Andrew Southwell
Project Owner • Engineering Manager • Senior Developer
About Me
With a solid finance background and a proven ability to explain complex technical requirements to non-technical people, I thrive at the intersection of business and technology.
I have led teams of over 20 employees in mixed roles, mentored junior developers through one-on-one code reviews, and provided ongoing support to help them grow.
I excel at managing multiple projects and shifting priorities effectively, ensuring delivery of high-quality, scalable software solutions while fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment.
Leading High-Performing Teams
With experience managing teams of 20+ employees, I excel at fostering collaboration, mentoring developers, and translating complex technical concepts into business value.
Building Trust Through Communication
Team Leadership
Managed teams of 20+ employees across development, operations, and business functions. Created collaborative environments where everyone's voice is heard.
Mentoring & Development
Conducted 1-on-1 code reviews and mentoring sessions to help junior developers grow their skills and advance their careers.
Technical Translation
Bridge the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders, translating complex requirements into actionable development plans.
Performance Management
Implemented performance tracking and goal-setting frameworks that helped team members achieve their career objectives while delivering business value.
Agile Project Management
Delivering value through iterative development, sprint planning, and continuous improvement. Experienced in Scrum, Kanban, and stakeholder management.
Sprint 24: ERP Integration
Sprint Burndown
Team Performance
Active Stories
Driving Results Through Agile Excellence
Sprint Planning & Execution
Led sprint planning sessions, backlog refinement, and retrospectives. Consistently delivered 95%+ of committed story points across multiple teams.
Continuous Improvement
Implemented process improvements that reduced deployment time by 60% and increased team velocity by 40% through retrospective actions.
Stakeholder Collaboration
Facilitated cross-functional collaboration between product, design, and engineering teams. Maintained transparent communication with stakeholders through regular demos and reports.
Metrics & Analytics
Tracked key metrics including velocity, burndown, and cycle time. Used data-driven insights to optimize team performance and predict delivery timelines.
Key Achievements
My Technical Stack
Building robust solutions with modern technologies
Languages & Frameworks
- ▸ PHP (15+ years), Laravel (9+ years)
- ▸ Symphony, CakePHP
- ▸ Livewire, FilamentPHP
- ▸ AlpineJS, HTMX, jQuery, JavaScript
- ▸ CSS, HTML, Sass
Database & Search
- ▸ MySQL, MSSQL, SQLite
- ▸ Redis
- ▸ Elasticsearch, Algolia
- ▸ High-traffic database optimization
Infrastructure & DevOps
- ▸ Ubuntu, AWS, GCP, WSL2
- ▸ Docker, Shell scripting
- ▸ Apache, NGINX
- ▸ DigitalOcean, Cloudflare
APIs & Integrations
- ▸ RESTful, SOAP, GraphQL, XML, EDI
- ▸ Payment: Stripe, PayPal, Worldpay
- ▸ SagePay/Opayo, Realex, Braintree
- ▸ Shipping: DPD, Evri, APC
Development Tools
- ▸ Github, Git version control
- ▸ Pest (TDD), PHPUnit
- ▸ Docker containerization
- ▸ VS Code, Sublime Text
Leadership & Management
- ▸ Team leadership (20+ employees)
- ▸ Development roadmap planning
- ▸ 1-on-1 mentoring & code reviews
- ▸ Technical-to-business translation
Career Journey
Over 15 years of delivering innovative solutions
Engineering Manager
Tribes agency
- • Managing team of 5 developers using agile methodologies
- • Overseeing multiple projects with cross-functional collaboration
Senior PHP Backend Developer
Rathwood Ltd
- • Led team of 5 developers using agile methodologies, driving £32M growth
- • Architected Laravel ERP in collaborative sprints
- • Built backend handling 80,000+ orders (£20M+ revenue)
Owner / Technical Lead
Noble Express Ltd
- • Led 12-person team, achieving £2.2M revenue
- • Developed Laravel NEMs system using agile practices
- • Coordinated EDI integrations through collaborative cycles
Project/Contract Developer
InsideData Ltd
- • Founded company, hired team of 4 developers
- • Led agile Laravel development for thousands of users
- • Delivered €1.2M Santa Train system through teamwork
Earlier Roles
Various Companies
- • Collaborated on WordPress, Drupal, Magento solutions
- • Led technical team management of EventsSheffield
Impactful Projects
Real-world solutions driving business success
Bespoke ERP System
Complete Laravel-based business management system handling order lifecycle from quote to dispatch. Processes 80,000+ orders annually worth £32m+.
Key Features:
- • Real-time inventory management
- • Multi-channel order processing
- • Automated supplier integrations
- • Financial reporting & analytics
High-Traffic Booking System
Built santatrain.ie - a high-performance event booking platform handling 4,000+ simultaneous users. Processes €1m+ in ticket sales on launch days.
Technical Achievements:
- • Queue management system
- • Real-time seat availability
- • Payment gateway integration
- • Scalable infrastructure
Multi-Store Integration
Managed 36 partner store integrations across Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce. Synchronized inventory, pricing, and orders across all platforms.
Integration Highlights:
- • Real-time stock synchronization
- • Automated price updates
- • Centralized order management
- • Multi-channel analytics
Enterprise Integrations
Delivered custom integrations for major retailers including Selfridges, Brown Thomas, Amazon, and B&Q. Handled complex EDI and API requirements.
Key Clients & Systems:
- • Selfridges & Brown Thomas
- • Amazon Vendor Central
- • Wayfair & B&Q systems
- • Custom EDI implementations
Let's Connect
I'm currently available for new opportunities. Let's build something amazing together.