Principal Engineer · Hands-on Engineering Leader · Ruby on Rails
I design, build and modernise long-lived software systems across healthcare, recruitment, workforce management and small-business platforms.
My work spans application architecture, hands-on Rails development, mobile applications, platform engineering, deployment, operational tooling and day-to-day technical leadership.
- More than 20 years in software delivery
- Building with Ruby on Rails since 2012
- Led and mentored development teams of up to nine engineers
- Experienced across contingent-workforce SaaS, mobile applications and NHS delivery
- Based in Whitstable, Kent, UK
I enjoy understanding how organisations operate, identifying friction in day-to-day workflows and building practical software that removes it.
That often means working across established boundaries: shaping architecture, researching new approaches, creating proofs of concept, translating stakeholder requirements, improving delivery processes and remaining hands-on through implementation and deployment.
My strongest areas include:
- Ruby on Rails architecture and long-term platform modernisation
- Engineering leadership, mentoring, code review and delivery planning
- Workflow automation and business-process software
- Hotwire and Hotwire Native applications
- iOS and Android development with Swift and Kotlin
- PostgreSQL, Redis, REST APIs and third-party integrations
- Docker, Kamal, GitHub Actions, Linux and CI/CD
- Monitoring, release visibility and operational tooling
A multi-tenant Rails 8 platform for structured learning, practice tracking and student engagement.
It began as an adaptive Grade 5 Music Theory revision tool and has evolved into a broader platform for teachers, students, guardians and organisations, supporting lesson notes, practice tasks, progress tracking, repertoire, quizzes, points, streaks and rewards.
Ruby Rails 8 PostgreSQL Hotwire Turbo Stimulus PWA Docker Kamal
A Rails platform for infrastructure monitoring, deployment coordination and release visibility across application and infrastructure environments.
It brings together application health, environments, undeployed changes, deployment requests, changelog generation and incident awareness, with integrations including GitHub, Jira, Honeybadger and Slack.
Ruby Rails 8 PostgreSQL Redis Hotwire Docker Kamal API integrations
A mature business-operations platform supporting the customer journey for a bridal hair and makeup business.
The system covers enquiries, inbound email, quotations, bookings, communication, scheduling, invoicing and payment tracking, replacing fragmented email threads, spreadsheets and manual reminders with a single workflow.
Ruby Rails 8 PostgreSQL Mailgun Action Mailbox Hotwire Docker Kamal
A location-aware mapping platform for ski resorts and remote environments, where terrain, lifts, pistes and accessible routes matter more than simple distance.
Originally released as a native iOS application, it later evolved into a Progressive Web App with custom map layers, route overlays and battery-conscious location tracking.
Ruby Rails 8 PostgreSQL PostGIS Leaflet MapTiler Swift PWA
I have spent much of my career working on software for healthcare recruitment and contingent-workforce management.
This has included vacancy fulfilment, workflow automation, reporting, invoicing, REST APIs, NHS deployments and mobile applications enabling bank workers to view and self-allocate shifts, manage working preferences and submit timesheets and expenses.
I originally built the iOS and Android applications using Turbolinks Native and later rebuilt them with Hotwire Native, coordinating the web-platform and app-store releases to provide a seamless transition for users.
- I take ownership of complex or under-defined problems and drive them through to production.
- I remain hands-on while providing architectural direction and clear delivery paths for other engineers.
- I favour pragmatic solutions that improve reliability, visibility and maintainability.
- I research new concepts thoroughly and use proofs of concept to reduce risk before wider adoption.
- I care about the people using the software and the engineers responsible for maintaining it.
Ruby on Rails · Hotwire · Hotwire Native · Platform Engineering · Workflow Automation · Operational Tooling · Mobile Development · Software Architecture
Most of my production applications are held in private repositories. My public GitHub contains selected experiments, supporting tools, integrations and forks used while researching or contributing to the Ruby, Rails and Hotwire ecosystems.
I am open to conversations about Principal Engineer, Staff Engineer and hands-on engineering-leadership roles.