Senior WordPress Developer – PHP Upgrade & Backend Optimization (Potential for Ongoing)

Overview: We are looking for an experienced WordPress Backend Developer to safely and properly upgrade the PHP version on our website. This is a critical technical update, and we need someone who thoroughly understands backend infrastructure to ensure a seamless transition with zero downtime or broken plugins. This is initially a one-time project, but for the right freelancer, it has strong potential to turn into an ongoing technical support and maintenance position. What You’ll Be Doing / Deliverables: Audit: Review our current WordPress setup (plugins, theme, and custom code) for PHP compatibility. Staging: Create a staging environment to safely test the upgrade before pushing it live. Upgrade: Handle the backup and safely upgrade our server/hosting environment to the latest stable PHP version. Troubleshoot: Debug and fix any deprecated functions, plugin conflicts, or backend errors that arise during the upgrade. Verification: Ensure the live site remains completely secure, stable, and highly performant post-upgrade. Required Experience: Deep expertise in WordPress backend development and server management. Proven experience handling major PHP upgrades on live WordPress sites. Strong troubleshooting skills (debugging wp-config, error logs, and database issues). Diligent habits regarding staging environments and safe deployment practices. Bonus Points: Experience working with GoHighLevel (GHL) (integrations, webhooks, or funnels) is a massive plus, though not strictly required.