This CV details my work as a paid employee: for more information on what I've been up to since going freelance, please check out my portfolio.
PDF version (213kB)
What I can do
I get things done. I love practising effective processes for doing this, like feature-driven development (FDD), agile methodologies like Kanban and scrum, and simple day-to-day strategies like GTD. But more than that, I love it when my work starts doing some good.
I have over ten years of experience of working in software development. I have in-depth understanding of PHP, Drupal, MySQL and CSS3/HTML5, and work daily with Javascript frameworks, Apache configuration and Git.
I architect, build, optimize and launch high-profile content-managed sites, predominantly in the non-profit sector. I can interact closely with clients but I’m happy with whatever the project’s success requires. I negotiate, specify and deliver deliver consistently to deadlines and budget.
I can lead teams or just be part of them through negotiation, technical direction, architecture advice, knowledge sharing and encouragement of team discussion and internal problem solving. I contribute to and oversee project documentation, and I encourage pair programming and regular code reviews to maintain and improve the quality of work from the team.
I contribute to the open-source community. I build Drupal modules and patch bugs in others’ contributions. I've built several frameworks, underpinned by open-source tools, which teams have used to develop and deploy Drupal sites.
I organize and present the Oxford Geek Nights, a local tech event that has run for over five years. I find and invite keynote speakers for each event, and arrange sponsorship for venue and drinks. I have spoken at tech conferences, and attend events like OpenTech and barcamps. I wrote two chapters of Apress’ “Python 3 for Beginners” and have a clear technical style.
I can set up web servers with LAMP, Memcache and Varnish. I have installed Ubuntu Linux on a Macbook Pro. I get a kick from well-implemented version control and successful unit tests. My portable music player plays .ogg files. I am a pragmatic, excited, devoted geek.
Relevant experience
| Company & title | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Torchbox Ltd, Charlbury, Oxon (note about dates) | ||
| Technical lead | Aug 2009–present | Leading team by ensuring code quality and shared standards. Architecting, specifying and coding; using FDD and Kanban. |
| Senior developer | May 2008–present | Led adoption of Drupal in Torchbox using scrum; architected, built and maintained sites; discovery, specification and pitching. |
| Developer | Apr 2005–Apr 2008 | Built MVC Coldfusion framework powering multiple sites; built and augmented other sites using a proprietary CMS; sole developer on Torchbox’s first two Drupal sites. |
| Junior developer | Jan 2005–Mar 2005 | Built MLA East Midlands, combined 3-site RationalMedia project. |
| Apress, New York, NY | ||
| Freelance writer | Jan 2009–Mar 2009 | Co-authored the book "Python 3 for Absolute Beginners." |
| Extenza ePS, Abingdon, Oxon | ||
| ePublisher | Sep 2003–Dec 2004 | Built QC tools in XSL to aid by-eye XML checking; managed offshore XML extraction services and web production/publication process for several dozen journals in health and humanities fields. |
Websites I have worked on recently
Lead, co-built and launched
- Several government sites: please ask for details.
- NHS Forest (D6-to-D7 migration)
- Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
- Greenpeace UK
- The Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Advised on, worked on and/or launched
Technologies I like to use
Ask me about: Drupal, PHP, Javascript, Git, Python, Bash, Apache, Fabric, Django, CSS3, HTML5, Less CSS, MySQL, jQuery, Linux, Selenium, Subversion, Memcache, Varnish, Wordpress, XSLT, Coldfusion, PostgreSQL, SQL Server... in roughly that order.
Qualifications
Wadham College, Oxford
- Oct 1999–May 2003 DPhil (thesis in physics)
- Oct 1995–Jun 1999 MPhys (first class)
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Blackburn
- Sep 1993–Jul 1995 Five A-levels: A grade
- Sep 1991–Jul 1993 Eight GCSEs: A grade
Hobbies & personal
Cycling, music, environment, fiction reading & writing, sustainable living, local politics, current affairs.
1. All dates of internal promotions are approximate.
2. A-levels NEAB: Mathematics; Further Mathematics; Physics; Chemistry; General Studies; also OCSEB Components Maths Pure 1 & 2 (A) earlier in 1993; Physics special paper (distinction).
3. GCSEs NEA, SEG: Mathematics; Physics; Chemistry; Biology; English; French; Latin; German; also Religious Studies (B) in 1991.
