Full-Stack & Backend Development

I specialise in backend-first, full-stack development, with over 20 years of PHP experience and 10+ years of Laravel expertise. I build and maintain production-grade, enterprise-level systems that are reliable, scalable, and well-documented. While my focus is backend engineering, I deliver best-practice code across the full stack - from APIs and databases through to interactive Vue front-ends.

Core skills:

• PHP & Laravel - 20+ years of PHP, 10+ years with Laravel; architecting modular systems and APIs, leading migrations, and guiding long-term platform evolution.
• Vue.js, JavaScript, TypeScript - delivering modern, interactive front-ends integrated with Laravel backends.
• API Design - designing and standardising APIs (REST, JSON:API, GraphQL); ensuring they are secure, versioned, and well-documented.
• Database Architecture & Optimisation - schema design, data modelling, performance tuning, and scaling high-volume MySQL 8 / PostgreSQL / SQL Server systems.
• Testing & Quality - establishing robust test suites (PHPUnit, Pest) and shaping TDD/BDD workflows across teams.
• Accessibility & Standards - delivering WAI/WCAG 2.x AA/AAA-compliant systems and embedding best practices from the ground up.

Infrastructure & DevOps

I design and maintain infrastructure that scales, applying Infrastructure as Code, automation, and modern DevOps practices. Alongside Terraform and CI/CD pipelines, I bring hands-on experience with servers and services - meaning I understand the environment beneath Docker and Vagrant, not just how to spin them up.

Core skills:

• Infrastructure as Code - Terraform modules for Azure and AWS; modular, reusable provisioning.
• Cloud Platforms - Azure, AWS; VM setup, networking, load balancing, storage.
• Containers & Virtualisation - Docker and Vagrant; environment standardisation with a deeper focus on underlying system config.
• CI/CD Pipelines - GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Azure Pipelines; automated testing, build, and deployment flows.
• Server & OS Administration - Linux (preferred) and Windows Server; Apache, NGINX.
• Database Operations - scaling, replication, and recovery planning.

Embedded Systems & Hardware

Alongside my software work, I've increasingly specialised in embedded systems, custom electronics and interactive event technology. By combining application software with microcontrollers, hardware integration and low-level programming, I'm able to design complete technical systems that bridge the digital and physical worlds.

Core skills:

• Embedded Systems - Raspberry Pi, Raspberry Pi Pico, MicroPython, firmware development and GPIO programming
• Real-Time Communications - socket-based communication, JSON protocols, hardware abstraction and reliable integration between applications and embedded controllers.
• Hardware Integration - designing, building and deploying complete hardware solutions, from wiring and power distribution through to embedded control systems and commercial event installations.
• Systems Engineering - combining software, embedded firmware, networking and hardware into cohesive, maintainable engineering solutions.
• Diagnostics & Deployment - on-site commissioning, fault finding and pragmatic debugging of complex integrated systems under demanding commercial deadlines
• Electronics & PCB Design - practical electronics, circuit design and bespoke PCB development for scalable commercial deployments.

Professional Leadership & Delivery

I’ve led development across a spectrum of responsibility, from embedded "buddy leadership" within small teams to full CTO-level ownership of technical strategy, architecture, and delivery governance.

My focus is always on combining hands-on coding with clear technical direction: stabilising critical projects, modernising legacy platforms, aligning engineering with business objectives, and ensuring delivery remains consistent without compromising long-term scalability.

Core skills:

• Technical Leadership - leading development teams of varying sizes; setting coding standards, reviewing codebases, guiding architectural decisions, and defining technical direction at platform level.
• Modernisation - evolving legacy systems into clean, testable architectures, introducing modern patterns and practices (e.g. DTOs, service layers, request classes) while ensuring live operations remain stable.
• Agile Delivery - experienced with Scrum, Kanban, and hybrid workflows; pragmatic about process while keeping projects moving.
• Stakeholder Communication - translating technical risks and decisions into business terms; supporting roadmapping, prioritisation, and securing management buy-in for technical improvements.
• Documentation & Knowledge Transfer - writing clear, maintainable docs at all levels; ensuring effective handovers and long-term sustainability.
• Mentoring & Coaching - upskilling developers in modern practices, tools, and workflows through code reviews, peer learning, and coaching.

AI & Automation

AI is most valuable when it solves real business problems rather than simply demonstrating new technology. My approach combines modern language models with automation, structured data and existing business systems to build reliable, auditable solutions that save people time and improve decision making.

Core skills:

• Agentic AI Solutions - utilising LLMs (Azure OpenAI, OpenAI API) to create autonomous workflows by chaining tasks and decisions.
• Workflow Automation - document parsing, email triage, claims processing, and content classification.
• System Integration - embedding AI into Laravel backends, APIs, and microservices; orchestrating processes across services.
• Data Preparation & Exposure - designing clean, structured datasets and knowledge bases that allow AIs to retrieve accurate, contextual, and high-quality information.
• Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) Pipelines - building workflows that retrieve operational data in real time and feed it into AI prompts, ensuring responses are grounded, accurate, and auditable.
• Privacy & Compliance - GDPR-safe pipelines with automated redaction and audit logging.