Senior Backend Developer · 8+ years · CMS & E-commerce

Ismail El Kasbi

Senior Backend Developer · 8+ years · CMS & E-commerce Specialist

PHP · Drupal · WordPress · Salesforce Commerce Cloud · REST APIs

Specialized in scalable CMS, e-commerce platforms, and API-driven architectures for European and international product teams.

CMS architecture Performance & scale Cloud e-commerce (SFCC)

Summary

Senior backend engineer with eight years delivering scalable CMS and commerce platforms for global brands. I architect Drupal and WordPress programmes—migrations, custom modules, integrations—and Salesforce Commerce Cloud (SFRA / SiteGenesis) storefronts in cloud environments. I optimize MySQL and MariaDB, build REST APIs, and own tested releases to production on Docker and Ubuntu/Linux within agile teams. Engineering hygiene spans Git on GitHub/GitLab (and SVN where legacy estates require it), peer code review, PHPUnit plus Drupal Kernel/Functional and WordPress testing, and CI/CD-aware promotion from test through staging to production.

Core expertise

Backend

  • Build and evolve PHP backends with clear boundaries, Composer-managed dependencies, and maintainable delivery practices.
  • Implement secure, testable server-side features aligned with performance and observability expectations.

CMS

  • Lead Drupal 7 through 10 programmes: audits, module strategy, content models, themes, and cutover planning.
  • Ship enterprise WordPress solutions with bespoke functionality and integration to surrounding systems.

APIs

  • Design and deliver REST APIs and service integrations for commerce, content, and payment orchestration.
  • Customize SFCC pipelines and controllers for multi-market, multi-locale storefront requirements.

Database

  • Model complex relational schemas for CMS entities, orders, and catalog data.
  • Tune queries, indexing, and caching strategies to protect latency under production load.

Version control

  • Lead Git-based delivery on GitHub and GitLab: feature branches, pull/merge requests, rebases, and conflict resolution suited to multi-developer CMS teams.
  • Support SVN-backed codebases where still in service; align branching, tagging, and release practices with delivery cadence.

Testing & quality

  • Author PHPUnit coverage for PHP services and CMS extensions; run Drupal Kernel and Functional suites to lock down custom modules and upgrades.
  • Apply WordPress testing practices and coding-standard discipline so plugins and themes ship with measurable quality gates.

DevOps

  • Promote validated builds from testing through staging to production with disciplined release hygiene and CI/CD checkpoints wherever pipelines exist.
  • Operate containerized workloads with Docker on Ubuntu/Linux and collaborate in agile (Scrum) delivery.

Professional experience

Engineer — Web development

4D

Mar 2021 — present · Rabat, Morocco

  • Translate product and technical specifications into actionable CMS delivery plans, scope, and milestones.
  • Estimate and sequence engineering work to balance velocity with quality gates: reviews, automated checks, and test-ready increments.
  • Design and implement bespoke Drupal and WordPress modules; protect regressions with PHPUnit and Drupal/WordPress-appropriate automated tests on critical paths.
  • Ship through Git on GitHub/GitLab using feature branches and pull/merge requests, with constructive code review before integration.
  • Resolve production issues by triaging support tickets, diagnosing root causes, and shipping durable fixes backed by targeted test coverage.
  • Own promotion of validated changes from testing through staging to production using repeatable, CI/CD-aligned steps and controlled rollout discipline.

Consultant — Salesforce Commerce Cloud

VISEO

Nov 2019 — Feb 2021 · Casablanca, Morocco

  • Built SFCC (SFRA / SiteGenesis) e-commerce experiences in the cloud for GUERLAIN (FR / US / JP) and JENNYFER within agile squads.
  • Implemented Adyen PSP payment flows for Jennyfer, aligning checkout with multi-market configuration and compliance needs.
  • Delivered regional back-end capabilities for luxury commerce across three locales on a shared technical foundation.
  • Raised code quality through peer review, scripted verification of cartridges and integrations, and release checklists aligned with cloud SFCC practice.
  • Led discovery and estimation alongside client stakeholders; converted requirements into executable technical specifications.
  • Shipped production-ready storefronts that supported high-visibility brand launches and ongoing digital revenue.

Backend developer (CMS / PHP)

Pyxicom

Jan 2016 — Oct 2019 · Rabat, Morocco

  • Directed technical discovery for 4D’s Drupal 7→10 modernization: audited contributed and custom modules, entities, themes, security posture, and performance baselines.
  • Produced structured inventories and data-model documentation to de-risk migration scope and stakeholder sign-off.
  • Delivered the Worldtour property on Drupal 9 and executed the upgrade path to Drupal 10 for long-term supportability.
  • Built Qodly on Drupal 10 and a WordPress blog in parallel with flagship digital programmes.
  • Strengthened quality with PHPUnit and Drupal Kernel/Functional coverage on high-risk customizations, plus WordPress testing discipline on plugin work.
  • Collaborated in Git-centric workflows with SVN exposure on older estates; enforced review and branching conventions ahead of major releases.
  • Retired superseded functionality and resolved responsiveness, compatibility, and performance findings to de-risk migration cutover.

Selected projects

Flagship · 4D

4D Learn · WordPress LMS (LearnPress)

Learn 4D — your hub for structured courses, tutorials, and expert-led masterclasses.

WordPress LearnPress Custom plugins REST APIs DeepL API GitHub AWS S3 SSO Marketo

Designed and built a full-featured e-learning platform on WordPress and LearnPress with multiple custom plugins to extend the LMS, automate workflows, and integrate enterprise systems.

  • Multilingual (DeepL API): automatic translation pipeline for courses, lessons, and quizzes with cross-locale synchronization.
  • GitHub sync plugin: course content versioning and bidirectional sync with GitHub repositories for maintainable curricula.
  • AWS S3 integration: automated upload and management of course materials in S3 buckets.
  • Single Sign-On: authentication against 4D accounts via external API for a unified learner experience.
  • Marketo APIs: synced users, leads, and course interactions; enabled automated campaigns and engagement tracking.
  • Architecture: modular plugin design for scalability and safe extension over time.

GUERLAIN · SFCC

Luxury multi-region commerce: SFRA back-end for FR / US / JP on Salesforce B2C Commerce Cloud. Impact: enabled consistent catalog, pricing, and regional experiences while accelerating time-to-market for international campaigns.

JENNYFER · SFCC

Fashion retail storefront on SiteGenesis / SFRA with Adyen PSP integration. Impact: streamlined checkout and payment orchestration for agile iteration on conversion-focused features.

Worldtour · Drupal

Drupal 9 implementation with a planned Drupal 10 upgrade. Impact: modernized editorial workflows and reduced upgrade risk through documented module and entity strategy.

Qodly · Drupal 10

Greenfield Drupal 10 site with custom content architecture. Impact: aligned marketing and product teams on a maintainable, API-ready CMS baseline.

Blog · WordPress

WordPress publishing platform integrated with the wider digital estate. Impact: faster content cycles and a clear extension path for editorial plugins and integrations.

Education

  • Master’s degree in software quality

    Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra

    2018 — 2020

  • Bachelor’s degree in web and mobile development

    Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra

    2017 — 2018

Certificates

  • Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist — Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3 (70-480)

    May 2015

  • Scrum Foundation Professional Certificate (SFPC)

    Jun 2020

Hobbies

New technologies · AI