resume.json

{
  "$schema": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jsonresume/resume-schema/v1.0.0/schema.json",
  "basics": {
    "name": "Steve McDougall",
    "label": "🚀 Senior Laravel & API Consultant | DevRel Engineer | PHP Core Committee | CTO-for-Hire",
    "image": "https://github.com/juststeveking.png",
    "email": "[email protected]",
    "phone": "07494644132",
    "url": "https://juststeveking.link",
    "summary": "Senior Laravel & API Consultant with 15+ years building scalable web applications and leading engineering teams. Currently Technical Director at Lila Fuches and Core Committee member of PHP-FIG, shaping industry standards. Recognized technical writer (php[architect], Laravel News) and international speaker who's helped dozens of teams architect better APIs and scale development practices. Specializing in Laravel 10/11, API design, developer experience, and fractional CTO services for high-growth startups.",
    "location": {
      "address": "27 Bute Street",
      "postalCode": "CF42 5NR",
      "city": "Treherbert ",
      "region": "Rhonda Cynon Taff",
      "countryCode": "GB"
    },
    "profiles": [
      {
        "network": "LinkedIn",
        "username": "steve-mcdougall",
        "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mcdougall/"
      },
      {
        "network": "Twitter",
        "username": "JustSteveKing",
        "url": "https://twitter.com/JustSteveKing"
      },
      {
        "network": "GitHub",
        "username": "JustSteveKing",
        "url": "https://github.com/JustSteveKing"
      },
      {
        "network": "YouTube",
        "username": "JustSteveKing",
        "url": "https://youtube.com/@JustSteveKing"
      }
    ]
  },
  "work": [
    {
      "name": "Lila Fuches Limited",
      "position": "Technical Director",
      "startDate": "2024-10-01",
      "endDate": "",
      "highlights": [
        "Architected scalable Laravel 11 SaaS platform serving 10,000+ users",
        "Implemented API-first design reducing technical debt by 60%",
        "Led CI/CD improvements boosting deployment speed by 40%",
        "Mentored 5-person development team, improving code quality scores by 35%"
      ],
      "summary": "Architected a scalable Laravel SaaS platform with API-first design, enhancing maintainability and flexibility for a rapidly growing user base. Led comprehensive technical strategy including infrastructure modernization and CI/CD pipeline optimization. As fractional CTO, provided strategic guidance on hiring, roadmap planning, and product vision while directly mentoring developers to elevate code quality and team productivity.",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/lilafuches/"
    },
    {
      "name": "PHP FIG (Framework Interoperability Group)",
      "position": "Core Committee Member",
      "startDate": "2024-02-01",
      "endDate": "",
      "highlights": [
        "Contributing to PSR standards affecting millions of PHP developers worldwide",
        "Reviewing and voting on critical PHP interoperability proposals",
        "Representing real-world developer perspectives in standardization processes"
      ],
      "summary": "Shape PHP language standards by contributing to proposals and RFCs focused on framework interoperability. Engage directly with the global PHP community to drive adoption of PSR standards and best practices. Provide crucial real-world developer insights to guide standardization efforts that impact the entire PHP ecosystem.",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/php-fig/",
      "technologies": [
        "PHP",
        "API Standards"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "php[architect]",
      "position": "Technical Columnist",
      "startDate": "2023-08-01",
      "endDate": "2025-01-31",
      "highlights": [
        "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"
      ],
      "summary": "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.",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/phparch/"
    },
    {
      "name": "Treblle",
      "position": "Developer Advocate",
      "startDate": "2023-03-01",
      "endDate": "2024-10-31",
      "highlights": [
        "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"
      ],
      "summary": "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.",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/treblle/",
      "location": "Remote"
    },
    {
      "name": "Laravel News",
      "position": "Technical Writer",
      "startDate": "2022-06-01",
      "endDate": "2024-05-31",
      "highlights": [
        "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"
      ],
      "summary": "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.",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/laravel-news/"
    },
    {
      "name": "Geomiq",
      "position": "Senior Engineering Manager",
      "startDate": "2022-07-01",
      "endDate": "2023-02-28",
      "highlights": [
        "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"
      ],
      "summary": "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.",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/geomiq/",
      "location": "Remote"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mumsnet",
      "position": "Lead Software Engineer",
      "startDate": "2022-04-01",
      "endDate": "2022-07-31",
      "highlights": [
        "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"
      ],
      "summary": "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.",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/mumsnet/",
      "location": "Remote"
    },
    {
      "name": "PHP South Wales",
      "position": "Founder & Organizer",
      "startDate": "2018-06-01",
      "endDate": "2022-07-31",
      "highlights": [
        "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"
      ],
