Software Architect & Tech Lead - Moodle & AI-Assisted Dev

TELEFÓNICA EDUCACIÓN DIGITAL, S.L.U. offers comprehensive learning solutions for Education and Training, with over 20 years of experience in the national and international market. It develops high-impact learning processes in people and organizations.

In an increasingly uncertain world, one of the greatest gifts one can give a person is their education. Training is one of the most valuable assets that can be offered for the future: it broadens options, builds confidence, and allows one to face changes with greater security. In this sense, the purpose of Telefónica Educación Digital is clear and deeply relevant: to offer this gift to each of our users. Few purposes have greater value or a more lasting impact than helping people build their future.

Position: Software Architect & Tech Lead – Moodle & AI-Assisted Dev

About the Role

We are looking for a hands-on Software Architect to take on the technical design, scalability, and direct development of the solution, implemented entirely on the Moodle ecosystem.

The position combines active programming in PHP 8.x, modular plugin development on Moodle, and strict application of Clean Code, TDD (PHPUnit), and BDD (Behat). The position promotes the adoption of generative Artificial Intelligence assistants to accelerate coding, focusing technical effort on architecture, test coverage, automation in pipelines, and rigorous and constructive code review.

Key Responsibilities

• Architecture and 100% Moodle Development: Design and directly program the solution through modular extensions, custom plugins (local_, mod_, tool_), hooks, Moodle internal APIs, and Mustache templates, ensuring high availability for massive concurrent evaluations.

• QA, Testing, and Coverage Strategy: Ensure comprehensive software quality by applying TDD methodology with high unit test coverage (PHPUnit) and functional behavior tests (Behat) on Moodle developments.

• Lifecycle, Asynchronicity, and Traceability: Manage background tasks (Scheduled and Ad-hoc Tasks), update scripts and data schema evolution (db/upgrade.php), and design audit logs for immutable traceability of exam events.

• Native Integrations: Implement communication with external systems (payment gateways, proctoring tools, ERPs) using Moodle's native Web Services and RESTful APIs.

• Performance, Runtime, and Concurrency: Optimize database transactions to prevent concurrent blocks (deadlocks / table locks), manage cache layers (MUC, Redis), and adjust PHP runtime (php.ini, OPcache) and web server (Apache / Nginx with PHP-FPM) for massive evaluation peaks.

• AI-Assisted Flows and Technical Review: Integrate AI tools into the development workflow to optimize deliveries, conducting critical code reviews to ensure compliance with architectural standards, security (OWASP), and absence of technical debt.

• Environments, CI/CD, and Version Control: Maintain reproducible environments with Docker, manage collaborative flows in Git, and configure continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) pipelines for automated test execution and quality gates.

Essential Requirements

• Moodle and PHP Experience (+5 years): Advanced proficiency in PHP 8.x, direct development of custom plugins, Moodle APIs (Database, Cache, Events, Tasks, Form API), Mustache templates, migrations with db/upgrade.php, and compatibility with modern versions (4.x branches).

• QA, Testing, and Clean Code:

  • Strict commitment to Clean Code standards and SOLID principles.
  • Advanced proficiency in PHPUnit with high test coverage required for plugins.
  • Practical proficiency in Behat (BDD) for automated functional tests in Moodle.

• Databases and Concurrency: Advanced optimization in MySQL or PostgreSQL, index design, ACID transactions, and contention and lock control (table/row locks) for high transactional concurrency.

• Runtime, Web Servers, and Cache: Adjustments and optimization of the execution environment: PHP configuration (php.ini, OPcache), web server tuning (Apache / Nginx with PHP-FPM), and distributed and persistent cache layers (Redis, MUC).

• Environments, Git, and CI/CD Automation:

  • Configuration of local environments with Docker.
  • Advanced Git usage (branching flows, code reviews, merge requests, and pull requests).
  • Practical experience in configuring CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI or equivalents) for automatic test validation and deployments.

• AI Development and Interpersonal Skills: Regular use of AI assistants in programming, technical judgment to audit and validate generated code, and empathetic and constructive communication during technical reviews.

Valuable Requirements

• Cloud Services in AWS: Practical knowledge in deploying and operating Moodle on AWS (EC2, RDS, S3, load balancers, and cache layers with ElastiCache/Redis).

• Experience in massive exam platforms, online certification systems, or integration of proctoring tools.

• Stress testing and performance analysis using JMeter or APM/profiling tools.

• Knowledge of modern PHP frameworks (Symfony / Laravel) as a basis for software architecture and good OOP practices.

Conditions

• Work Modality: Negotiable hybrid.

• Position: Technical leadership with active development (hands-on) in a strategic product.

• Compensation: Competitive salary commensurate with experience.

Advantages of joining our team

• Hybrid work model: We prioritize flexibility, positioning ourselves as a benchmark in new ways of working, schedules, working hours, and work-life balance measures.

• 22 vacation days + 4 TED days.

• Availability to activate the pension plan with corresponding contributions from the participant and the company.

• Life insurance and private medical insurance (100% paid by the company).

• TED voucher of 11€/day.

• You will have exclusive discounts for being a Telefónica employee on different products and services.

• Free access to language training (English, German, and Portuguese) as well as various courses on the E-learning platform.

• Free gym in our facilities (Telefónica District).

When filling out the form, it is not necessary to complete everything, only the mandatory fields. We do need your CV and answers to the questions asked. Thank you!

WHY TELEFÓNICA?

Telefónica's future is in your hands.

Working at Telefónica means being part of a century-old company that aspires to be a leading European operator worldwide. A company with a clear purpose: to be the best gateway for citizens, companies, and institutions to the digital technologies that are transforming the world.

A challenge that requires the best professionals, the best people.

Our way of working is based on three attitudes that define us:

We give our best. We believe in the power of simplicity and in focusing on what truly makes an impact. We build trust when we understand the client and deliver what makes a difference. Excellence is our standard for achieving impact today and in the long term.

We question our own limits. We innovate and transform when we take smart risks. We promote real debate, make clear decisions, and act with courage to advance good ideas without fear of making mistakes.

We grow together. Growth happens when everyone takes responsibility for results, truly engages in what we achieve as a team, and takes the initiative to make things happen. Evolving our capabilities and daring to take bold personal steps is what drives a leading Telefónica.

Because the present challenges us. And we are prepared. Because there is nothing more powerful than a group of people pursuing a common goal, knowing how to achieve it, and giving their all to make it happen.

It is necessary that you are aware of the Responsible Business Principles that apply to your area of responsibility. We seek trustworthy professionals with integrity who are committed to ethical and transparent management, promoting a fairer and more sustainable social and environmental development.

At Telefónica, we firmly believe that promoting diversity and inclusion is a great opportunity to connect talent, grow as a company, and as a society. There is a place at Telefónica for all types of talent; above all, we seek diversity of talents. What's yours?