Hi, I'm Jacob

Open to work · Backend engineer roles

England, United Kingdom

Backend software engineer with experience in building production systems across IoT, industrial compliance, and e-learning. Strongest in Go and Python for backend work, comfortable across the full stack from embedded firmware to deployment infrastructure.

Currently contracting through O'Neill Technology Solutions and looking to join an engineering team. I've been the only engineer in the room for far too long and want to collaborate, learn, and deliver on a long-term project.

Go
Python
PostgreSQL
Docker
Linux
TypeScript
React
HTMX

Work

O'Neill Technology Solutions

Independent Software Contractor

Jan 2025 - Present
- 15-month engagement with CGS Engineering as sole developer on an ATEX industrial compliance platform. Owned the full lifecycle from requirements gathering through architecture, implementation, and technical documentation.
- Built a containerised Flask, React, and PostgreSQL web application serving multiple client organisations with role-based access control and white-label theming. Enabled the client to scale from a service-based to a product-based business model.
- Subsequent engagements included building a custom SCORM content generation framework as a private npm package (Preact, Vite) and deploying a TalentLMS e-learning platform with GDPR/DPA compliance and German localisation.
Bioscope Technologies

Lead Software Developer

Jan 2022 - Mar 2023
- Led end-to-end development of IoT monitoring system: electronic design, embedded firmware (C++), backend APIs (Node.js and Express), frontend dashboard (React), and deployment (Linux and Docker).
- Built ESP32 sensor nodes streaming pH, temperature, and ORP data via WebSockets to a real-time dashboard for scientists.
- Automated manual measurement process, enabling scientists to focus on R&D with projected savings of £250k–£500k per year per factory.

University of Central Lancashire

BSc (Hons) Live Audio Engineering and Music Production

Sep 2020 - May 2023
- First Class Honours; student ambassador advocating for course improvements and resources.
- Dissertation: networking platform for Manchester student musicians; collaborated across universities (RNCM, Salford, BIMM) and industry professionals.
- PA system design for Manchester O2 Apollo; spatial audio modelling and power distribution under Paul Ratcliff (O2 Ritz Technical Manager).
- Selected to design and build recording studio for Joe Cross (Courteeners producer and bass player).

Projects

pico-bios-kbd

A four button USB HID keyboard built on a Raspberry Pi Pico W for headless BIOS navigation

fzf-music

A terminal-based music playlist browser using fzf to select and play local playlists with cover art previews via mpv.

LinkedIn Notification Purger

A Chrome extension that bulk-deletes LinkedIn notifications, filling a missing feature gap in LinkedIn's UI.

Backpack Trading

An algorithmic trading simulator that applies the unbounded knapsack algorithm to portfolio optimisation, featuring a web scraper, trading bot, and data visualiser built in Python.