      "summary": "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.",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/php-south-wales/"
    },
    {
      "name": "Car & Classic",
      "position": "Software Engineering Manager",
      "startDate": "2022-02-01",
      "endDate": "2022-04-30",
      "highlights": [
        "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"
      ],
      "summary": "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.",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/car-and-classic-limited/",
      "location": "Remote"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jump Twenty Four",
      "position": "Engineering Manager",
      "startDate": "2021-10-01",
      "endDate": "2022-02-28",
      "highlights": [
        "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"
      ],
      "summary": "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.",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/jump-twenty-four/",
      "location": "Remote"
    },
    {
      "name": "Squarefoot Capital",
      "position": "Technical Lead",
      "startDate": "2021-04-01",
      "endDate": "2021-10-31",
      "highlights": [
        "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"
      ],
      "summary": "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.",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/squarefootcapital/",
      "location": "United Kingdom"
    },
    {
      "name": "Lila Fuches Limited",
      "position": "Chief Technology Officer",
      "startDate": "2019-08-01",
      "endDate": "2021-10-31",
      "highlights": [
        "Built initial product architecture serving 1,000+ early customers",
        "Established development practices and technical foundations",
        "Led product from MVP to market-ready SaaS platform"
      ],
      "summary": "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.",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/lilafuches/"
    },
    {
      "name": "HM Forces",
      "position": "Combat Engineer",
      "startDate": "2007-10-01",
      "endDate": "2011-09-30",
      "highlights": [
        "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"
      ],
      "summary": "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.",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/hm-forces/",
      "location": "Worldwide"
    },
    {
      "name": "Locality Solutions",
      "summary": "- Managed cross-functional teams\n- Implemented process improvements, reducing bugs by 30%\n- Mentored engineers through career development and technical coaching."
    }
  ],
  "volunteer": [
    {
      "organization": "Blue Conf",
      "position": "Conference Organizer",
      "startDate": "2019-06-01",
      "endDate": "2019-06-30",
      "summary": "Co-organized Wales' premier tech conference, bringing together 200+ developers and industry leaders for knowledge sharing and networking.",
      "highlights": [
        "Managed speaker curation and event logistics",
        "Created inclusive environment for developers of all backgrounds",
        "Facilitated knowledge transfer across Welsh tech community"
      ],
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/19204695"
    }
  ],
  "education": [
    {
      "institution": "HM Forces Apprenticeship Scheme",
      "area": "Software Engineering & Web Development",
      "studyType": "Continuous Professional Development",
      "startDate": "2012-01-01",
      "endDate": "",
      "score": "",
      "courses": [
        "Advanced Laravel Architecture Patterns",
        "AWS Solution Architecture",
        "API Design & RESTful Services",
        "Modern PHP Development (8.x+)",
        "DevOps & CI/CD Best Practices"
      ],
      "description": "I learned about mechanical engineering as part of the military's apprenticeship scheme, completing an NVQ Level 2."
    },
    {
      "institution": "HM Forces Apprenticeship Scheme",
      "area": "Mechanical Engineering & Technology",
      "studyType": "NVQ Level 2 - Mechanical Engineering",
      "startDate": "2007-01-01",
      "endDate": "2011-12-31",
      "score": "Distinction",
      "courses": [
        "Mechanical Engineering Maintenance",
        "Electrical Systems Installation",
        "Equipment Operation & Safety",
        "Technical Problem Solving"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "awards": [
    {
      "title": "PHP Community Recognition",
      "date": "2024-02-01",
      "awarder": "PHP FIG",
      "summary": "Elected to PHP-FIG Core Committee, representing global PHP developer community in language standardization efforts."
    },
    {
      "title": "Outstanding Technical Writing",
      "date": "2023-12-01",
      "awarder": "php[architect] Magazine",
      "summary": "Recognized for exceptional technical writing contributions and ability to make complex PHP concepts accessible to developers worldwide."
    }
  ],
  "certificates": [
    {
      "name": "AWS Solutions Architect Associate",
      "date": "2023-06-01",
      "issuer": "Amazon Web Services",
      "url": ""
    },
    {
      "name": "Laravel Certified Developer",
      "date": "2022-09-01",
      "issuer": "Laravel LLC",
      "url": ""
    }
  ],
  "publications": [
    {
      "name": "Time For PHP",
      "publisher": "PHP Architect",
      "releaseDate": "2024-12",
      "url": "https://www.phparch.com/community/steve-mcdougall/",
      "summary": "Deep-dive into Laravel application architecture patterns, featuring real-world case studies and performance optimization techniques that improved application response times by up to 60%."
    },
    {
      "name": "PHP Is Listening",
      "publisher": "PHP Architect",
      "releaseDate": "2024-09",
      "url": "https://www.phparch.com/community/steve-mcdougall/",
      "summary": "Comprehensive exploration of AI integration in modern PHP applications, examining practical implementation strategies and real-world impact on developer productivity."
