Experience

BridgeU

August 2021 to Present

Market: Education
Role: Technical Lead
Skills: Ruby, Ruby on Rails, Postgres, AWS, Terraform, Docker, GraphQL, React.js, Next.js

Delivered a major infrastructure migration to deploy a legacy application into mainland China. Led a devops team managing CI/CD pipelines for a team of ~20. Used Terraform to create IaC driven platform in AWS CN.
Worked with Head of Engineering to setup lead/cycle time metrics and worked with Engineering Management to deliver ~30-40% efficiency improvements in the department
Lead a project to develop a mobile application using PWA / React.js / Next.js technology and rapidly prototype working software targeted at students.

Patchwork

April 2021 to October 2021

Market: Health
Role: Technical Lead
Skills: Ruby, Ruby on Rails MySQL, AWS Lambda, GraphQL

Lead the backend delivery for a mission critical MVP, hitting a crucial deadline.
Grew the team with an additional five contractors and three permanent staff in five months. Developed the hiring process and devised an appropriate technical test.
Created and lead a delivery team to implement safety checks, a high-risk and safety-critical system. Developed using Ruby on AWS Lambda and RDS. Worked with a charity that provide performing musicians to entertain care home guests to continue their important work throughout the COVID-19 lockdown. I developed a progressive web app using GatsbyJS to create a video player that provides offline playback, thus allowing care home managers to roam without connectivity and provide entertainment and respite to residents.

Pando

January 2021 to April 2021

Market: Health
Role: TypeScript Developer
Skills: TypeScript, TDD, Databases

TypeScript API Developer for the Juno B2C messaging product. Developed the backed support for midwifery consulations .
Helped deliver the mission critical MVP as part of the company's efforts to secure Series A funding

FutureGov

December 2020 to January 2021

Market: Public Sector
Role: Ruby on Rails Contractor
Skills: Ruby, Ruby on Rails, CSS

Helped work on the Camden Councils COVID-19 Rails application, including to introduce a front-end style guide library and fix critical bugs.
Created a Rails engine to provide front-end assets as part of an effort to consolidate their frontend user-experience

Smiling Sessions

August 2020 to December 2020

Market: Social Care / Music
Role: Technical Lead
Skills: React.js (Gatsby), DevOps,

Worked with a charity that provide performing musicians to entertain care home guests to continue their important work throughout the COVID-19 lockdown. I developed a progressive web app using GatsbyJS to create a video player that provides offline playback, thus allowing care home managers to roam without connectivity and provide entertainment and respite to residents.
The App uses third party integrations with Cloudinary and Stripe.js for streaming and payment.
I developed a product strategy for the charity to sell pre-made equipment bundles, ready for care home to use, driving donations.
The app was featured on ITV, and various press outlets, with several celebrity performances.

Checkatrade

August 2019 to July 2020

Market: Trades Marketplace
Role: Senior Software Engineer
Skills: TypeScript, Go, Kubernetes, Amazon Web Services, Ruby

Working with the group of Senior Engineers at LevelUp, I delivered the new consumer platform built on Kubernetes, Mircoservices, React.js, Kafka and AWS within a three-month timeframe.
Created workflows for contract changes between microservices using Pact, and incorporated into our CI/CD. This provided the only effective end-to-end testing in our service mesh. Created documentation and support material for other developers and advocated its adoption.
Delivered a microservice written in Go, that provides geocoding and geolocation features. Used by the organisation's IVR and Search systems.
Created services that interface with a Kafka event bus and helped design the messages for account creation.
Created a microservice that is responsible for all core Search functionality on the platform, built on top of ElasticSearch.
Created a microservice that pulls analytics data used as part of the Search algorithm, using DynamoDB and Ruby. This saved the business insights team considerable time and effort in uploading flat files and importing them, whilst delivering real-time data for Search.

Mind

May 2019 to August 2019

Market: HealthTech
Role: Lead Developer
Skills: Ruby on Rails, WebSockets, Agile

Working with the team at Kyan, I was Team lead for a client-facing project using React.js, Ruby on Rails and Web Sockets to create a social networking experience for a major charity. Strong emphasis on privacy and user safety features.
Liaised with clients and management on project management and deadlines.
Provided mentoring for colleagues in full-stack development and agile best practices.

