Test-driven development

Agile methods

Ruby on Rails

Web development and Architecture

Database Design

XML and Web services

HTML, client-side JavaScript. CSS

Oracle Database

PL/SQL

MySQL

Linux

PHP

Understanding business needs

Problem Solving and Analysis

Project Estimating and Management

Performance Management

Recruiting

Giving training and mentoring

Good Communicator

Team Leader

Qualified level 3 kayak coach

Online travel agent

Online gaming back end services

Legal claims management

Financial Services

Linear Asset Management

Pharmaceuticals

Publishing

Marketing

Health care

Telecommunications

Discrete Manufacturing

Internet Banking

Technical Pre-Sales

February 2010 - Now

Online Travel Agency Manchester

Agile XP Coach

Mentoring and working with developers from our Ruby Academy with Scrum and Agile. Using RSpec and Cucumber plus helping them understand the Rails and Active Record idioms needed to be productive. Pair programming to learn and pass on expertise.

Working closely with the business to create user stories and estimate the work.

The projects are listed below:

• Building a centralised hotel database for the online website
• Implemented data warehouse for the Deal Finder application, designed the search cache
• Designing and implementing a Deal Finder API for partners
• Working with the Finance department on enhancements to help cash flow
• Helping to implement the underlying CMS that drives the main website
• Working with the other senior developers deriving strategy and architecture
• Reviewing and creating materials on the latest techniques and Agile practices, e.g. giving a talk on YAGNI at Agile North 2011, public blog posts on peer code review checklists and Rails 3

Note We are currently changing to a more Kanban based approach, based on minimum marketable features

August 2009 - February 2010

Gala Coral Plc Woking

System review and TDD implementation

Introducing Agile way of working to the ePlatform team. Conducted initial review of the code base and generated reports and outline code review documents for use by the team and presented the results to them. Worked closely with the overall management in the setting of goals.

Designed and implemented an infrastructure to support a PHP-based Test-Driven Development methodology and trained the team in its use.

Helped with technical interviewing for new team members and contractors.

Created a continuous integration server using PHP Under Control (based on the Java-based Cruise Control) and wrote appropriate build scripts.

Worked with other teams introducing TDD concepts and also wrote some code interfacing with external web services.

Mentored team members in database coding and design issues, as well as basic class and layer architecture.

June 2007 - June 2009

Marketrix Ltd Chester

Senior Web Applications Architect

Agile, test-driven development in a challenging environment using Ruby on Rails. Wrote 3 Rails plugins that were put out as OSS for lookup codes, text searching and interacting with external bank account details lookup service to avoid duplication of effort and standardise the approach to these problems.

Technical liaison with partner companies over interfaces and documentation.

Business of automated Finance lead buying and selling. Interface with other companies in the marketplace using SOAP/XML/HTTPS/Email.

Portal style interface using AJAX and Rails libraries.

Credit card claims management for solicitors to allow them to provide a low-cost service. Designed and implemented key parts of claim life cycle process management.

Integrating with PHP sites using XML API's and maintaining older PHP software.

Jan 2007 - June 2007

Tyco Electronics North Wales

Senior Java Developer

SNMP-based system for monitoring test equipment in telephone exchanges for BT. Requirements specification and delivery of new modules in the system.

Refactoring for maintenance and bug fixing on existing J2EE code base, web-based application using struts, tiles and the Oracle database as a back-end.

Database design and implementation

Configuration Manager for the product

May 2004-Jan-2007

Exor Corporation Warrington

Systems Analyst

Web services and Java guru for the company. Creating and extending existing PL/SQL APIs into web services.

Linear asset management for Highways using the linear networking capabilities of Oracle Spatial. Responsible for the design of the next release of the software.

Produce templates for specifications. Consult on processes. Supervise liaison work with partners.

Create prototype using Oracle Application server 10g portal. Using Java J2EE portlets and PL/SQL and JDeveloper. Wrapping Oracle Map Viewer into a portlet.

Partnering with Oracle on making EAM work spatially.

Investigating using Struts with JBOSS for deployment of web-based applications.

2003-2004

Powergen Nottingham

Contract Architect and Developer

Architect, design, build and implement solution to move an entire customer data set between to call centre databases. Using Oracle queues and objects, as well as the XML parser and related software.

Using Geneva APIs to move information between Geneva instances

Oversee and derive work plan for splitting data warehouse to serve the two new databases.

2001-2003

Adis International Tattenhall, Cheshire

Senior Software Developer

Technical team-lead for a global evidence-based marketing product used by pharmaceutical companies. Designed and built the database, the major components and planned their construction. Acted as a mentor to the less experienced members of the team. Architecture based on Oracle Portal, web forms and custom Java and PL/SQL rendering.

Developed full 3 way orthogonal model of packaged web site solution (to sell content to existing customers) in UML using Rational Rose to consolidate existing use of the tool.

Acted as a consultant on the re-architecture of the product into web services and J2EE, with a Portal front-end.

Used XML message passing to get round firewall problems.

1996-2001

Oracle UK Manchester

Senior Consultant 2

Engaged as a consultant in a range of industries on a variety of projects. Final project was the technical team lead building the Adis product, from which I was head hunted. I worked mostly on long term projects from inception to conclusion. I also gave training in PL/SQL and JDeveloper when required.

Part-time role (fitted in around engagements) as a Staff team leader, looking after the career development and review of 6 other consultants. Was also involved in interviewing and recruiting for Oracle UK.

2 years technical pre-sales for Oracle Financial Services group, working in the City and major Financial Services institutions, helping them build Oracle-based solutions. Had particular responsibility for the Oracle tools, in particular JDeveloper and Designer.

3 years with the Enterprise group. Including implementing Oracle manufacturing at Leyland Trucks; Database back-end for Java-based system for Halifax estate agency; call-centre directory systems at Barclays Bank.

1992-1996

Freelance Various

Freelance Consultant

• Cincinnati Bell (CiBIS): Software configuration management for an on-line credit checking system. Wrote operator interface for the system using Oracle Forms and C.
• GEC. Long term project supporting the maintenance and enhancement of their Computer-Based Project Management System. System tracked technical drawings, bills of material through the life-cycle of building power stations. Wrote data migration tools in C, updated the bill of materials software performed ongoing changes and enhancements to large base of Oracle Forms.
• Price Waterhouse Dublin. Upgrading and writing new subsystems of the international cross-billing system used by Telecom Erin. Used C and Oracle Forms.

1989-1992

Consultant Manchester

KPMG Health Systems

• Worked in a team designing and developing the CIS/X System used by large hospitals to track their use of resources. Designed and built the data import subsystem.

1986-1989

Programmer/Analyst Liverpool

University of Liverpool

• Analyst programmer for the Computer Services. Worked on finance and student services.

Hobbies and Interests

• I am a fully-qualified Level 3 kayak coach, which means that I can teach on white water. I read a lot, particularly technical books, and listen to music. I also write short stories and play the guitar.

Education

1983 - 1986 Liverpool Polytechnic

• B Sc. (Hon) Applied Statistics and Computing