I need to push our existing e-commerce site to the next level. The immediate focus is on two core areas—back-end functionality and the overall performance and scalability of the platform—while keeping our smooth front-end experience intact. To be clear, the back-end work breaks down into: • Database optimization • API integrations • Security enhancements These improvements must translate into faster page loads, rock-solid transaction security, and the capacity to handle future traffic spikes without sweat. You’ll work within our current tech stack (PHP/Laravel on the server side with MySQL, Stripe for payments, and a React storefront), refactoring where necessary, adding new services, and tightening every query and endpoint. Key deliverables • Refactored database schema and queries that reduce response times under real-world load • Hardened payment and user-data flows that meet PCI and GDPR standards • Clean, well-documented REST endpoints for new product-management features • Deployment scripts or Docker images that let us scale horizontally with zero downtime Acceptance criteria 1. Average API response < 200 ms under a 1,000 RPS stress test (JMeter report provided). 2. No high- or medium-severity issues in the final OWASP ZAP scan. 3. All new code covered by automated tests passing in CI. You’ll have access to a staging server, existing repo, and a dedicated Slack channel with the product team so feedback loops stay tight. Let’s make our shop faster, safer, and ready for prime time.