Messly

November 2018 to March 2019

Market: HealthTech
Role: Interim CTO
Skills: Node.js, Amazon Web Services, Docker, Recruitment

I managed a tech team on an interim basis while the business sought a full-time CTO. I was responsible for agile product management and delivery, AWS infrastructure and dev-ops, whilst working closely with the developers to ship new features.
I worked on a bespoke JavaScript stack, serving a React / Redux based UI from a Node.js API in front of a Postgres database.
I advised the founders on technical direction and estimates on new products. I introduced an agile culture of working with stories and sprints.
I recruited a lead developer and devised a technical assessment and interview process.

Coca Cola European Partners

July 2018 to August 2020

Market: Corporate
Role: Senior Devops Engineer
Skills: Ruby, MySQL, Linux, GDPR

I was responsible for handing over the support and maintenance of the Webby award winning project, having been on its original development team eight years before.
I helped advise on GDPR compliance, security, SSL certificate renewal and server admin for the project.
I managed the transition from the legacy to the new system, including DNS management.

Vega Protocol

January 2018 to June 2018

Market: FinTech, Cryptocurrency
Role: Founding member, distributed systems engineer
Skills: Go, Solidity, Swagger, gRPC

I was a founding team member of Vega Protocol, a decentralised financial products platform that uses blockchain technology to facilitate trades of derivates of crypto assets. I helped build out their proof of concept and early research and development on smart contracts.
I worked on the collateral holding smart contracts written in Solidity, and worked on the API backend using Go, Protobuf and Swagger to build and document a gRPC / REST interface.
I gave a talk at Takeoff Conference promoting the platform covering the application of software design patterns to Solidity smart contract code.

We Got Coders

June 2013 to January 2018

Market: Consultancy, Bootcamp
Role: Founder
Skills: Ruby on Rails, HTML 5, CSS/SASS, JQuery, SQL, RSpec, Cucumber, React.JS

I founded my own training and recruitment company called We Got Coders, specialising in the training of junior developers. I manage the entire business operations: I designed the marketing strategy for the business, run operations on a day-to-day basis, teach web development and devised the course curriculum.
I grew the training business from nothing to a company generating over £500,000 a year, in addition to running a consulting and recruitment business. I sought no investment and grew entirely from sales and repeat business.
I directly employed over 25 junior web developers and gave them their first opportunity in web development. I successfully placed them into permanent positions with our client base, following a twelve week course covering full-stack development that I deliver in house.
I have been responsible for and managed a hotel business, providing bed and breakfast accommodation at two Grade II listed properties, being responsible for rent negotiation and contracts, fire safety, advertising and promotion, stores and managing housekeeping staff.
I developed an online e-learning platform in Rails / MongoDB aimed at part-time coders, teaching web development on weekends.
I developed a sales function for the company, creating a customer relationships database in Rails and using in-house junior developers to build it.
I ran a sequence of free workshops aimed at women learning to code to promote equality in the workplace, leading to a number of leads who have gone on to take our course and pursue a career in web development.
Working remotely in a pair with my trainee recruits, I developed several projects with clients including:
- The ward management software for the Renal department at King's Hospital London
- The content management software for Coca Cola Enterprise Partners
- The point of sale system at Hostelling International
- The interactive documentation software at HandsHQ
- A proof of concept sports gaming system at Iconic Worldwide Events
- An MVP for athletes to manage their diet ahead of competitive events at Make Weight
- A security management platform for corporates at Cortex Insight
- A content management system for Carillion
- A lecture hall planning app for the University of Hertfordshire

General Assembly

March 2013 to June 2013

Market: Education
Role: Lead Instructor, Web Development Immersive
Skills: Teaching, Leadership, Patience(!), Ruby on Rails, HTML 5, CSS/SASS, jQuery, Backbone.js, RSpec, Cucumber

I taught an intensive 3-month program covering the essentials of web development, to a group of 17 adult learners in New York.
The course covered a range of topics, covering Ruby on Rails, Front-end frameworks, Javascript, HTML/CSS, Testing and TDD, Agile Software Development, Databases and Computer Science.
I devised most of the classroom exercises and materials from scratch, drawn from my experience in the sector, aimed at giving students the knowledge required of Junior Web Developers.

