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$ git log --author='Steve' --oneline

Work History

15+ years building, leading, and shipping software — from combat engineer to technical director.

Developer Educator and API mentor with 15+ years building scalable web applications and leading engineering teams. Currently Technical Director at Lila Fuches and Core Committee member of PHP-FIG, helping shape industry standards. Recognized technical writer (php[architect], Laravel News, and more) and international speaker focused on practical learning for modern API teams. Specializing in Laravel, Go, API design, developer experience, and hands-on team coaching.

Current
Technical DirectorNow
Lila Fuches Limited
Oct 2024Present1y 9mo

Architected and launched a scalable Laravel SaaS platform using an API-first approach, supporting rapid user growth and seamless feature expansion. Led technical strategy, modernized infrastructure, and optimized CI/CD pipelines. As fractional CTO, guided hiring, roadmap planning, and product direction, while mentoring developers to improve code quality and team collaboration.

  • Designed and delivered a Laravel 11 SaaS platform serving thousands of users
  • Established API-first development practices to reduce technical debt
  • Improved deployment workflows with modern CI/CD automation
  • Mentored a development team, introducing code review and best practices
Laravel 11PHP 8.xAPI DesignCI/CDAWS
Laravel Content OwnerNow
certificates.dev
Mar 2026Present4mo

Responsible for creating the Laravel certification curriculum, designing code challenges, running bootcamps, and representing certificates.dev at industry events and conferences as a speaker.

  • Created the Laravel certification curriculum
  • Designed and authored code challenges for candidate assessment
  • Led and facilitated Laravel bootcamps for developer upskilling
  • Represented certificates.dev at industry events and conferences as a speaker
LaravelCurriculum DesignTechnical WritingPublic SpeakingDeveloper Education
Feb 2024Present2y 5mo

Contributed to PHP language standards by drafting and reviewing proposals focused on framework interoperability. Participated in open discussions and formal voting processes. Shared practical developer insights to help guide the direction of new PSR standards adopted by the PHP community.

  • Drafted and reviewed PSR standards for PHP framework interoperability
  • Participated in proposal discussions and formal voting on new standards
  • Provided practical developer feedback to guide standardization decisions
PHPAPI StandardsOpen Source Governance
Technical ColumnistNow
php[architect]
Aug 2023Present2y 11mo

Authored monthly technical deep-dives on advanced PHP topics and architectural best practices for one of the industry's most respected publications. Simplified complex concepts for a broad developer audience using storytelling techniques and clear, practical examples. Collaborated closely with editorial teams to ensure technical accuracy and maximum reader value.

  • Published 12+ monthly deep-dive articles reaching 50,000+ developers
  • Covered advanced PHP 8.x features, Laravel patterns, and architectural best practices
  • Maintained 95%+ reader satisfaction scores through engaging technical storytelling
PHPLaravelSoftware ArchitectureTechnical Writing
Experience
Developer Advocate
Treblle
Mar 2023Oct 20241y 7mo

Led comprehensive developer education initiatives, creating extensive technical content library that significantly increased API adoption and community engagement. Represented Treblle at major international conferences, gathering critical community feedback that directly influenced product roadmap. Built practical demo projects and sample code that dramatically simplified product onboarding and accelerated developer success.

  • Created 50+ technical resources increasing API adoption by 40%
  • Spoke at 15+ global conferences reaching 5,000+ developers
  • Built demo projects reducing user onboarding time from 2 hours to 30 minutes
  • Generated $250K+ in qualified leads through content marketing initiatives
Developer AdvocacyAPI DesignPublic SpeakingContent Strategy
Technical Writer
Laravel News
Jun 2022May 20241y 11mo

Published comprehensive articles on Laravel internals, package development, and architectural best practices for the Laravel community's primary news source. Produced educational content specifically targeting intermediate-to-advanced Laravel developers, focusing on real-world application and performance optimization. Actively highlighted innovative open-source projects and community contributions to foster ecosystem growth.

  • Published 25+ in-depth Laravel tutorials and best practice guides
  • Articles averaged 10,000+ views with 85%+ completion rates
  • Highlighted 50+ open-source projects, contributing to community growth
LaravelPHPTechnical WritingOpen Source
Senior Engineering Manager
Geomiq
Jul 2022Feb 20237mo

Managed cross-functional engineering teams delivering high-performance Laravel applications for major manufacturing clients. Implemented comprehensive process improvements including enhanced code review workflows and automated testing, resulting in significant bug reduction. Mentored engineers through structured career development programs and technical coaching sessions.

