James Newbery

[email protected]

I’m a front-end engineer and technology leader with over 20 years experience of developing high-profile websites and applications. I love to build, coach and lead teams to deliver delightful, sustainable and inclusive web products.

I’m currently seeking contract opportunities as a tech lead, technical product manager or senior developer with an agile, cross-functional product team.

Technical expertise

• HTML, CSS and JavaScript development
• Device-agnostic, standards-compliant, inclusive UI development
• Long-term product development, iteration, improvement and migration
• Agile software development best practices: test-driven development, version control, etc.
• Front-end build tooling, CI/CD and production systems
• Design system and UI component library leadership, development and operations
• Client-side performance optimisation
• React ecosystem, patterns and application architecture
• REST API design, usage and change management

Leadership expertise

• Front-end web technical strategy, architecture and migration
• Lean and agile product development practices
• Engineering leadership within and across multiple agile delivery teams
• Developer and tech lead coaching and mentoring

Achievements

FanDuel

• Led front-end engineering capability and technical vision from start-up to $1b valuation
• Managed and mentored a team of up to 15 co-located and distributed front-end engineers
• Leading role in transformation from desktop PHP site to suite of responsive web and native apps
• Designed REST API and led development as part of move to services-oriented architecture

FreeAgent

• Developed engineering strategy for modernising UI of 10 year-old SaaS accounting application
• Coached a dev team to migrate core functionality to a maintainable React and Redux architecture

Registers of Scotland

• Advised on improving UI engineering practices and architecture across 12 agile delivery teams

Sumdog

• Advised and coached a team on the successful rescue of a neglected JavaScript application

Criton, Bird.i

• 1-1 coaching on product engineering and tech leadership topics with new engineering leaders

Recent work history

Tinned Fruit

Web Product Development Consultant
Nov 2016 – Present

I help product teams build and maintain profitable and sustainable web apps by improving UI engineering practices and aligning with product strategy. See Achievements above.

CodeBase / Barclays Eagle Labs Mentor
Feb 2018 – Present

Occasional ad-hoc ‘Office hours’ product development mentoring for small tech start-ups at Barclays Eagle Labs around the UK.

FanDuel

Director of Engineering
Jan 2015 – Feb 2016

Senior Engineer
Nov 2011 – Jan 2015

I grew and led FanDuel’s front-end development capability and web platform vision as the company grew from tiny start-up to a $1b valuation.

Further work history

01/09-11/11: Sky - Front-End Developer (Contract)
07/06-12/08: Channel 4 - Front-End Developer (Contract)
08/03-07/06: Double-eye - Lead Front-End Developer (Perm)
01/02-02/03: City University - Web Accessibility Researcher (Perm)
01/02-02/03: GWS - Senior Web Developer (Perm)
09/00-12/01: Independent Web Developer
10/99-09/00: Teamworks - Senior Web Developer (Perm)
03/98-10/99: Independent Web Developer
11/96-08/97: Department of Environment - Web Developer / DB Admin
08/94-07/95: Intel - Human Factors Intern

Education

MSc Health Psychology, University of London - 1998-1999
BSc (Hons) Psychology, University of Nottingham - 1992-1996