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Hi šŸ‘‹ My name is Alex and I'm A Developer

šŸ§ Currently focusing on Typescript and AWS.
I have already had a deep interest in computing, with age this interest has evolved into a genuine passion. Building software/stuff that solves a genuine problem is the main criteria for any project I undertake.
I would describe myself as keen, open to ideas and hungry for knowledge; When Iā€™m not at work trying to build/fix something you will probably find me reading up on how to build better software; That or developing upon personal projects.
I have been very lucky with all of my positions to date; I have been exposed to every level of application development & delivery. I feel this has given me what I would consider to be an advantage over most. Luckily I realised early on in my carer that programming is only one segment of a projectā€™s pipeline, Good communication and co-ordination can elevate a good project into greatness.

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Experience

Photobox

Senior Engineering Manager (Core platform)

022022 - Present

  • Lead the research and adoption of the our new SAAS ecom provider (Commercetools)
  • Worked with product and senior leadership to define long term platform goals in coordination with other objectives
  • Spearheaded initiatives to bring more effective monitoring (Dynatrace)
  • Implemented cross team hackathons
  • Pushed for full adoption of Serverless technologies (AWS Lamdba)
  • Worked with other senior leadership to define team structures and ways or working
  • Javascript, Typescript

Photobox

Engineering Manager

042019 - 022022

When I joined Photobox I was tasked with leading a team dedicated to customer feature development and experiment rollouts, However I quickly transitioned the team into a core platform team after identifying a number of more critical issues with the platform that would provide more value to both end customers and all other teams woking on the platform.
  • Lead the migration of the companies new React based web app
  • Regular 1-2-1 session with team members
  • Javascript, Typescript
  • Worked with product to plan quarterly and yearly OKR's
  • Worked with junior engineers to define paths of progression and yearly goals
  • Defined and implemented new integration of core orchestration service (Graphql) to new Typescript service
  • Owned migration of the new company wide orchestration service (Graphql) across all clients (web and app)
  • Assisted with the adoption of RFC's for new feature rollouts
  • Pushed for full adoption of Serverless technologies (AWS Lamdba)
  • Pushed for full adoption of Typescript across all backend applications
  • Worked with all Javascript tech teams to adopt common design patterns and ways of working
  • Implemented efficient working practises with non technical teams (trading, marketing) leading to scalable processes
  • Created company wide developer guild to effectively collate know issues and work towards better cross team collaboration
  • Implemented cross team secondments to better share knowledge

Kingfisher Digital

Lead developer / Full Stack Developer

082017 - 042019

Over my two year tenure I was 1 of 5 lead developerā€™s within Kingfisher Digitalā€™s digital Hub, managing up to 50 developerā€™s across a shared hierarchy.
The projects were varied; my primary focus was expanding the React/Typescript & Express/Typescript oriented stackā€™s we had deployed across our various front and backend estates. The most interesting project was when my team was tasked with implementing Augmented reality using ARKIT within the core B&Q IOS app.
I was also been involved in all levels of conversation across the digital platform; Solution design, Systems architecture, Staffing, Tooling, Vendor sign offs & System operationā€™s.
  • Implemented AR enable products within the IOS application
  • Created internal model management system for aforementioned AR enabled products
  • Spearheaded adoption of new React front end from Angular 2
  • Created a number of Typescript API's and React apps.
  • Worked alongside external 3rd parties (Accenture, Equal experts) to ensure consistency across teams.
  • Javascript, Typescript, Swift

SecureData Europe

Full Stack Software Engineer

062013 - 082017

This was a broad role, Initially the team was small with only three members; but over the course of 4 years it expanded to seven developers. My team was focused on software to secure customerā€™s estates along side internal system. Unofficially I undertook a hybrid development & Devops role.
For the first year in the role I was the lead for our entire technology stack and allocation of team projects before a dedicated development manage was brought it to assist with the teamā€™s continued expansion

Gaming Media Group

Web developer

112012 - 062013

During my tenure at Gaming media group I was tasked with integrating with their third party platform provider. This was mainly a frontend role but I was also tasked with building and maintaining a number of PHP services and also implemented a custom podcast CMS which was used to create feeds that could be consumed by various 3rd party podcast platforms.