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my resume

Based in Liverpool (UK), I'm 39 years old and have 20 years IT experience spanning a multitude of technologies from mainframe based to topical internet solutions. I also have 5 years IT management experience at the Computer Sciences Corporation. I would describe myself as an open source IT professional and my preferred development environment is Ubuntu. I’m experienced in Agile amongst many other structured methodologies, comfortable in a client-facing environment and have excellent communication skills. I’m flexible, hard-working and willing to travel.

latest project

A Ruby on Rails 2.* application following both REST and DRY principles and exploiting HAML HTML with inline ruby code Ajax functionality and Lowpro and jQuery javascript libraries. It is a small business template and a development exercise in unobtrusive javascript and degradable code.

recent work history

The following list is far from exhaustive, it doesn't include smaller adhoc projects but does provide a topical insight on my skills and breadth of experience.

Trigger Media

Hired to build a CakePHP for a 3rd party client that included a full content managemet system uploads and user administration exploiting the Prototype javascript library.

Mousetrap Media

Hired remotely to build a postcode driven geo-coded google map for www.journalism.co.uk listing all freelance journalists in their MySQL backend database.

Kwiqq Social Website Builder (June 08 – July 08)

Hired on a short term contract, work remotely building a new Symfony domain for a 3rd party American retail client. It includes a full back-end administration panel and exploits IP geo-coding functionality.

Joshua G2 (Apr 08 – June 08)

Hired on a 4-week contract and working as part of a 2-man development team helping to complete a bespoke application for 3rd party client General Electric the application is designed to motivate their sale-force with target driven prizes. Written in Symfony , primary duties included the implementation of an SVN revision control solution setting up their Debian development server and coding in MySQL Javascript and PHP.

Analox Engineering (Feb 08 – Apr 08)

Hired on a 6-week contract working remotely making modifications to their existing shopping cart solution, a PHP/4 solution on a Free BSD 3rd party co-located server server. My responsibilities were limited to making functional changes and fixing known bugs with the application. I reported to their IT Manager on a daily basis using Skype and kept the client informed on progress using a web-based issue tracking solution.

Shooting People Films (Nov 07 – Feb 08)

Hired on a 3-month contract working from home for Shooting People Films Limited initially helping to complete AdvanceWarning.org I was quickly moved across to a second project working as part of a two-man team creating a new community sub-domain for 3rd party client www.BritFilms.com Developed using the Symfony PHP-5 framework with a MySQL backend database SVN revision control and a loose Agile methodology. It includes single-thread forums, find-a-friend, user groups and photo gallery functionality.

www.UpMyStreet.com (Nov 06 – Nov 07)

Hired initially on a 6-week contract developing a new content management system using the www.CakePHP.org PHP/4 framework and a MySQL back-end with CVS revision control and a maturing Agile SCRUM methodology for existing website www.UpMyStreet.com The CMS produced serialized files that were integrated into their existing bespoke framework. After successful completion the contract was further extended twice so I could support business as usual tasks using both PHP/4 and PHP/5 solutions, CVS and Darcs revision control whilst becoming loosely involved in a in-house Django project. Time spent with UpMyStreet eventually totalled 12-months on-site.

JPS Accountants (July 06 – Sep06)

Creation of a secure sub-domain to their existing website. I installed and built a red hat server on site then designed and developed a secure PHP/4, MySQL solution allowing users to view their tax details on line. A built-in CMS also enabled office staff to continuously update topical information.

LIVERPOOL TELECOMMUNICATIONS (Nov 05 – June 06)

Working as part of a 3-man team, I had senior hands-on engineering responsibility for the migration of bespoke PHP/3 MySQL , SMS and IVR software from a dedicated Telecommunications data warehouse located in Southport to www.Dedipower.com co-located servers. I designed and implemented modifications to the existing solution to accommodate the many environmental changes for example moving from direct network operator connections (Orange, Vodafone, t-Mobile …) to the XML feed of 3rd party SMS aggregator www.mBlox.com The project encompassed many months of planning and culminated in a successful over-night big-bang switch-over. Brand names included but were not limited too the nationally advertised Mystic Meg not to mentioned many smaller online domains.

Townsend Records (Aug 05 – Oct 05)

Short-term contract working alone, on-site designing and applying various modifications and correcting known bugs in their PHP/4 MySQL bespoke shopping cart solution written by a 3rd party supplier that had since gone into liquidation.

Palace Marketing Limited (Apr 2004 – Aug 2005)

Small mobile technology firm based in Liverpool docks, I was hired to maintain the back-end catalogue of ringtone website Web2Txt.co.uk A PHP/4 solution with a MySQL back-end database. It is where I first gained exposure and experience of SMS mobile technologies.

John Moores University (Sept 2004 – Feb 2005)

Working on short-term contract as an installation and maintenance engineer of XP and NT networked PCs across numerous JMU buildings around Liverpool city centre. After being renewed twice I left at the natural end of the contract.

www.CSC.com (Jan 1999 – Jan 2004)

After 9-months I joined on a permanent basis and moved to Birmingham where I worked as part of a large team responsible for the ongoing support of several systems for end-clients Lucas Aerospace.

I quickly progressed through the roles of Team Leader, Project Leader and eventually Unit Manager gaining experience and exposure to IFS and SAP. After a further move to Chorley, Lancashire I was involved on many blue chip projects such as Euro Fighter and Joint Strike Fighter plus further data migration exercises, ERP deployments and Intranet developments. Deployed and supported technologies ranged considerably.

I was responsible for the project planning and resource management of several teams within a centralised CSC ‘Centre of Excellence’. Exploiting economies of scale by allowing teams to support many projects and clients whilst adhering and exploiting known best practice.

I’m fully versed in all aspects of a project management plan such as budgetary requirements, management reporting, risks issues and performance monitoring.