I'm John Bowden, a lead Frontend / Full-Stack Engineer and Technical Lead based in Australia. I have over 20 years delivering scalable, secure software across government, enterprise, and SaaS, with a focus on React-based ecosystems, cloud platforms, and agile delivery. I excel at building teams, modernising legacy platforms, and delivering greenfield products from concept through to commercialisation. I'm passionate about mentoring, stakeholder collaboration, and aligning technology choices with government and enterprise standards while staying user-centric.

John Bowden

I'm John Bowden, a lead Frontend / Full-Stack Engineer and Technical Lead based in Australia. I have over 20 years delivering scalable, secure software across government, enterprise, and SaaS, with a focus on React-based ecosystems, cloud platforms, and agile delivery. I excel at building teams, modernising legacy platforms, and delivering greenfield products from concept through to commercialisation. I'm passionate about mentoring, stakeholder collaboration, and aligning technology choices with government and enterprise standards while staying user-centric.

Available to hire

I’m John Bowden, a lead Frontend / Full-Stack Engineer and Technical Lead based in Australia. I have over 20 years delivering scalable, secure software across government, enterprise, and SaaS, with a focus on React-based ecosystems, cloud platforms, and agile delivery.
I excel at building teams, modernising legacy platforms, and delivering greenfield products from concept through to commercialisation. I’m passionate about mentoring, stakeholder collaboration, and aligning technology choices with government and enterprise standards while staying user-centric.

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Experience Level

Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Lead Engineer / Assistant Director at NDIA
February 1, 2022 - January 1, 2026
Technical lead for frontend and backend teams supporting Panda Live (React, SAP/HANA). Delivered enterprise dashboards and reporting platforms used by frontline government staff. Provided leadership across solution design, mentoring, stakeholder engagement, and delivery assurance. Built and supported applications for the NDIS Quality & Safeguards Commission.
Contract Software Engineer at Right-2-Repair / Encollab
December 1, 2021 - November 1, 2025
Built and supported global full-stack platforms delivering OEM technical documentation. Customers included Mitsubishi, Subaru, Honda, and Ineos. Delivered React, Node.js, and Supabase solutions with SAP and UI5 integrations.
Senior Developer / Head of Frontend at Agunity
May 1, 2020 - January 1, 2022
Led frontend development for a global agriculture and grants management platform. Delivered systems supporting $280M in Fairtrade International grants. Mentored developers, acted as Scrum Master, and supported global deployments.
Frontend Technical Lead / Consultant at Facet Consulting
December 1, 2018 - January 1, 2022
Delivered enterprise user interfaces for large-scale platforms using React and TypeScript. Implemented automated testing and security controls aligned to OWASP guidance. Worked closely with local and international stakeholders to deliver project outcomes.
Frontend Developer at Codeworx
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2018
Frontend developer for US-based online poker and fantasy sports (Fantasyfactor); Websockets for live sports feeds; ReactJS with Redux and Grommet UI framework; Mocha/Chai testing; CoffeeScript and Angular; Webpack, Babel; GitHub, Docker.
Software Developer at Codeworx
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2016
Full-stack development using React, PHP, Node.js, and jQuery; implemented role-based ACL and modernization efforts for financial-domain applications.
Android / Software Developer at Orbis Software
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2016
Android application development for GRDC Uteguides; built native Android app while leveraging iOS experience; Angular 2 / TypeScript for internal canopy photosynthesis modeling projects.
Frontend Developer at Codeworx
January 1, 2015 - January 1, 2016
Collaborated with UX to implement flagship online JavaScript application in ReactJS/Redux; translated InDesign mocks to functional UI; WebPack SSR; internationalisation efforts to optimize build size; implemented BEM CSS; Karma/Mocha testing.
Software Developer at Department of Agriculture & Fisheries
January 1, 2015 - January 1, 2015
Development of WordPress site; C#.NET redevelopment of REMS data modeling application (Entity Framework on MySQL, LINQ, Reflection). Migrated legacy app to a C# Windows Forms-based solution utilizing EF ORM with MySQL.
Senior Developer at Strategenics
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2015
Groovy, AngularJS, Node.js, Cordova, PostgreSQL; lead on a mining truck-shovel calculator; redesigned interface with Angular Material; unit testing with Karma; end-to-end testing with Protractor; Bamboo builds; Git flows; agile practices.
Software Developer at Libero
January 1, 2006 - January 1, 2012
SDLC within a small team; web development in Caché CSP front-end & back-end; WCAG/W3C compliance; database query optimization with memory caching; migration of legacy Visual Basic/.NET system to web front-end using Zen (Cache’s Web Application API) and MVC; user-focused LMS web interface.
Software Developer at CivicView
January 1, 2003 - January 1, 2006
Maintenance and desktop development in Visual Basic for local council applications; web development in Caché CSP (front end & back end); database development in Cache (Mumps, OO and relational SQL).
Android Application Developer at Orbis Software
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2016
Android application development for GRDC Uteguides, taking existing iOS application and building the native Android equivalent. Mostly solo work, and in a small team of two. Angular 2 / TypeScript application development for an internal project and a revamped interface for canopy photosynthesis modeling (University of Queensland).
Software Developer at Orbis Software
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2016
Android application development for GRDC Uteguides; Angular 2 / TypeScript; canopy photosynthesis modeling; solo and small-team work.
Sofware Developer at Codeworx
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2016
Full-stack development focusing on finance-related in-house applications, implementing role-based ACL and modern web interfaces.
Sofware Developer at Orbis Software
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2016
Android application development for GRDC Uteguides; Angular 2/Typescript development for internal projects and Canopy photosynthesis modeling interface.
Sofware Developer at Department of Agriculture & Fisheries
January 1, 2015 - January 1, 2015
WordPress site development for project details; re-development of REMS data modeling app using Entity Framework on MySQL; Windows Forms modernization.
Sofware Developer at Libero
January 1, 2006 - January 1, 2012
Legacy to web migration; Caché/SQL backend work; LMS web interface development with MVC framework.
Sofware Developer at CivicView
January 1, 2003 - January 1, 2006
Maintenance and desktop development in Visual Basic; web front end and Cache-based backend development.

Education

Graduate Certificate of Information Technology Management at Southern Cross University
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2018
Bachelor of Information Technology at University of Southern Queensland
January 1, 2000 - January 1, 2002
Graduate Certificate of Information Technology Management at Southern Cross University
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2018
Bachelor of Information Technology at University of Southern Queensland
January 1, 2000 - January 1, 2002
Graduate Certificate of Information Technology Management at Southern Cross University
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2018
Bachelor of Information Technology at University of Southern Queensland
January 1, 2000 - January 1, 2002
Graduate Certificate of Information Technology Management at Southern Cross University
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2018
Bachelor of Information Technology at University of Southern Queensland
January 1, 2000 - January 1, 2002

Qualifications

Member – Australian Computer Society (ACS)
January 11, 2030 - March 10, 2026

Industry Experience

Government, Software & Internet, Professional Services, Education, Media & Entertainment, Other