SupaDupa

November 2012 to March 2013

Market: E-commerce
Role: Senior Ruby on Rails Developer
Skills: Ruby on Rails, HTML 5, CSS/SASS, jQuery, Photoshop, SQL, RSpec, Cucumber

I built the new shipping module for SupaDupa.me, an e-commerce platform.
Working on an agile basis, I created a complex multi-channel shipping system that integrates with the existing checkout mechanism.
I implemented a Barclays ePDQ integration with Active Merchant, enabling the platform to accept credit card payments for the first time, increasing sales for the business.

Fortune Message App

June 2012 to July 2012

Market: Music Promotions
Role: Ruby on Rails Developer
Skills: Ruby on Rails, Facebook Integration, Javascript, CSS

I worked alongside the New Black digital music agency on the promotions campaign for a major album release.
I devised an application that allows Facebook users to encode and decode messages to their friends in the campaign's typeface, using Ruby on Rails.
The Facebook app is fully integrated, including a 'Like' gate.

Pencil In

June 2012 to December 2012

Market: Learning & Services Marketplace
Role: Project Manager & Lead Developer
Skills: Ruby on Rails, PayPal integration, HTML / CSS, Cucumber

I recruited and led a team of freelance Ruby developers to create a services marketplace for education courses.
I was responsible for the entire project, from creating user stories, testing and overseeing the development and liaising with the client.
The site features an advanced integration with PayPal, multi-user registration with Devise and full-text search.

Logspaces

May 2012 to August 2012

Market: Volunteering
Role: Ruby on Rails Developer
Skills: Ruby on Rails, Devise, Cucumber, RSpec, HTML 5, CSS

I was approached by Logspaces, a community of student volunteers based in Oxford, UK, to create a website to support their activities and to enhance communication.
I liaised with the organisation to scope the project, create the specification, and followed an agile approach using user stories to rapidly deliver features built in Rails 3.
I hosted the application during development to allow the client to see changes during the build as they were developed.

Hilton Hotels

March 2012 to April 2012

Market: Hotels
Role: Backend Developer
Skills: Ruby, Sinatra, Padrino, RSpec, Capistrano

Working for the Forward 3D digital agency, I created a gateway using Sinatra, that adds a layer of functionality onto the reservations and bookings system for a global hotels group, editing XML SOAP requests. The system handles all incoming traffic for the client's entire business.
I created a URL generation system, using Padrino, AJAX and JQuery, that allows administrators to generate URLs for a new search system.

Peter Baikie

January 2012 to February 2012

Market: Therapy & Counselling
Role: Wordpress Developer, Hosting
Skills: Wordpress, HTML, CSS, Linux, Apache

I was approached by Peter Baikie to create a website to help promote his therapy and counselling activities. I delivered a customised Wordpress solution that allows Peter to update his website with minimal effort and to keep it up-to-date with his articles on therapy.
I created a custom Wordpress theme that included a number of plugins and currently host the project on my dedicated hardware in the UK.

Kahala Aviation

November 2011 to December 2011

Market: Aviation
Role: Web Developer, Web Design, Hosting
Skills: HTML, CSS, Photoshop, Linux, Apache

I designed and built a static HTML website, to act as the brochure for a new aviation leasing company. I liaised with the company's directors to rapidly turnaround a site that is cross-browser compatible.
I provided a full hosting and e-mail solution for the company's employees using my dedicated hardware in the UK.