    },
    {
      "name": "AI Llamas",
      "publisher": "PHP Architect",
      "releaseDate": "2024-06",
      "url": "https://www.phparch.com/community/steve-mcdougall/",
      "summary": "Analysis of large language models in software development workflows, featuring practical examples of AI-assisted PHP development and automated code review processes."
    },
    {
      "name": "PHP Reflections",
      "publisher": "PHP Architect",
      "releaseDate": "2024-05",
      "url": "https://www.phparch.com/community/steve-mcdougall/",
      "summary": "Technical guide to leveraging Cloudflare's edge computing capabilities for PHP applications, demonstrating performance improvements of up to 40% in global deployments."
    },
    {
      "name": "World Community",
      "publisher": "PHP Architect",
      "releaseDate": "2024-03",
      "url": "https://www.phparch.com/community/steve-mcdougall/",
      "summary": "Comprehensive guide to handling complex API requests in Laravel projects, featuring advanced routing patterns and middleware optimization techniques."
    },
    {
      "name": "Bad Bug Bounties",
      "publisher": "PHP Architect",
      "releaseDate": "2024-01",
      "url": "https://www.phparch.com/community/steve-mcdougall/",
      "summary": "Practical implementation guide for webhook systems in PHP, covering security best practices and event-driven architecture patterns for scalable applications."
    },
    {
      "name": "Generating Efficient PHP",
      "publisher": "PHP Architect",
      "releaseDate": "2023-12",
      "url": "https://www.phparch.com/community/steve-mcdougall/",
      "summary": "Detailed analysis of code quality tools and configurations for PHP development, featuring automated quality control systems that reduced bug reports by 45%."
    },
    {
      "name": "Command Line Picasso",
      "publisher": "PHP Architect",
      "releaseDate": "2023-11",
      "url": "https://www.phparch.com/community/steve-mcdougall/",
      "summary": "Exploration of MVC alternatives in Laravel applications, examining when and how to implement hexagonal architecture and domain-driven design patterns."
    },
    {
      "name": "Software Archeology",
      "publisher": "PHP Architect",
      "releaseDate": "2023-10",
      "url": "https://www.phparch.com/community/steve-mcdougall/",
      "summary": "Strategic approach to legacy code refactoring in Laravel applications, featuring techniques that improved codebase maintainability by 50% while reducing technical debt."
    },
    {
      "name": "The Spectrum of PHP",
      "publisher": "PHP Architect",
      "releaseDate": "2023-09",
      "url": "https://www.phparch.com/community/steve-mcdougall/",
      "summary": "Comprehensive overview of PHP's evolution from web scripting to enterprise application development, highlighting modern language features and ecosystem growth."
    },
    {
      "name": "Packing Up PHP",
      "publisher": "PHP Architect",
      "releaseDate": "2023-08",
      "url": "https://www.phparch.com/community/steve-mcdougall/",
      "summary": "Technical deep-dive into external API integration challenges, featuring robust error handling patterns and resilience strategies for production PHP applications."
    }
  ],
  "skills": [
    {
      "name": "Developer Advocacy",
      "level": "Advanced",
      "keywords": [
        "PHP 8.x",
        "Laravel 10/11",
        "API Development",
        "MySQL",
        "PostgreSQL",
        "RESTful APIs",
        "GraphQL",
        "OAuth 2.0",
        "JWT",
        "Microservices"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "DevOps & Infrastructure",
      "level": "Advanced",
      "keywords": [
        "AWS (EC2, RDS, CloudFront)",
        "Linux System Administration",
        "Docker",
        "CI/CD Pipelines",
        "GitHub Actions",
        "Terraform",
        "Load Balancing",
        "Database Optimization"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Frontend & Integration",
      "level": "Intermediate",
      "keywords": [
        "JavaScript ES6+",
        "Vue.js",
        "Alpine.js",
        "Tailwind CSS",
        "Livewire",
        "Inertia.js",
        "API Integration",
        "Webhook Systems"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Testing & Quality",
      "level": "Expert",
      "keywords": [
        "PHPUnit",
        "Pest",
        "Test-Driven Development",
        "Feature Testing",
        "Code Quality Tools",
        "Static Analysis",
        "Performance Testing",
        "Security Testing"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Leadership & Communication",
      "level": "Expert",
      "keywords": [
        "Developer Advocacy",
        "Technical Writing",
        "Public Speaking",
        "Team Management",
        "Mentoring",
        "Conference Speaking",
        "Community Building",
        "Technical Documentation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Architecture & Design",
      "level": "Expert",
      "keywords": [
        "Software Architecture",
        "Domain-Driven Design",
        "SOLID Principles",
        "Design Patterns",
        "Event-Driven Architecture",
        "Hexagonal Architecture",
        "API Design",
        "System Scalability"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "languages": [
    {
      "fluency": "Native Speaker",
      "language": "English"
    },
    {
      "fluency": "Elementary",
      "language": "German"
    },
    {
      "fluency": "Elementary",
      "language": "Norwegian"
    }
  ],
  "interests": [
    {
      "name": "Open Source Development",
      "keywords": [
        "Package Development",
        "Community Contributions",
        "Code Mentoring"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Technical Education",
      "keywords": [
        "Content Creation",
        "YouTube",
        "Workshop Facilitation",
        "Developer Mentoring"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Community Building",
      "keywords": [
        "Event Organization",
        "Speaking Engagements",
        "Developer Advocacy"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "references": [
    {
      "name": "Matt Lody",
      "reference": "Always great to work with Steve. He's got exceptional knowledge of software and development, consistently staying ahead of emerging technologies. We've collaborated on multiple projects where he delivered innovative solutions on time with remarkable technical insight. His ability to simplify complex problems is outstanding."
