I'm Raafat Cattan, a Backend Engineer based in Paderborn, Germany, with a master's degree in Web Sciences and extensive experience building and maintaining scalable backend applications. I specialize in PHP, Laravel, RESTful APIs, and microservices, designing robust server-side architectures, optimizing performance, and delivering API-driven systems. I'm passionate about e-commerce trends, continuous improvement, and best practices for deployment and infrastructure. I work fluently in English and Arabic, and I have basic knowledge of German, with experience in web hosting, domain management, and DNS.\n\nI've led IT initiatives, managed data centers, and contributed to both on-site and remote development teams. My hands-on work spans WordPress-based solutions, custom themes and plugins, and designing scalable backend services using Laravel and modern toolchains. I'm comfortable collaborating with frontend teams, implementing APIs, and configuring VPS environments, while also mentoring teams and coordinating with vendors.

Raafat Cattan

I'm Raafat Cattan, a Backend Engineer based in Paderborn, Germany, with a master's degree in Web Sciences and extensive experience building and maintaining scalable backend applications. I specialize in PHP, Laravel, RESTful APIs, and microservices, designing robust server-side architectures, optimizing performance, and delivering API-driven systems. I'm passionate about e-commerce trends, continuous improvement, and best practices for deployment and infrastructure. I work fluently in English and Arabic, and I have basic knowledge of German, with experience in web hosting, domain management, and DNS.\n\nI've led IT initiatives, managed data centers, and contributed to both on-site and remote development teams. My hands-on work spans WordPress-based solutions, custom themes and plugins, and designing scalable backend services using Laravel and modern toolchains. I'm comfortable collaborating with frontend teams, implementing APIs, and configuring VPS environments, while also mentoring teams and coordinating with vendors.

Available to hire

I’m Raafat Cattan, a Backend Engineer based in Paderborn, Germany, with a master’s degree in Web Sciences and extensive experience building and maintaining scalable backend applications. I specialize in PHP, Laravel, RESTful APIs, and microservices, designing robust server-side architectures, optimizing performance, and delivering API-driven systems. I’m passionate about e-commerce trends, continuous improvement, and best practices for deployment and infrastructure. I work fluently in English and Arabic, and I have basic knowledge of German, with experience in web hosting, domain management, and DNS.\n\nI’ve led IT initiatives, managed data centers, and contributed to both on-site and remote development teams. My hands-on work spans WordPress-based solutions, custom themes and plugins, and designing scalable backend services using Laravel and modern toolchains. I’m comfortable collaborating with frontend teams, implementing APIs, and configuring VPS environments, while also mentoring teams and coordinating with vendors.

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Experience Level

Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
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Language

Arabic
Fluent
English
Fluent
German
Beginner

Work Experience

Software Engineer at IRIS - Digital Journey
September 1, 2022 - November 17, 2025
Focused on designing and architecting Laravel applications, deploying and managing server-side code, collaborating with frontend teams, implementing APIs, monitoring and optimizing server performance, and configuring VPS environments; write pipelines. Manage Domain and DNS records. Analyse and design database structure based on user flow diagram.
Head of Information Technology at Al-Shame Private University
March 1, 2024 - March 1, 2024
Supervised the software development process, developed new web applications, set IT implementation goals, liaised with vendors and 3rd parties, managed data centre servers, and oversaw all IT operations infrastructure.
Fullstack Developer at Al-Shahba Technology
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2022
Developed custom WordPress themes, created and maintained WordPress plugins, collaborated with design and content teams, optimized themes and plugins, and deployed WordPress projects to cPanel.
Technical Support Engineer at Hadeed Metal Manufacturing Company
August 1, 2018 - August 1, 2018
Written CMD batches to facilitate troubleshooting for the help-desk team; served as sysadmin assistant by scripting OS tasks, testing new technologies, and assisting with an internal PHP-based ticket system; resolved client issues, fixed software crashes, and repaired hardware failures.
Senior Technician at MABCO
July 1, 2017 - July 1, 2017
Resolved client laptop issues, fixed software crashes, and repaired hardware failures; performed hardware upgrades.
Volunteer WordPress Developer at SchlauStart (Non-Profit Organization)
September 1, 2025 - September 1, 2025
Developed SchlauStart themes, created and maintained SchlauStart plugin with a team of volunteer developers.
Volunteer WordPress Developer at SchlauStart
September 1, 2025 - September 1, 2025
Developed SchlauStart themes, created and maintained SchlauStart plugin with a team of volunteer developers.

Education

Bachelors in information technology at Syrian Virtual University
February 1, 2015 - May 1, 2018
Technical Diploma at Technical Institute of Computer Damascus
October 1, 2011 - November 1, 2014
Bachelor's in Information Technology at Syrian Virtual University
February 1, 2015 - May 1, 2018
Technical Diploma at Technical Institute of Computer Damascus
October 1, 2011 - November 1, 2014

Qualifications

Master's in Web Sciences
January 11, 2030 - November 17, 2025

Industry Experience

Software & Internet, Education, Professional Services, Retail, Non-Profit Organization