Lead Totara Developer (12-15 Years)

Job Description

Role Overview

Lead Totara Developer with expertise in Moodle/Totara LMS and strong PHP, database, and API development skills. The ideal candidate should have excellent communication skills, be capable of understanding and troubleshooting existing Totara/Moodle code, and work towards enhancing and optimizing LMS performance. While prior experience in Docker and PHP Unit testing is a plus, the ability to understand and modify existing LMS code with minimal supervision is crucial.

Mandatory Skills

Totara & Moodle LMS Development, PHP, Database Management, API Development.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Responsibilities:

• Develop, customize, and optimize Totara LMS to meet business and user needs.
• Read and interpret existing Moodle/Totara code to troubleshoot, enhance, and integrate new functionalities.
• Implement and refine Totara API usage for enhanced system functionality.
• Conduct database queries, including JOIN operations, ensuring efficiency and accuracy.
• Identify and fix security vulnerabilities, including XSS and SQL injection risks.
• Implement and maintain unit testing (PHPUnit) for custom features and improvements.
• Optimize LMS performance, including troubleshooting slow database queries and system lag.

Functional Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand requirements and translate them into technical implementations.
• Guide junior developers in best practices related to Totara customization and PHP development.
• Participate in code reviews and documentation to maintain high development standards.
• Work closely with QA and DevOps teams to ensure smooth deployment and version control.
• Ensure compliance with e-learning standards like SCORM, xAPI, and LTI.

Required Technical Skills:

• Totara & Moodle LMS Development – Experience in customizing, troubleshooting, and extending LMS functionalities.
• PHP – Strong hands-on experience in writing and reviewing secure, optimized PHP code.
• Database Management – Ability to write efficient SQL queries, including JOIN operations.
• API Development – Familiarity with Moodle/Totara APIs like get_string(), web services, and RESTful API integration.
• Security Best Practices – Knowledge of preventing XSS vulnerabilities, input validation, and sanitization.
• Performance Optimization – Ability to analyze and optimize LMS performance issues.

Preferred Skills & Tools:

• Docker & Containerization – Understanding of containerized LMS deployments.
• Unit Testing (PHPUnit) – Experience in writing and executing automated tests for PHP-based applications.
• DevOps & CI/CD – Familiarity with Git, Jenkins, and automated deployment workflows.
• Cloud & Server Management – Experience with AWS, Linux, and Nginx/Apache.

Soft Skills & Competencies:

• Excellent communication skills – Ability to clearly articulate technical concepts and collaborate with teams.
• Problem-solving mindset – Capable of troubleshooting and identifying root causes in LMS issues.
• Self-driven & Independent – Can read and modify existing LMS code with minimal guidance.
• Attention to detail – Ensures code quality, security, and performance optimizations.