• Providing software development, technical leadership and software engineering consultancy services to a variety of clients from digital agencies to universities.

After taking a short career break to go travelling, I took a role at Thrive to further build my leadership and management experience.

This has involved:

• Guiding the frontend implementation of Thrive's learning platform using React, TypeScript, Redux and GraphQL. Ensuring code is fast, testable, scalable and high quality.
• Line managing a team of 8 frontend software engineers (4 direct and 4 indirect) including leads and seniors, guiding personal development and setting goals through 1:1s.
• Building a productive culture of openness and collaboration on the frontend team.
• Making enterprise-level frontend architectural decisions and implementing best practices.
• Working on platform health and technical debt initiatives, collaborating with backend, QA and cloud engineers on Thrive’s event-driven microservice architecture.
• Developing Thrive's frontend deployment strategy using AWS and Bitbucket pipelines.
• Building Thrive's component library using Storybook and MUI, working closely with the UX team.
• Expanding the team through interviewing and hiring permanent and contract software engineers.
• Setting up and leading Thrive's working group for conference attendance.
• Organising tech meetups.
• Consulting on the implementation of Notion across the business.
• Contributing to Thrive's experience forum, addressing employee concerns and issues through a monthly survey.

As 542 Digital took on more work and expanded into other operating areas, my responsibilities broadened and I was promoted to a Principal role. During this time I:

• Oversaw the development of 19 fintech web applications, both data-driven and creative, using TypeScript, React, Redux and Next.js. Most of these applications are restricted access, but publicly available examples include Power With Gold, invest.gold and Gold Return Attribution Model.
• Led a team of 5 engineers, supporting their personal and professional development through 1:1s and continuous feedback.
• Implemented Agile processes to both the frontend and backend teams at 542, including regular sprint planning, retrospectives and backlog planning.
• Seconded to another team within the business to implement software development processes such as code review, coding standards, commit message linting and regular process meetings.
• Worked across technical teams to produce cross-platform solutions.
• Conducted feasibility studies, business case development and project budgeting.
• Documented and reported projects across the business.
• Was instrumental in enabling the business to expand from data-driven applications to creative-driven web applications, which the frontend team now build in Next.js with TypeScript.
• Created and delivered presentations to senior stakeholders on new projects and analysis of existing parts of the business.
• Conducted interviews for other roles in the business, including Project Managers and Designers.
• Consulted the business on growth from a small agency (10 employees) to an SME (40 employees) and acted as a de-facto Director in terms of financial and business discussions.

I was hired to oversee the development and implementation of the MTa Immersion online platform.

My time as CTO involved:

• Architecting the technical solution (full-stack TypeScript using Next.js, Nest.js and MongoDB) to replace the legacy platform (Unity and Photon) based on requirements from the Managing Director.
• Overseeing the delivery of 18 web applications and APIs for the platform activities using the above technology stack for MTa Immersion.
• Hiring software engineers and designers at multiple levels to implement the platform.
• Handling the product strategy of MTa Immersion, including road-mapping, and managing task priorities and dependencies.
• Ideation and design of bespoke business simulations for large corporate clients.
• Managing projects using the Agile methodology.
• Developing a productive and open culture within the MTa Immersion team.
• Implementing processes for software development, communication and handling remote teams.
• UI/UX design in Figma using a design system of components and variables.
• Scaling the business through outsourcing and subscription targets.
• Aligning the MTa Immersion platform with MTa Learning business strategy.
• Attending expos and selling the MTa Learning products, including MTa Immersion, on the stand.

I was brought in as the first End Point Assessor on the Digital and Technology Solutions Specialist Integrated Degree Apprenticeship run by Sheffield Hallam University. Assessors must be actively working in the software industry and have a minimum of a Master’s degree in the field. The assessment is used by software companies of varying sizes to develop their employees and gear them towards management.

As part of the role, I have:

• Developed an assessment process, including assessment schemes and question frameworks, based on the Government provided standard.
• Conducted the assessments for 40 apprentices over 3 years, each involving a 2 hour discussion and grading a 10,000 word project report.
• Onboarded two additional assessors, one in Software Engineering and another in Data Analytics.
• Improved the process and tracking of the assessments year-on-year, working with the teaching team at Sheffield Hallam.
• Automated parts of the process such as document generation.

As 542 Digital grew and I transitioned to 4 days a week. I was given the opportunity to lead the frontend team.