Libertrip

October 2011 to April 2012

Market: Travel
Role: Backend Developer
Skills: Ruby on Rails, HTML5, CSS3, JS, Backbone, EventMachine, Sinatra

I worked for six months on rails development for Libertrip, a new web start-up that specialises in travel based in Lille, France. I delivered new features, enhanced data retrieval and built an API, upon which the operations of the company is based.
I introduced a system of agile development using user stories and I created a test suite. Using cutting-edge asynchronous technology, I created a system written in Ruby and Sinatra, that used EventMachine to greatly enhance the speed of data delivery and enhances the user experience of Libertrip.
I took an existing Rails codebase and upgraded the underlying classes to Ruby 1.9.
I spoke business level French with the team whilst discussing strategy and architecture.

Phatnights

March 2011 to June 2011

Market: Music Promotions
Role: Developer, Consultancy, Hosting
Skills: Ruby on Rails, Cucumber, MySQL, Apache, Linux

I was approached by Phatnights to take over the management and development from a failing web agency project and to take it forward.
I assumed control of a large Ruby on Rails codebase, which had zero test coverage and add new features based on the client's pressing requirements.
Working to a tight deadline and budget, I developed the software to fix critical issues and provide the basis for on-going development.
I hosted the website from my own dedicated hardware in the UK.

Most Rated

January 2011 to January 2012

Market: Music
Role: Director, Developer
Skills: Ruby on Rails, HTML5, CSS3, JS, MongoDB, EventMachine, Sinatra, Streaming

I directed a new music technology start-up company, which developed a music discovery service called Most Rated. The site had a sophisticated mechanism to automatically select tracks from the pool of artist's submissions, and collates the content into a continuous stream, like a radio station.
I developed a web application comprising of Ruby on Rails, HTML5, MongoDB, EventMachine and RESTFul API integration (Facebook, Mixlr).
I devised a business plan for the project, a marketing strategy and fund-raised. I worked with local venues, artist managers and creative suppliers to source the locations, the artists, creative and video for the project.
I organised, curated and compered live events: taking money on the doors, paying artists, organising equipment and venue liaison.

Touch Local

August 2010 to September 2010

Market: Business Directory
Role: Frontend Developer
Skills: Ruby on Rails, HTML, CSS, Photoshop

I assumed the role of freelance front-end developer in the recent redesign of the TouchLocal business directory website.
I was responsible for the HTML, CSS, cross-browser support and accessibility of the new templates.
I also worked on the wefinda.co.uk project, which used HAML for its template mechanism. I was responsible for updating copy, altering forms and improving user journeys.

Westfield London

June 2010 to July 2010

Market: Retail Property Leasing
Role: Ruby on Rails Developer
Skills: Ruby on Rails, HTML, CSS, XML, RSpec

Following my successful time with Delete, I was tasked with implementing a feature to integrate affiliate data into the Westfield London website.
The project involved interacting with the sizeable Westfield codebase and liaising with their twenty-strong development team in Australia, to integrate XML data into Rails views.
I worked on-site at Westfield's Holborn offices, and earned a recommendation from Sarah Lukins, the head of UK Digital Marketing.

Oxford University Press

January 2010 to March 2010

Market: Education
Role: Ruby on Rails Developer
Skills: Ruby on Rails, HTML, CSS, JS, Selenium, MySQL, Linux

Following the success of the previous work I had done on the Hubbub launch, I was tasked by Head London to work on a classroom presentation tool (CPT) for interactive whiteboards commissioned by Oxford University Press.
I instigated an agile development process using user-stories, a points system and burn-down charts, which is now in use for all new Head London projects.
Amongst a team of four developers, I developed a XUL-supported HTML/CSS application that is dynamically generated from a RoR content management system.
The project was comprehensive in the technology used, from MVC Javascript, to CD-ROM ISO generation on the Linux platform. Throughout a test-driven approach was used based on Cucumber, Selenium and Shoulda with 100% coverage and 2:1 test to code ratio.
I was approached eight years on from the original development to provide support and maintenance for the University's iTools system I helped develop, and help manage the transition to a new system.

