Portfolio of James Barwell

I'm a software engineer, specialising in front-end development for the web and currently working for BSkyB. I love developing web applications with JavaScript, and have loads of experience working on large frameworks with both jQuery and MooTools. I also enjoy developing on the back-end using PHP, Node.js, Python and other LAMP technologies, and connecting it all together through RESTful APIs. I have previously worked for Orange and on projects for organisations such as the MoD, Government and EDS. My degree is in Interactive Systems Engineering and I have a background in UX and web standards.

E-mail: jb@jamesbarwell.co.uk

Experience

Senior Software Engineer / BSkyB - Sky Betting & Gaming (June 2011 and ongoing)

Working on a major in-house web project. As a member of the UI team I specialise in our use of JavaScript, and my responsibilities include supporting colleagues, interacting with UX, design and back-end teams and assisting in the evolution of our framework towards the latest web technologies. We have a strong focus on security and performance, and work with an Agile approach. On the front-end I work with jQuery, Underscore, a bespoke PHP framework based around Zend Framework and a bespoke JavaScript CMS. Other technologies I use include Node.js, Kaazing (web sockets), Git, MySQL, Jenkins CI, Apache HTTP, RabbitMQ and Behat.

Software Engineer / Everything Everywhere (January 2010 to May 2011)

Originally hired by Orange before they merged with T-Mobile to form Everything Everywhere. I developed cutting-edge web applications with JavaScript and PHP as part of a tactical, Agile team. Initially I helped to develop two sophisticated in-house web applications that allow business users to design complex logic for our automated customer survey systems. These applications ran on a bespoke object-oriented JavaScript framework based on MooTools, interacting with a REST API via an Ajax JSON-RPC transport. Later, I worked on a large customer-facing self-service web application designed to mirror smartphone native app functionality. This involved the development of a PHP, XML and XSLT driven UI framework that would provide a great experience for the latest Android/iOS smartphones in addition to supporting legacy devices running extremely limited browsers and everything between. Our platform was heavily based around our custom PHP framework (extending Zend Framework), and other technologies I used include Memcached, Git, MySQL, Apache ActiveMQ, Apache HTTP, Apache Ant, Phing, Hudson/Jenkins CI and RHEL.

Developer / Salamander Organisation (April 2009 to December 2009)

Salamander are an enterprise architecture company, with a powerful core product that handles object and information modelling. In my role there, I developed web applications and corporate dashboards on top of the core product, delivering successful high-value projects for organisations such as the MoD, BAE, EDS and Government. Although I focused on front-end development, the work I did was wide-ranging and involved the use and development of jQuery plugins & UI widgets, Ajax (with JSON-RPC), C# and .Net, Windows Forms and XML.

Developer, web & graphic designer / Vebra & Guardian Media Group (August 2006 to March 2009)

My most recent role at GMG was as a developer working on a large-scale web application. The product enabled estate agents to manage all aspects of their work online, such as booking appointments, communicating to customers via e-mail/SMS and viewing custom reports. Technologies in use included a custom object-oriented PHP5 framework, JavaScript/MooTools, Ajax, Smarty, MySQL, CVS and Apache HTTP running on RHEL. Previous to my role as a developer, I had worked on the web and print teams, creating standards-based bespoke websites, using JavaScript/jQuery, Google Maps, various CMS systems and Adobe Photoshop, Fireworks and Illustrator.

Web designer / The University of York (June 2000 to June 2005)

While studying at 6th form/university, I was employed as the sole designer to work part-time on a project to educate the public about environmentally friendly packaging. It was a big success and received extended funding. I designed and developed the project's website and various print media, using hand-coded HTML, CSS, JavaScript and Adobe Photoshop.

Languages, frameworks & standards

Software literacy

Education

The University of Birmingham (September 2002 to September 2005)

B/Eng Computer Interactive Systems with Honours, Class II (Division I)

My degree was a mixture of software development, computer science, engineering methodologies and interactive design, with a practical focus.

Relevant modules included

Final year dissertation: Frequency-Modulated Synthesis with VST Technology

A software project involving the research, design and development of a musical software synthesiser, built from scratch in C++, then demonstration through mathematical analysis that it functioned correctly.

Interests

Referees

Available upon request.