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Evaluating your skill match against the job requirements…
Assessing your cultural and operational fit
Software Architect / Product Owner / Delivery Manager / Support Manager
I’m Joren Van Hocht, a 33-year-old Belgium-based PHP developer with a strong passion for the Laravel ecosystem. Translating client expectations into clear technical architectures and writing clean, reliable, and maintainable code is what drives me. During my time at Take The Lead, I had the opportunity to grow beyond pure development into roles such as Technical Product Owner, Team Lead, Coach, and Delivery & Support Manager. These experiences strengthened my ability to bridge technical requirements with business needs while supporting teams in delivering high-quality software. I actively contribute to the PHP community as the organizer of PHP Antwerp, where I bring developers together to share knowledge, explore modern PHP practices, and strengthen the local ecosystem. Outside of work, good food is what makes me happy. You’ll often find me behind my BBQ, preparing low & slow dishes on my Kamado for friends and family.
Karel de Grote-Hogeschool
Bachelor, Multimedia Technology
January 1, 2012 – January 1, 2015
PHP Antwerp
Meetup Organiser
January 1, 2025 – Present
Antwerp, Flemish Region, Belgium
Take The Lead, the e-commerce powerhouse
Support Manager
September 1, 2024 – Present
Hybrid
Hochtie
Founder / PHP (Laravel) Developer
January 1, 2024 – Present
Mechelen, Flemish Region, Belgium
Take The Lead, the e-commerce powerhouse
Delivery Manager
December 1, 2023 – Present
Hybrid
Take The Lead, the e-commerce powerhouse
Product Owner
January 1, 2022 – Present
Hybrid
Take The Lead, the e-commerce powerhouse
Software Architect
January 1, 2022 – Present
Hybrid
Take The Lead, the e-commerce powerhouse
Team Lead
January 1, 2022 – Present
Hybrid
Take The Lead, the e-commerce powerhouse
Backend PHP Developer
January 1, 2020 – December 1, 2021
Hybrid
Wunderman Antwerp
Backend developer
February 1, 2018 – January 1, 2020
Antwerp Metropolitan Area
CodeSwitch
Owner
April 1, 2017 – January 1, 2024
Antwerp Metropolitan Area
These Days Y&R
PHP backend developer
August 1, 2015 – February 1, 2018
Antwerp Metropolitan Area
These Days Y&R
Intern backend developer
January 1, 2015 – April 1, 2015
Antwerp Metropolitan Area
Technical Integration Specialist Certification
Akeneo
June 28, 2026 – Present
Drupal 8 Essential Training: 1 The Basics
June 28, 2026 – Present
Technisch Secundair Onderwijs: Multimedia
Technische Scholen Mechelen
June 28, 2026 – Present
Technical Integration Fundamentals Certification
Akeneo
June 28, 2026 – Present
Product Experience Advisor Certification
Akeneo
June 28, 2026 – Present
Prof Bachelor Multimedia en Communicatietechnologie Web Producties
Karel de Grote-Hogeschool
June 28, 2026 – Present
Implementation Fundamentals Certification
Akeneo
June 28, 2026 – Present
Drupal 8 Essential Training: 2 Building Out Your Website
June 28, 2026 – Present
Cultural Fit Analysis
The candidate's diverse roles within 'Take The Lead' (from Backend Developer to Software Architect, Product Owner, and various management roles) indicates adaptability and a willingness to take on different challenges. Their involvement in 'PHP Antwerp' as a Meetup Organiser suggests a proactive and community-oriented mindset. The entrepreneurial experience as 'Founder / PHP (Laravel) Developer' at Hochtie (previously CodeSwitch) also points to initiative and ownership. However, the frequent role changes within the same company might indicate a lack of long-term focus in a single technical track, which could be a concern for a dedicated senior backend engineering role.
Soft Skills & Operational Fit
The candidate's progression into roles like Team Lead, Product Owner, and Support Manager, along with organizing meetups, suggests strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills. The 'Coaching' skill listed as a Software Architect further supports a collaborative and mentorship-oriented approach. However, without specific project descriptions or detailed responsibilities, the depth of these soft skills in a senior backend engineering context is hard to fully ascertain.