Technical Lead & Enthusiast

Kai Macmaster

Experience

I've been fortunate to work with some amazing companies and teams over the years. Here's a brief overview of my professional experience.

If you're looking for a complete, printable version of my Curriculum Vitae, head over to my resume page.

The Kubrick Group - Technical Lead

- Present

In my current role as Technical Lead on the product team at Kubrick Group, I've overseen the development of an internal learning platform, successfully driving the transition from classroom based learning to a web based platform. Additionally, I have an instrumental role in re-architecting the system from a monolith to microservices, increase flexibility for growth.

Some other key accomplishments during my time at Kubrick Group include:

  • Directed the splitting of services from monolithic architecture to microservices, enhancing scalability and functionality.
  • Collaborated closely with the CTO, Product Owner and Product Director, aiding with budget signoffs, providing strategic insights, and proposing future project solutions.
  • Developed frameworks for high-quality UI prototypes and tools by leveraging my expertise in React, Node, TypeScript and related technologies.
  • Collaborated effectively with clients, stakeholders, designers and developers, finding creative solutions that met high standards and best practices.
  • Served as a technical advisor, providing guidance to a small, highly skilled team.
  • Maintained a strong technical background in Front End development and remained up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies.
  • Demonstrated an excellent eye for great UI design and delivery, ensuring that all projects maintained a consistent brand image.
  • Provided guidance on Front End architecture and scalability, resulting in projects that were optimized for performance and maintainability.
  • Utilized Agile methodologies, CI/CD, Scrum, Azure DevOps, Azure Repo's, Microsoft Teams and other tools to streamline development processes and increase team efficiency.

Some of the specific projects myself and my team delivered during my time at Kubrick Group include:

  • CDP (Consultant Development Portal): Utilising Vue.js and test-driven development (TDD) to deliver an exceptional user experience, improving adoption and optimisation, realising product delivery.
  • Kloe: Advised on the technical architecture of a project utilizing Next.js, Storybook, GraphQL, and REST APIs. Providing technical documentation, integration, authorisation (RBAC) and authentication (AAD B2C)

These experiences, combined with my ability to influence technical decisions and guide teams, make me a seasoned candidate for my next technical leadership role.

The Access Group (formerly Omnifi Ltd) - Lead Developer

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My role within Omnifi (recently acquired by The Access Group), was Lead Client Developer on The Restaurant Group, in which I oversee all frontend & guest facing development for all brands under The Restaurant Group.

This includes the development of the whitelabel website, as well as the development of the order and pay app, which is now used for:

  • Wagamama (International)
  • Frankie & Benny's
  • Chiquito
  • Coast to Coast
  • Garfunkel's
  • Brunning & Price

I also oversaw the development of features and challenges to overcome for the COVID-19 pandemic, including:

  • The development of a new online ordering system for Wagamama, which was rolled out to all 100+ Wagamama restaurants in the UK
  • The development of track & trace for all restaurants, which was rolled out to all TRG owned restaurants in the UK
  • The microservice architecture for splitting VAT on orders for TRG owned restaurants in the UK

Netsells Ltd - Head of Frontend Engineering, YourParkingSpace

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As a Senior Frontend Engineer at Netsells, I was heavily involved in the development and enhancement of YourParkingSpace. I utilized my skills in Vue and Laravel to implement changes, while overseeing all code pull requests and managing front-end tasks in Jira.

My responsibilities also encompassed planning ‘epic’ tasks, providing accurate estimates, and delivering effective solutions. Key accomplishments during my time here included the successful launch of a business site, enhancement of whitelabel services, and the implementation of season tickets and discounts for landlords to foster repeat sales. My work at Netsells showcased my proficiency in Front-End Development, Back-End Web Development, Software Architecture, Data Engineering, and Data Architecture.

Transitioning to a direct role with YourParkingSpace, I led the engineering efforts, steering teams, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality products. I specialized in front-end services, working with Vue and Laravel, and commenced the separation of the Laravel backend from the frontend, paving the way for greater flexibility and modularity in our development processes.

Upon my departure, I left a comprehensive handover to the team, ensuring they were well-equipped to continue the work. This experience demonstrated my capabilities in User Experience (UX), Front-End Development, Back-End Web Development, Web Services, Software Testing, Software Architecture, Data Engineering, and Data Architecture. It also showcased my ability to work with a diverse range of stakeholders, including clients, designers, and developers, to deliver effective solutions.

Beanmedia UK Limited - Founder & Director of Creative Services

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As the Director of Creative Services at Beanmedia, a creative design agency specializing in website and print design, I served as a key link between our clients and the design team. Leveraging my design acumen and business development skills, I was entrusted with managing diverse projects, including website creation, branding, and marketing material development.

I frequently liaised with clients to define project scopes and ensure effective execution of their vision. This role often required me to make strategic use of software engineering, as well as the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of applications, demonstrating my ability to combine technological prowess with creative thinking.

Under my leadership, we successfully completed numerous projects that helped grow our clients' brands. Some of my key accomplishments include:

  • Developed a new website for a local restaurant, which increased their online presence and helped them attract new customers.
  • Created a new brand identity for a local property development business, which helped them stand out from their competitors and attract new customers.
  • Managed the design services for a local magazine, which helped them increase their readership and attract new advertisers.
  • Developed a new website for a local charity, which helped them manage their services internally and increase their online presence and attract new donors.
  • Provided consulting services to a local business, which helped them reduce cost, inprove retention rates and increase their online presence.

Due to an unfortunate health condition of my business partner at the time, we decided to discontinue the company. This experience further solidified my project management skills, ability to navigate complex situations, and dedication to producing high-quality deliverables - attributes that have been invaluable in my subsequent roles.

Netopian Ltd - Head of Software Engineering

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My journey at Netopian Ltd., a company specializing in providing secure internet solutions for local councils across the UK, began as an apprentice Software Engineer and eventually led to my role as the Head of Software Engineering. Over the course of seven years, I had the opportunity to work on an internet filter service aimed at ensuring the safe online browsing for children in care.

As a Software Engineer, I used Java, Spring Boot, PHP, and React extensively to develop and maintain the company's internet filtering software. I demonstrated a keen ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex issues, ensuring optimal service performance and reliability.

Upon progression to the role of Lead Developer and then Head of Software Engineering, my responsibilities expanded to overseeing the software engineering team, driving the development of high-quality solutions, and fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment. I was instrumental in setting the technical direction, architecture, and design of our software products, ensuring they were not only robust and scalable but also met the exacting safety standards required for our specific user base.

The experience at Netopian Ltd. honed my skills in a variety of programming languages and frameworks, and strengthened my abilities in team leadership, software architecture, and the development of secure online solutions.

If you're looking for a complete, printable version of my Curriculum Vitae, head over to my resume page.