During my time as Team Lead, I:

• Hired software engineers at different levels to build a productive and cohesive team.
• Managed a team of 5 engineers, and managed projects before 542 hired a dedicated project manager for the team.
• Overhauled the frontend tech stack from JavaScript/jQuery projects sitting within a larger Laravel application, to standalone TypeScript/React projects that can handle additional complexity.
• Oversaw the development of 8 fintech web applications, both data-driven and creative, using TypeScript, React, Redux and Next.js. Publicly available examples include 542 Digital's Website and Qaurum.
• Implemented a git submodule library for shared functionality across 542 React applications, including components with Storybook and utility functions.
• Transitioned the business to use Notion for documentation and implemented standardised documentation practices.
• Implemented a testing strategy for frontend projects, including using automated tests in Cypress.
• Implemented a code review process and coding standards.
• Configured application deployments to AWS using Docker/EKS and Amplify, Vercel and Cloudflare Pages.
• Configured reusable CI/CD pipelines in Gitlab for the frontend projects, including versioning, change logs and linting.
• Designed API schemas for integration of frontend applications with the other tech stacks used within the business, mainly Drupal and Laravel.
• Overhauled 542’s project design phases to use Figma and created design systems and UI/UX designs for frontend projects. I then handed this off when they began hiring a design team.

I initially joined 542 Digital part-time as a Senior Software Engineer.

During this time I:

• Developed 2 web applications in React, JavaScript and Highcharts. Both these tools are restricted access.
• Maintained 4 legacy applications in JavaScript and jQuery.
• Was involved in high-level discussions with internal and external stakeholders on implementation strategy for a large project.

I maintained and built websites for The Black Eye Project. This involved:

• Working on legacy Vue and WordPress web applications. Examples include and The Black Eye Project and Mudd Tiling.
• Developing Vue websites from Adobe XD designs. Examples include The Synergy Building.

I built banners for ad campaigns and maintained websites for Only The Brave. This involved:

• Working on legacy Vue web applications, including Giraffe.
• Building animated HTML banners in Figma for large-scale advertising campaigns for Lloyds Pharmacy.

My brother and I started and ran a digital marketing business in lockdown. This involved:

• Designing and developing bespoke websites.
• SEO optimisation over the lifetime of the sites.
• Client outreach and lead generation.

I built software for two research projects at Loughborough University, this involved:

• Understanding and interpreting client requirements using my understanding of research and research software.
• Developing full-stack applications using Vue.js, Vuex, Express and MongoDB (Cognitive Function Task) and Angular, RXJS and Firebase (Numeralis).
• Deploying applications to on premises servers using PM2 and Nginx.
• Designing UI/UX using Figma.
• Conducting regular meetings to handle client requirements using an Agile approach.

As part of my PhD scholarship, I lectured on Computer Science and Software Engineering modules. I was then hired on a part-time basis after completing the degree.

This involved:

• Preparing and delivering teaching content on a number of undergraduate Computer Science and Software Engineering modules, including Fundamentals of Programming (using C++) and Group Software Development (JavaScript.)
• Supervising MSc, BSc and BEng students on their final year projects.
• Student voice ‘outstanding’ member of staff 2016-17 and 2019-20.

I worked part-time as a Computing teacher at Mercia, teaching the first year group into a new school whilst they hired a full-time member of staff.

This involved:

• Preparing and delivering teaching content in line with the Computer Science curriculum.

I did my industrial placement at 3Squared, and was kept on part-time whilst finishing my degree. I was recently interviewed as a former placement student.

The position involved:

• Developing full-stack web applications in C# using ASP.NET MVC and Web Forms.
• Improving JavaScript and CSS practices.
• Working in Agile teams.
• Code reviews.
• Version control Team Foundation Server and later Git, as the company transitioned towards that.
• API design and implementation.

Thesis Title: Developing Children’s Computational Thinking Skills using Programming Games

Supervisors: Dr Jacob Habgood and Dr Tim Jay

My PhD focused on developing programming skills in primary-aged children, and my research is still regularly cited despite moving away from academia. My main output was a programming game called Pirate Plunder, that taught procedural abstraction to children aged 10 and 11. The game is available to play for free and is currently being used by the Federal Center for Technological Education of Rio de Janeiro as part of their programming curriculum.

I created several other web applications during my PhD, to test various computational thinking skills. I also taught part of the Computer Science curriculum (Scratch and Excel) to control groups.

Sandwich Course with an Industrial Placement at 3Squared Ltd.

Award Classification Mark: 86.55%