  • Managed cross-functional teams of 12+ engineers across 3 products
  • Implemented process improvements reducing production bugs by 30%
  • Delivered Laravel applications serving 100,000+ manufacturing clients
  • Achieved 99.8% system uptime through robust CI/CD practices
Engineering ManagementLaravelCI/CDPostgreSQLRedis
Lead Software Engineer
Mumsnet
Apr 2022Jul 20223mo

Led backend engineering for one of the UK's highest-traffic community platforms, architecting Laravel solutions for millions of users. Designed and maintained critical APIs that improved system reliability and dramatically reduced response times. Collaborated closely with product and design teams to ship engagement-driving features while mentoring junior engineers and establishing improved development workflows.

  • Led backend engineering for platform serving 1.5M+ monthly active users
  • Optimized API performance reducing average response times by 45%
  • Mentored 4 junior engineers, with 100% promotion rate within 12 months
LaravelMySQLVarnishRedisHigh Traffic Systems
Founder & Organizer
PHP South Wales
Jun 2018Jul 20224y 1mo

Created PHP South Wales to bring developers together regardless of background or experience level. Hosted monthly events featuring diverse speakers and topics, fostering continuous learning and professional growth. Built a welcoming community that became a launching pad for many developers' careers and established lasting connections across the Welsh tech scene.

  • Founded and grew community from 0 to 200+ active members
  • Organized 40+ monthly meetups featuring international speakers
  • Mentored 50+ developers through workshops and networking events
  • Established Wales as a recognized hub in the PHP community
Community BuildingEvent OrganizationPublic Speaking
Software Engineering Manager
Car & Classic
Feb 2022Apr 20222mo

Oversaw talented engineering team building Laravel-powered systems for the UK and Europe's largest classic car marketplace. Introduced structured agile planning processes that improved team velocity and delivery consistency. Led infrastructure initiatives ensuring exceptional uptime while fostering high-trust, high-impact team culture through regular coaching and mentorship.

  • Led team building Laravel systems for UK's largest classic car marketplace
  • Implemented agile processes improving team velocity by 25%
  • Maintained 99.9% uptime for platform processing £50M+ in transactions
Engineering ManagementLaravelAgileE-commerce
Engineering Manager
Jump Twenty Four
Oct 2021Feb 20224mo

Led engineering initiatives across multiple client projects at a Laravel-focused digital agency, from discovery through technical delivery. Implemented comprehensive CI/CD automation that dramatically reduced release times while establishing rigorous testing and code quality standards. Played key role in hiring and onboarding while shaping a culture of technical craftsmanship and accountability.

  • Led engineering across 8+ concurrent client projects
  • Implemented CI/CD automation reducing release times by 60%
  • Established testing standards achieving 85%+ code coverage
  • Successfully hired and onboarded 5 senior developers
Engineering ManagementLaravelCI/CDTesting Standards
Technical Lead
Squarefoot Capital
Apr 2021Oct 20216mo

Owned architecture and delivery of mission-critical Laravel-based financial products, including complex real-time data pipelines and third-party integrations. Worked closely with stakeholders to align ambitious business objectives with technical execution while enforcing high engineering standards to ensure code quality and long-term maintainability.

  • Architected Laravel-based financial products handling £10M+ transactions
  • Built real-time data pipelines processing 100,000+ daily events
  • Integrated with 12+ third-party financial APIs maintaining 99.5% uptime
LaravelFinancial APIsEvent Driven Architecture
Chief Technology Officer
Lila Fuches Limited
Aug 2019Oct 20212y 2mo

Established technical foundation and product architecture for innovative SaaS platform. Led development from initial MVP through market-ready product launch, establishing development practices and technical standards that supported sustainable growth.

