Freelance Developer
Romain Pierre
Symfony Lead Developer
15+ years building robust PHP applications. Specialized in Symfony, API Platform, and cloud infrastructure. Available for freelance missions from Madrid or Paris.
// what I do
Services
Symfony Development
Custom application development with Symfony 7, API Platform, and modern PHP 8 best practices.
Technical Leadership
Team mentoring, code reviews, architecture decisions, and Symfony technical training.
API & Integration
RESTful API design, microservices, Elasticsearch, RabbitMQ, and third-party integrations.
DevOps & Cloud
Docker, CI/CD pipelines, AWS/GCP infrastructure, Terraform, and performance optimization with Blackfire.
// my philosophy
Values
Keep it simple
The fewer exotic choices, the easier the onboarding for the next developer. I favor balanced architecture between state-of-the-art code and deliverability.
Most companies I've worked with chose a balanced model between state-of-the-art code and deliverability. I've experimented with DDD — notably at M6/Bedrock — but a model close to MVC remains more often the norm. Clear naming and project structure matter more than exotic patterns.
Endless curiosity
From hardware to UX, I thrive on exploring every layer of a project. If I can't do it at work, I'll have a side-project for it.
I rate myself 1/10 on specialization — I flourish by touching everything. My side-projects span from full-stack apps (Symfony + React Native) to infrastructure (AWS with Terraform). There was even a time when I went from hardware to UX on the same project.
AI-augmented development
I use AI tools daily for planning, implementation, and code review — while staying vigilant on the decisions that matter: architecture, security, and coherence.
With Claude, I no longer code directly — I take back the wheel when things go off track or to ensure code coherence. I use AI for studying ideas (planning phase), understanding concepts, then I make the architecture decisions. I've caught AI-generated injection vulnerabilities (SQL, XSS) especially in Clickhouse and Elasticsearch queries.
Quality & knowledge sharing
Thorough documentation, clear naming, well-structured projects. I document edge cases in code and maintain comprehensive project guides.
Since using Claude, I document edge cases even more in the code — AI tends to undo solutions found previously. My philosophy: keep things simple, minimize exotic choices, use clear naming. I rely on .md files, Notion, Makefiles, and README to ensure smooth onboarding for any new developer.
// tech stack
Skills
Coding
CI/CD
AI
Database
System
// career path
Experience
Engineering Manager
Viously — Lille (Full Remote)
Symfony API Platform and legacy development: implementation of an ACL system, big data and business API analytics.
Lead Developer Symfony
Norsys — Lyon (Partial Remote)
Symfony development for client projects (Spread Research, Opteven, Picwic, Cetih, M6 6play Salto, HomeServe), architecture, team support, Symfony technical training.
Symfony Developer
SensioLabs — Clichy (Full Remote)
Symfony development for client projects (Sodexo, Meyclub, Arianespace, En Marche...), backend API development.
Symfony Developer
Aprodix — Grenoble
Migration of the company's desktop ERP software to a mobile-responsive web version. Full project management: technical choices, specification writing, initial code implementations.
Data Operations Technician
UPMC — Paris
Management of a fleet of 200 workstations and 2,500 users. Server administration (Debian), application development, hardware and software maintenance.
Symfony Developer
IUFM — Paris
Development of Symfony web applications, notably a student enrollment tool.
Web Developer PHP
Simple IT (Site Du Zero) — Paris
Development of the company's main website (now OpenClassrooms), developer onboarding, system administration.
// background
Education
Symfony2 Training
SensioLabs, Paris
Training course initiated by SensioLabs to introduce Symfony2.
BTS IG Developer
IMC Vedior, Paris
Business computing, developer specialization. Application and database modeling, systems architecture.
Bac Pro MRIM
LEP, Combs-la-Ville
Microcomputing and networks. Network theory, routing, server administration (Debian and Windows).
BEP Electronics
LEP, Combs-la-Ville
Fundamentals of analog electronics, microcontroller programming, logic gates.
// let's work together
Get in touch
Looking for a senior Symfony developer for your next project? I'm available for freelance missions, consulting, and technical training. Based in Madrid or Paris, working fully remote.