visible progress, whether the engagement runs for a few weeks or over a year.
Industries served
Over the years as a freelance web backend developer, I have worked with companies
of all sizes, from startups to multinationals, on technically demanding projects
across a wide range of industries.
🏠 Real estate (IAD)📢 Classifieds (Leboncoin / Adevinta)✈️ Aviation (Air France / DgBirds)💊 Pharmaceuticals (Sanofi)🚗 Automotive (Suzuki Motor Europe)🌍 Travel & tourism (Gestour / Amadeus)📚 Digital publishing (Lunii)🛒 Retail & distribution (Cora / Carrefour)🤝 Nonprofits & social economy (GoTombola / ItiQiti)☁️ SaaS & platforms (Maars)
Areas of expertise
🏗️ Software architecture
Designing maintainable, evolvable backends using hexagonal architecture
(ports & adapters), Clean Architecture and Domain-Driven Design.
Clear separation between business logic, infrastructure and interfaces.
⚡ APIs & integrations
Building performant REST and GraphQL APIs with Symfony, API Platform,
NestJS and Apollo. Third-party integrations, authentication, webhooks
and inter-service communication (SQS, events).
🔄 Legacy modernization
Progressive refactoring of existing PHP/Symfony and Node.js applications:
microservice extraction, cloud migration (AWS Lambda, ECS),
automated testing introduction and continuous improvement without big-bang rewrites.
My approach combines pragmatism and quality: I ship code that works today
and remains maintainable tomorrow. Every engagement follows a simple principle:
understand the business context before touching code, set clear boundaries
(hexagonal architecture, DDD bounded contexts) and put tests in place
that secure future evolution.
I integrate into existing teams and adapt to their working mode.
Comfortable in Agile/Scrum environments, I collaborate with product owners,
frontend teams and ops to ensure smooth, predictable delivery. My reference reading
(Clean Code (Martin), Working Effectively with Legacy Code (Feathers), Implementing Domain-Driven Design
(Vernon), Refactoring (Fowler)) reflects a core belief: quality software comes from
rigorous development practices applied every day.
What clients say
Michel brings real value to product/tech collaboration by providing business insight into developments.
David H. · Head of Engineering, IAD Group
A true expert, an excellent mentor and always in good spirits, it was a real pleasure working with Michel.
Thomas H. · Head of Engineering, Leboncoin
He produces stable, maintainable code and is a very pleasant colleague with whom you enjoy exchanging ideas.
Sébastien V. · Captain Air France, ex-President DgBirds
Experienced, competent, tenacious, yet humble and determined. He knows how to integrate into a team and bring his expertise.
ready
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