Available to hire
Experienced backend software engineer with 20+ years across Java/Spring Boot, Python, and Node.js, building and leading microservice-based systems in finance, government, and energy. Brings a pragmatic, test-driven approach and focuses on empowered teams and continuously releasable software.
More recently, has applied the same engineering rigor to AI-powered systems, evaluating and building patterns using LLMs and RAG (including prototyping with PydanticAI and running comparisons across cloud and local inference).
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Language
English
Advanced
Work Experience
AI Engineer (Contract) at Equal Experts for Defra
January 1, 2026 - PresentResearched and established AI development patterns to guide teams across Defra in building AI systems. Evaluated and prototyped AI patterns including RAG, LLM-as-a-judge, AI-powered OCR, and agent swarms for government suitability. Built prototypes using PydanticAI, integrating with frontier model APIs, AWS Bedrock, and Ollama-hosted models. Developed an operational prototype to help Defra content providers identify and update outdated guidance on GOV.UK, reducing a 2-year manual process to hours.
Backend Developer (Contract) at Equal Experts for Zego
August 1, 2025 - January 1, 2026Worked on a greenfield premium finance system enabling Zego customers to pay car insurance in monthly instalments. Designed and built RESTful APIs using Python and FastAPI for premium finance workflows including instalment scheduling and calculation. Integrated with Experian for credit checking and affordability assessment during customer onboarding.
Developer and AI Engineer (Contract) at Mesh-AI for NESO
May 1, 2025 - August 1, 2025Built a proof-of-concept system using AI to create responses to industry and government consultations. Split the work into frontend, datastore, and agent workflow services. Used Azure OpenAI and RAG to determine whether a client should respond, generate key points, and produce a draft summary. Implemented in Python with FastAPI, SQLModel, and LangGraph, hosted on Azure, built using Terraform.
Developer (Contract) at Mesh-AI for NESO
September 1, 2024 - March 1, 2025Developed a data-sharing system as part of an energy-sector pilot to help reduce waste and meet net 0 by 2050 targets. Focused on creating a robust trust framework for secure data exchange along with a data catalog to manage and access data products. Ran on Kubernetes clusters deployed with Flux CD. Used Datahub as the basis for the data catalog, with customisations including subscription capabilities; customisations were written as a Spring Boot microservice.
Principal Integration Engineer at Close Brothers
March 1, 2024 - September 1, 2024Led integration teams responsible for communications between multiple off-the-shelf products for Close Brothers Asset Finance. Developed integrations using AWS components including API Gateway, Lambda (Python), CloudWatch, SQS, SNS, DynamoDB, Secrets Manager, and IAM. Built each integration as a small self-contained unit with comprehensive unit and integration tests, deployed independently via a GitLab CI pipeline. Worked in an agile multidisciplinary team, created a reusable library of patterns, and acted as Principal Engineer collaborating with product owners and stakeholders. Held line manager responsibilities and provided out-of-hours support.
Developer/Tech Lead (Contract) at Equal Experts for HMRC
October 1, 2021 - December 1, 2023Delivered HMRC's Import Risk system as Developer and Tech Lead, analyzing import declarations and flagging high-risk imports to Border Force. Built system from microservices using Kafka and REST. Used Apache Spark and HDFS to process and store declarations. Implemented a search component with Angular frontend and Elasticsearch backend. Built a Drools risk engine with an Angular frontend for writing rules. Ran microservices on Docker and led a partial migration to Kubernetes. Added build pipeline steps to analyze code/dependencies for security vulnerabilities and developed a prioritization process for them on the team backlog. Provided out-of-hours support.
Java Developer (Contract) at Open Credo for Vocalink
April 1, 2021 - September 1, 2021Built backend real-time payment systems as a Java Developer for Vocalink. Worked on a team moving away from bespoke, client-specific builds toward a configurable, component-based platform. Built integration components using Apache Camel and worked within an agile development team.
Tech Lead (Contract) at Sullivan and Stanley for Shell Energy
October 1, 2020 - March 1, 2021Tech lead delivering a new operating model for Shell Energy. Led a short inception phase (3 weeks) reviewing ways of working, followed by delivery of the operating model over 90 days. Advised on architectural changes to speed development and proposed patterns to support transformation. Mentored developers through a transition toward a customer-centric model based on customer journeys while continuing to deliver new features.
Developer (Contract) at Transform for MOJ
June 1, 2018 - October 1, 2020Developed software for the Civil Justice Reform Programme at HM Courts and Tribunal Service, modernising processing of immigration appeals. Used an agile approach with continuous deployment multiple times per week. Split systems into microservices to enable rapid delivery and deployed on Azure. Employed GitOps allowing individual teams to maintain their services. Built services using Java and TypeScript with Spring Boot, Camunda, and Node.js.
Developer (Contract) at Government Digital Service
October 1, 2017 - June 1, 2018Worked on GOV.UK Pay within an agile, user-research-led team. Built RESTful microservice architecture with backend services in Java and a Node.js front end; ensured PCI DSS compliance. Integrated continuously on AWS to enable multiple daily production deployments.
Backend Developer (Contract) at Transform for HM Passport Office
May 1, 2016 - October 1, 2017Automated passport applications as a Backend Developer on a microservice-based architecture communicating mainly via HTTP REST. Reduced testing dependencies between microservices by introducing WireMock as key achievement of the role.
Senior Java Developer (Contract) at GFT for Deutsche Bank
December 1, 2015 - May 1, 2016Worked at Deutsche Bank Development Centre in Bucharest replacing the bank’s legacy credit risk rating platform (the Craft system) with a focus on improving story acceptance criteria and test automation.
Technical Lead (Contract) at Lloyds Banking Group
July 1, 2015 - October 1, 2015Technical lead on the Lloyds Bank consumer website providing technical expertise on the design of new services and ensuring code quality across onshore/offshore development teams.
Agile Development Team Lead / Java Developer at BSkyB (Sky Network Services)
February 1, 2009 - July 1, 2015Developed BSkyB telephone and broadband provisioning systems, progressing to team lead for a multidisciplinary team with line management responsibilities. Led delivery in an agile environment.
Senior Developer at Rightmove
April 1, 2005 - February 1, 2009Developed Rightmove's website as a Senior Developer.
Junior Software Developer at Knowledge Technology Services
January 1, 2004 - April 1, 2005Built KTS's real-time market data system as a developer.
Education
MEng Software Engineering (First Class with Honours) at University of Sheffield
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2003A Levels at St Martin's School, Hunton, Essex
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 1999GCSEs at St Martin's School, Hunton, Essex
January 11, 2030 - July 14, 2026Qualifications
Sun Certified Java Programmer
January 11, 2030 - July 14, 2026Industry Experience
Financial Services, Government, Energy & Utilities, Software & Internet
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Hire a Back-End Developer
We have the best back-end developer experts on Twine. Hire a back-end developer in London today.