Freelance Senior Engineer · Ucar Solutions UG

Doğan Uçar

Senior PHP & Symfony Engineer for AI-enabled Business Applications

I help companies modernize complex PHP/Symfony systems, integrate AI features into existing business workflows, and build reliable backend platforms, APIs, SaaS products, and automation tools.

Doğan Uçar, Senior PHP & Symfony Engineer

Trusted by companies across Europe

Hi, I'm Doğan Uçar - Senior Software Engineer, freelancer, and founder of Ucar Solutions UG.

I specialize in PHP, Symfony, API Platform, React, DevOps, and AI-assisted software development. Since 2012, I have worked on enterprise platforms, e-commerce systems, public-sector applications, mobile apps, SaaS products, migrations, CI/CD infrastructure, and backend systems for companies such as CHECK24, Nextcloud, SCAYLE / About You, TUI / Robinson, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, The Quality Group, and TEVEO.

My focus is not only writing code, but helping companies reduce technical debt, stabilize critical systems, improve developer productivity, and introduce AI where it creates measurable business value.

I hold a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and a Master's degree in Intelligent Systems, both from Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. I write regularly on my PHP and software engineering blog - covering PHP internals, software architecture, algorithms, and freelancing.

What I Do

I support companies with senior-level software engineering in complex technical environments. My work usually falls into one of these areas:

Backend development with PHP, Symfony, API Platform, Laminas, Mezzio, Laravel, and custom architectures
AI integration into existing software products, internal tools, reporting workflows, and customer-facing applications
SaaS and platform development, including subscription models, reporting, dashboards, authentication, and role-based access
System modernization, refactoring, technical-debt reduction, testing, and performance improvement
API design and integration with REST, XML, SOAP, third-party platforms, and legacy systems
DevOps, CI/CD, Docker, Docker Swarm, Linux, GitLab, GitHub Actions, monitoring, and deployment automation
E-commerce and business-platform development with Shopify, SCAYLE / About You, Akeneo, AWS, and custom backend systems

AI & Automation

I help companies integrate AI into real business processes - not as isolated demos, but as maintainable software features inside existing systems.

Typical use cases include:

Analysis & Insights

AI-assisted report analysis and explanation systems, AI-supported dashboards and business insights, automated document, email, and data evaluation workflows.

LLM Integration

Integration of LLM APIs into PHP/Symfony and React applications, backend logic for AI-powered SaaS products, prompt-driven internal tools for operations, support, and content workflows.

Process Automation

Automation of recurring manual processes with APIs, queues, and background jobs.

Background & Approach

My background in Intelligent Systems, machine learning, natural language processing, and production software engineering allows me to bridge both sides: the AI concept and the engineering reality.

Core Engineering Skills

Backend & Architecture

PHP 8, Symfony, API Platform, Laminas, Mezzio, Laravel, Doctrine ORM, Messenger, REST APIs, XML, SOAP, OpenAPI, middleware architectures, clean architecture, domain logic, testing, refactoring, and performance optimization.

Frontend & Mobile

React, TypeScript, JavaScript, Vue.js, Angular, Ionic, Android, Kotlin, Swift, iOS, Bootstrap, SCSS, and full-stack application development.

AI, Data & Automation

LLM integration, AI-assisted analysis, machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, Python, reporting systems, forecasting logic, data workflows, and automation.

DevOps & Infrastructure

Docker, Docker Swarm, Kubernetes, Linux, GitLab CI/CD, GitHub Actions, AWS, Terraform, RabbitMQ, Redis, monitoring, deployment automation, server migration, and operational troubleshooting.

Databases

MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Oracle SQL, database design, query optimization, migrations, and data-heavy backend systems.

Selected Project Experience

Application and server migration, report development, CI/CD infrastructure, and enterprise platform modernization across multiple products.

Technologies: PHP, MariaDB, Oracle SQL, PostgreSQL, Red Hat Linux, GitLab CI/CD, CheckMK, ServiceNow.

Development of a new e-commerce backend from scratch for a mobile application, using backend-for-frontend and backend-driven UI approaches.

Technologies: PHP, Symfony, API Platform, MySQL 8, Docker, Docker Swarm, GitHub, GitHub Actions, Shopify, Workato.

Senior PHP and Symfony development for tuiamello.com, including third-party API integrations, technical-debt reduction, test improvements, and consulting on hotel booking backend practices.

Technologies: PHP 8, Symfony, API Platform, REST, XML, SOAP.

Backend development for shop-related systems connected to ESN and More Nutrition products.

Technologies: PHP, Symfony 6, API Platform, Bref, AWS, Terraform, Akeneo API.

Middleware development for the enterprise commerce engine by SCAYLE / About You.

Technologies: PHP, Laravel, Docker, Kubernetes, Benthos, AWS SQS, SNS, S3, Mailjet, Mailchimp, Optimizely, AWS SDK.

Senior PHP backend development for the liability insurance comparison platform.

Technologies: PHP, MySQL, Zend / Laminas, JavaScript, Linux, Vagrant, Puppet.

Development of a recommender engine for the Nextcloud app ecosystem using collaborative filtering and content-based recommendation.

Technologies: PHP, MySQL, Nextcloud Framework.

Own Products & Open Source

SaaS Product

DMARCFlow

A SaaS platform for automated DMARC report analysis, reporting, forecasting, and email authentication tooling. Helps domain owners understand SPF, DKIM, DMARC alignment, sending sources, policy impact, and deliverability risks.

PHP 8, Laminas, Mezzio, React 19, React i18n, React Bootstrap.

Open Source

Keestash

An open-source password manager built as a SaaS product with a focus on secure password management and extensibility.

PHP, Laminas, PHPUnit, HIBP API, Vue 3, Bootstrap, SCSS, Axios.

iOS App

ServerWatcher

An iOS application for observing remote server HTTP status codes.

Swift, SwiftUI, SwiftData, Apple iOS.

Services

Book

Almost Generics in PHP

PHP is getting generics. Are you ready? A hands-on guide to building type-safe, generic-like data structures today - before native generics land in the language.

Get the book

Service

AI Code Review

Your team shipped fast with AI. Now make sure it does not break. I review what was built, find what could hurt you in production, and fix it - before your customers do.

Get a free assessment

Service

Legacy PHP Migration

Your legacy system, migrated - without stopping the business. PHP 4 to 8, no version control to full CI/CD, zero downtime, no big-bang rewrites.

Talk about your migration

Why Work With Me

Companies usually work with me when they need someone who can understand complex systems quickly, take responsibility beyond isolated tickets, and deliver pragmatic technical progress.

10+ years of professional software engineering experience
Strong PHP, Symfony, backend, API, and platform expertise
Practical AI knowledge backed by a Master's degree in Intelligent Systems
Experience in enterprise, e-commerce, public-sector, SaaS, and mobile projects
Hands-on DevOps and infrastructure knowledge
The ability to reduce technical debt while still delivering business features
A founder mindset through building and operating my own products

Media Presence

JetBrains Official "PHP Annotated - October 2019" blog: PHPAlgorithms is featured in category "Misc".

WPWeekly Episode 227: WP Last Modified is featured in the podcast.

Need Senior Engineering Support?

If your company needs support with PHP, Symfony, AI integration, SaaS development, platform modernization, backend architecture, or technical-debt reduction, feel free to reach out.

I am available for freelance projects, consulting, architecture reviews, and hands-on implementation.

Contact me