  • Built initial product architecture serving 1,000+ early customers
  • Established development practices and technical foundations
  • Led product from MVP to market-ready SaaS platform
CTOProduct StrategyLaravelAWS
Combat Engineer
HM Forces
Oct 2007Sep 20113y 11mo

Served as Combat Engineer with frontline deployment to Afghanistan, specializing in route clearance and IED detection operations. Gained comprehensive training in mechanical and electrical engineering while developing exceptional problem-solving skills under pressure. Experience included operating complex military equipment and working effectively in high-stakes team environments.

  • Served frontline tour in Afghanistan as Royal Engineer
  • Specialized in IED detection and route clearance operations
  • Trained in mechanical and electrical engineering fundamentals
  • Operated and maintained Challenger 2 main battle tanks
Mechanical EngineeringElectrical EngineeringProblem Solving Under Pressure
Skills
Developer AdvocacyExpert
Technical Content CreationDeveloper EducationCommunity BuildingConference SpeakingTechnical WritingDeveloper RelationsProduct EvangelismWorkshop FacilitationDocumentation StrategyOpen Source AdvocacyDeveloper Experience (DX)
Backend EngineeringExpert
PHP 8.xLaravel 11GoAPI DevelopmentRESTful APIsGraphQLMicroservices ArchitectureMySQLPostgreSQLRedisOAuth 2.0JWT AuthenticationMessage QueuesEvent SourcingDatabase DesignPerformance OptimizationWebhook SystemsAPI SecurityAI-Native Development
Frontend EngineeringAdvanced
JavaScript ES6+TypeScriptVue.jsAlpine.jsAstroTailwind CSSLivewireInertia.jsServer-Side RenderingProgressive Web AppsResponsive DesignComponent ArchitectureWeb PerformanceAccessibility (a11y)
Leadership & CommunicationExpert
Engineering ManagementTeam LeadershipTechnical MentoringStrategic PlanningCross-functional CollaborationStakeholder ManagementHiring & OnboardingAgile MethodologiesCode Review CultureTechnical Decision MakingEngineering Culture
Software ArchitectureExpert
System DesignDomain-Driven Design (DDD)SOLID PrinciplesHexagonal ArchitectureEvent-Driven ArchitectureCQRS PatternAPI DesignModel Context Protocol (MCP)System ScalabilityHigh AvailabilityDistributed SystemsTechnical Debt Management
DevOps & InfrastructureAdvanced
AWS (EC2, RDS, S3, CloudFront)DockerLinux System AdministrationCI/CD PipelinesGitHub ActionsTerraformInfrastructure as CodeLoad BalancingMonitoring & Logging
Quality & TestingExpert
PHPUnitPestTest-Driven Development (TDD)Feature TestingIntegration TestingUnit TestingCode Quality ToolsStatic AnalysisPHPStanPsalmCode Coverage
Publications
Building your first MCP server with LaravelSevalla Blog · Oct 2025

Comprehensive guide to the Model Context Protocol (MCP), demonstrating how to build AI-native Laravel applications that can be confidently used by AI assistants like Claude.

Building an API Starter Kit for LaravelPHP Architect · Dec 2024

Deep-dive into Laravel application architecture patterns, featuring real-world case studies and performance optimization techniques.

How Steve Writes Laravel CodePHP Architect · Sep 2024

Comprehensive exploration of clean code patterns and AI integration in modern PHP applications.

API Essentials: A Developer's Guide to Authentication, Validation, and DTOsPHP Architect · Feb 2024

In-depth exploration of essential API development concepts in Laravel, including authentication strategies and Data Transfer Objects (DTOs).

Hooked On Functionality: The Whimsical World Of Webhooks In PHPPHP Architect · Jan 2024

Practical implementation guide for webhook systems in PHP, covering security best practices and event-driven architecture.

Recognition
PHP Community RecognitionPHP FIG · Feb 2024

Elected to PHP-FIG Core Committee, representing global PHP developer community in language standardization efforts.

Outstanding Technical Writingphp[architect] Magazine · Dec 2023

Recognized for exceptional technical writing contributions and ability to make complex PHP concepts accessible to developers worldwide.

Laravel Certified DeveloperCertification for Laravel · Sep 2025
Education
NVQ Level 2 - Mechanical EngineeringHM Forces Apprenticeship Scheme · Jan 2007 – Dec 2011

I learned about mechanical engineering as part of the military's apprenticeship scheme, completing an NVQ Level 2 working on the British main battle tank (Challenger 2).