Hubbub

August 2009 to December 2009

Market: Food, Retail
Role: Ruby on Rails Developer
Skills: Ruby on Rails, HTML, CSS, JS, Cucumber, Selenium, MySQL, Linux

I joined the Hubbub project after the requirements phase had been completed and development had begun, and saw it through until launch.
Amongst a team of 3-4 developers, I developed using a test-driven approach using Cucumber, Selenium, Shoulda unit tests and RCov.
I debugged and verified the payment gateway integration with the SecureTrading network.
The on-line retail platform won a BIMA award in the Consumer Services and Goods category, and an honouree Webee award.

Westfield Stratford City

May 2009 to July 2009

Market: Retail Property Leasing
Role: Ruby on Rails Developer
Skills: Ruby on Rails, XML, RSpec, Teamsite

I worked on a large Ruby on Rails project for the Westfield group via the Delete web agency, developing front-end features on a large legacy codebase.
I worked with the Teamsite CMS system, integrating XML data into Rails views.
I developed a moderated comments system and associated administrative screens, using AJAX.
I developed using a test-driven approach using RSpec.

Titan Entertainment Group

April 2005 to September 2008

Market: Retail & Publishing
Role: Lead Web Developer
Skills: Java, Tapestry, Spring, Ruby on Rails, XML, HTML, CSS, Linux

I created the forbiddenplanet.com on-line megastore, an e-commerce website that promotes over 14,000 product lines from graphic novels to über-cool art toys. The website takes hundreds of orders a week and is visited by over 50,000 people each month.
I am accustomed to relaying technical concepts in plain English; I held meetings with the senior directors to establish the requirements and embodied them into formal use case documents.
I implemented a sophisticated Java web application that runs on a fault-tolerant Tomcat cluster. The website is a Java / Tapestry / Hibernate / Spring application. I also used HTML, CSS and XML.
I created the titanmagazines.com subscriptions website using Java / Tapestry / Hibernate / Spring. The site handles 70-80% of the business' subscription orders. The site uses a mySQL database to store a publication schedule, which is interrogated by the front-end to determine which magazines are to be displayed in the user's locale. I developed a content management system that allows non-expert users to administer content, based on XML / XSLT.
I know how to work under pressure and to challenging deadlines. I created the dwscifi.com news website using Ruby on Rails in under two weeks, yet the site now hosts several hundred articles and allows the editors to manage the content themselves.
I was responsible for all of Titan's webservers and websites, which are hosted in-house on hardware that I procured and configured.
I introduced several concepts and technology to the business, in particular I introduced an agile / XP methodology which is now adopted for all web development within the organisation. I developed a project planning tool in Ruby on Rails, which tracks the requirements for projects on an intranet website.
I was responsible for the creation and maintenance of Titan's web development environment. I installed and maintained a subversion repository and cruise control, Apache and Tomcat servers.

Nationwide

August 2004 to April 2005

Market: Financial
Role: Web Developer
Skills: Visual Basic, HTML

Working as a consultant for Gamcom, I worked as a developer on the society's mortgage point-of-sale system (MPOS). MPOS uses proprietary in-house software technology based upon a a vast and complex systems architecture. I was swift to learn and adapt to this new environment, including learning a new language called Process Author. Within a month of joining, I was deemed capable of taking responsibility for writing new software modules.
I have gained invaluable experience unique to working in a large software project; MPOS has around fifty developers. I am adjusted to handling the necessary communication and cooperation required for such a team to function. I am aware of the critical human factors that influence the outcome of large software projects.

Mathias and Sons

February 2003 to February 2004

Market: Textiles
Role: Web Developer
Skills: Visual Basic, ASP, HTML, CSS

Through analysis of existing workplace systems, I identified a requirement for a new Internet based ordering system, called MUMS (Mathias Uniform Management System), which is still used today. I outlined the various solutions to the management via a written report and a presentation. I eliminated the man-hours spent processing orders, saving £15,000 a year.
The project was entered for the regional Shell Technology and Enterprise (STEP) award, and I won a local and regional heat. Based upon my performance in both the project, demonstration and my presentation, I was named “the most enterprising student in the South West of England 2003”.
I conceived, designed and implemented an Internet-based ordering system that interfaced with existing Sage Line 50 accounting software using Active Server Pages (ASP), Visual Basic, HTML, SQL and Access databases.