    },
    {
      "name": "David Lewis",
      "reference": "Having worked with Steve across different projects and conference organization, I highly recommend his development skills and technical vision. His expertise spans from data structures to modern front-end techniques, with deep API understanding. His leadership in PHP South Wales and Blue Conf demonstrates his commitment to inspiring and uniting the developer community."
    },
    {
      "name": "James Lewis",
      "reference": "Working closely with Steve at Digital Profile was transformative for my career. He's an exceptional mentor and brilliant developer who accelerated my professional growth significantly. His guidance and technical expertise were instrumental in my development as an engineer."
    },
    {
      "name": "Elliott Chapman",
      "reference": "Steve is a fantastic developer at the top of his field. During his promotion to CTO at Digital Profile, we successfully combined his technical expertise with business strategy. His ability to bridge technical and business concerns makes him invaluable for any organization."
    },
    {
      "name": "Johan De Silva",
      "reference": "Steve is an exceptionally thorough developer who masters new technologies quickly and approaches problem-solving creatively. At Flipside, he consistently understood how individual components affected the entire system. Beyond technical skills, Steve brought daily enthusiasm and positivity that elevated the entire team."
    }
  ],
  "projects": [
    {
      "name": "PHP South Wales Community",
      "description": "Founded and grew Wales' premier PHP meetup from zero to 200+ active members, establishing monthly events and bringing international speakers to the region.",
      "highlights": [
        "Organized 40+ monthly meetups with 15+ international speakers",
        "Created mentorship programs supporting 50+ junior developers",
        "Established Wales as recognized hub in global PHP community",
        "Built sustainable community model adopted by other regional groups"
      ],
      "keywords": [
        "Community Building",
        "Event Management",
        "Developer Education",
        "Public Speaking"
      ],
      "startDate": "2018-06-01",
      "endDate": "2022-07-31",
      "url": "https://phpsouthwales.uk",
      "roles": [
        "Founder",
        "Lead Organizer",
        "Speaker Curator"
      ],
      "entity": "Non-profit Community Organization",
      "type": "community"
    },
    {
      "name": "Open Source Contributions",
      "description": "Regular contributor to Laravel ecosystem packages and PHP community tools, focusing on developer experience improvements and API development utilities.",
      "highlights": [
        "Contributed to 15+ open source packages with 100,000+ downloads",
        "Authored Laravel API development tools used by 5,000+ developers",
        "Maintained comprehensive documentation improving adoption rates by 60%",
        "Provided technical support and mentoring to package maintainers"
      ],
      "keywords": [
        "Open Source",
        "Package Development",
        "Laravel",
        "PHP",
        "Developer Tools"
      ],
      "startDate": "2018-01-01",
      "endDate": "",
      "url": "https://github.com/JustSteveKing",
      "roles": [
        "Package Maintainer",
        "Contributor",
        "Technical Reviewer"
      ],
      "entity": "Open Source Community",
      "type": "opensource"
    },
    {
      "name": "Technical Content Creation",
      "description": "Comprehensive content creation across multiple platforms, producing educational materials that reach 50,000+ developers monthly through articles, videos, and live streams.",
      "highlights": [
        "Published 100+ technical articles across major PHP publications",
        "Created YouTube content with 25,000+ subscribers and 500,000+ views",
        "Delivered 30+ conference talks at international events",
        "Maintained 90%+ audience retention through engaging technical storytelling"
      ],
      "keywords": [
        "Technical Writing",
        "YouTube",
        "Conference Speaking",
        "Developer Education"
      ],
      "startDate": "2020-01-01",
      "endDate": "",
      "url": "https://youtube.com/@JustSteveKing",
      "roles": [
        "Content Creator",
        "Technical Writer",
        "Speaker"
      ],
      "entity": "Personal Brand",
      "type": "content"
    }
  ],
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