Projects | Skills | Education | Experience | Hobbies and Interests | LinkedIn
I am an ambitious full-stack web developer based in London, UK. I pick up new skills very quickly, and can produce clean tested code following best practices. I have previous experience working in large technical teams, and have managed technical work in theatre productions.
I am a graduate from Makers Academy - a 12-week intensive development bootcamp - and am currently employed at The Guardian as a Software Engineer, specialising in tools and infrastructure.
I love learning a diverse range of technologies both through my work and experimentation, and consistently endorse Agile methodologies and XP values to help me grow my skills.
For a complete list, see my GitHub.
| Project | Description | Technologies |
|---|---|---|
| helloWorld | Our final project at Makers Academy. A multi-lingual messaging service that translates before you receive them. | Languages: Python, Javascript Frameworks: CherryPy, jQuery Testing: UnitTest, PyTest, Jasmine Persistence: SQLite |
| CareFreeBreaks CMS | A CMS built for the CareFreeBreaks booking app, currently in production. | Languages: Javascript (ES6, ES7, JSX) Frameworks: React |
| Number Games App | Fun personal project featuring two SPA number games & score persistence across the session. Hosted on my website . | Language: Javascript Frameworks: NodeJS, ExpressJS Testing: Jasmine |
| stephengeller.co.uk | Personal website created in my spare time using Node and ExpressJS after two weeks of learning JavaScript. Modified to additionally host a draft of my blog and bowling calculator. | Language: Javascript Frameworks: NodeJS, ExpressJS Linting: ESLint Deployment: Heroku |
| Bowling Calculator | A program that calculates bowling scores on the fly. Made while learning about mixing front-end (EJS pages, CSS styling) with tested back-end (Javascript functions tested with Jasmine). Built over two weekends, hosted on my website. | Language: Javascript Testing: Jasmine |
| Stevestagram | Instagram-inspired newsfeed challenge made using Rails after one week of learning. Users can sign up, post pictures onto a feed (and edit/delete them), add/delete comments and like/unlike snaps. Users can also see their own profile with only their pictures on it. Built over one weekend. | Frameworks: Ruby on Rails, acts_as_votable (voting), Clearance (user sessions) Persistence: PostgreSQL Testing: RSpec, Capybara |
- Practices: OOP, TDD, MVC, Pair-programming
- Linux distributions: CentOS 6, CentOS 7, Jessie (Raspbian)
- Infrastructure Tools: Puppet, Nagios, AWS (EC2, IAM, AMI, Lambda, S3, Cognito, DynamoDB, Secrets Manager, Amazon Alexa), GoCD, Grafana, Graphite
- Languages: JavaScript, Ruby, Python, Bash, Puppet, HashiCorp HCL
- Frameworks: React.js, Rails, Node.js, Express.js, CherryPy, jQuery
- Testing: Rspec, Capybara, Jasmine, Mocha / Chai, Zombie, UnitTest, PyTest
I have always been excited by learning new technologies and software, both in music and non music-related areas:
- Learnt how to use Logic Pro at 14 years old to record and produce live music, and subsequently learnt Ableton Live over a few months in order to explore more electronic-based composition.
- Taught myself to use Traktor Pro, a software used by DJs to perform live.
- Taught myself QLab so I can design soundscapes and sound effects for theatre productions
I am equally keen on learning new techniques when required by the situation at hand:
- Without any prior knowledge of how to do them, I taught myself to write thorough risk assessments and method statements for shows involving casts and crews of over 30 people.
- During 'Damage' - explained below - I learnt how to manage a small £400 budget to provide necessary funds for purchasing all set items
- During my time with the University of Sheffield's Theatre Company (SuTCo), I held the role of Technical Manager, which comprised of heading technical activity for the society, and managed operations in over 10 independent productions per year with over 200 active members.
- All formal communications with hired venues, arrangements of technical training sessions and technical investment decisions were helmed by me throughout tenancy of the position.
- Due to my work in the role I was voted SuTCo's "Techie of the Year" award by my peers at the end-of-year awards event.
- When working at Healthcare At Home, I was promoted to supervisor by my manager, becoming responsible for managing communication between over 80 staff members
- As production manager of Ben Price's play 'Damage' in 2015, I managed the assembly of music, lighting, props, set and risk assessments through communicating with my production team. The show ran for a week at the Drama Studio, and won both best sound and best show at the end-of-year SuTCo awards.
- In 2017, I participated in a charity hitch-hike (Bummit) from Sheffield to Riga, Latvia, all whilst trying to spend as little money as possible. We were tasked with reaching our destination within ten days.
- As a group of three, we had to make confident decisions as to what route we should take throughout Europe, how to approach strangers and where to go within cities we arrived in, all whilst learning to speak unfamiliar new languages.
- Using these skills, we arrived in Riga within our time-limit, having covered 1,600 miles, 9 cities and 6 countries. I also raised £335 for the selected charities, and made a (poorly-edited) video of my experience (DM for details)!
- Curiosity and passion for code
- Independent learner and problem-solver
- Methodologies: Agile, XP
- 1st class (Hons) in Psychology (BSc)
- Received a high 1st in my dissertation focused on social media use
- Additional modules in music technology, sociology and journalism
- Held various roles in the Sheffield University Theatre Company including Technical Manager (2015-2016)
- A Levels: AAAB in Politics, Theatre Studies, Music Technology and Maths (A2)
- Grade 5 Music Theory
- Captain of the schools' rugby 7s team and awarded overall player of the season (2012, final year)
- Performed in leading roles in multiple school theatre productions
Unruly (December 2017 to Present)
Software Developer - Shared Infrastructure Team (ShIfT)
- Specialise in infrastructure-related technologies, such as Puppet and Terraform.
- Experienced in creating tested, reactive scripts to help automate repeated behaviours and improve infrastructure resilience across the greater development team.
- Understand how to ensure all production infrastructure is secure, immutable and efficient while providing a safe environment for teams to roll out new features.
- Practice Agile & XP, such as pair programming and TDD on all software development.
Sheffield University Student's Union (August 2015 to June 2017)
Information and Communication Assistant
Healthcare at Home (March 2014 to July 2014) Customer Services Coordinator & Supervisor
- Keen musician: I enjoy drumming and producing electronic music, and have had an original piece used as the theme song for a show that premiered on BBC Radio Scotland
- Yogi: Practiced hot yoga for two years
- Jack of all trades, master of none: I like to play around with new technologies and APIs (see my
<TECH>-playgroundrepositories) and get an MVP up and running to see how they work - Love films, theatre, television and video-games