From d187b7740ef0c3071f60624ccf98ad6b4f080dad Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Chris Buckley Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:51:33 +0000 Subject: [PATCH 1/4] Tailor for lead architect role --- _src/aspell/jargon.pws | 7 ++- _src/cv.cls | 1 + _src/cv.tex | 107 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++--------------- 3 files changed, 76 insertions(+), 39 deletions(-) diff --git a/_src/aspell/jargon.pws b/_src/aspell/jargon.pws index df3091b..1ca2920 100644 --- a/_src/aspell/jargon.pws +++ b/_src/aspell/jargon.pws @@ -1,10 +1,11 @@ -personal_ws-1.1 en 22 +personal_ws-1.1 en 28 ActiveMQ BYOD CTPO Cyber DevOps HD +IoT Kanban Kubernetes NHS @@ -14,11 +15,15 @@ SDLC SMS SRE SaaS +Symfony Terraform +TypeScript XP Zend frontend iGaming +js +microservices roadmap scalable workstreams diff --git a/_src/cv.cls b/_src/cv.cls index 3403271..51404e0 100644 --- a/_src/cv.cls +++ b/_src/cv.cls @@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ \RequirePackage[pdfusetitle]{hyperref} \usepackage{bookmark} \usepackage{enumitem} % Control layout of lists +\usepackage{multicol} \pagestyle{empty} % Suppress page numbers diff --git a/_src/cv.tex b/_src/cv.tex index d60ed0c..3d62c3a 100644 --- a/_src/cv.tex +++ b/_src/cv.tex @@ -23,14 +23,52 @@ \section{Summary} -An accomplished technology leader and mentor with over \ExperienceYears{2008} years' experience -building and evolving large-scale platforms and leading high-performing teams. Proven ability -to define and execute technical strategies, ensuring engineering quality and operational -resilience through scalable, fault-tolerant systems using on-premises and cloud-based solutions. -Extensive hands-on experience in architecture, engineering and technical operations across financial -services, retail and iGaming sectors. Known for creating a culture of collaboration, continuous -learning and ownership, effectively communicating with clients and aligning stakeholders at all -organisational levels. Keen advocate of open-source technologies and communities. +An accomplished architect \& engineering leader with over \ExperienceYears{2008} years' experience +building and evolving large-scale platforms and leading high-performing teams. Experienced in +delivering complex digital transformations and modernisation programmes, specialising in API-first +architectures and event-driven systems, working with legacy and modern estates in on-premises and cloud +environments. Extensive hands-on experience in architecture, engineering and technical operations across +financial services, retail and iGaming sectors. Skilled in establishing architecture governance, +communicating with clients and aligning stakeholders at all organisational levels. Keen advocate of +open-source technologies and communities. + +%---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +% CORE SKILLS +%---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +\section{Core Skills} + +\begin{multicols}{2} +\subsection{Architecture} +\begin{itemize} +\item Distributed systems \& event-driven architecture +\item API-first design \& integration (REST, SOAP) +\item Architecture governance, design authorities, decision records +\item Security \& compliance (ISO 27001, CE+) +\end{itemize} + +\subsection{Languages \& Frameworks} +\begin{itemize} +\item PHP (Symfony / Zend Framework) +\item JavaScript / TypeScript (Node.js ecosystem) +\item High-performance MySQL +\end{itemize} + +\subsection{Tooling} +\begin{itemize} +\item Terraform / infrastructure as code +\item CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Jenkins) +\item Docker / containerised environments +\item AWS cloud native solutions +\end{itemize} + +\subsection{Practices} +\begin{itemize} +\item Secure SDLC +\item Test \& release automation +\item Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) +\end{itemize} +\end{multicols} %---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- % PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE @@ -39,28 +77,24 @@ \section{Summary} \section{Professional Experience} \begin{experience}{Head of Engineering}{2025--2026}{SmartSearch}{Ilkley, West Yorkshire} -\item Led and scaled 15-person engineering team in a regulated B2B SaaS environment serving 7000+ - clients, building a culture of accountability, collaboration \& operational excellence -\item Assessed team capability \& structure, identifying gaps in technical depth and defining - hiring \& training priorities -\item Established clear ownership boundaries across 4 Agile squads, improving delivery predictability -\item Responsible for engineering maturity roadmap delivering best practices in software development, +\item Led and scaled 15-person engineering team maintaining a B2B SaaS platform serving 7000+ + clients, using Symfony microservices architecture deployed to Azure Kubernetes Services +\item Established clear ownership boundaries across 4 Agile squads, building a culture of + accountability, collaboration \& operational excellence +\item Defined engineering maturity roadmap delivering best practices in software development, quality assurance \& continuous integration using DORA \& SPACE metrics frameworks -\item Partnered with Product leadership to ensure effective planning \& execution of product roadmap \item Responsible for technology budgets, forecasting, career progression framework, coaching \& mentoring, strategic client/vendor relationships \end{experience} -\begin{experienceplain}{Principal Consultant}{2022--2025}{Answer Digital}{Leeds, West Yorkshire} +\begin{experienceplain}{Principal Architect}{2022--2025}{Answer Digital}{Leeds, West Yorkshire} \begin{itemize} -\item Defined technical strategy for architecture \& engineering capabilities, client engagement \& - account management with clients across healthcare, financial services \& retail sectors -\item Mentor for 5 senior architects \& engineers supporting individual career paths \& capability leadership -\item Defined company-wide mission, roadmap \& progression plans with heads of capability +\item Defined technical strategy \& standards for architecture \& engineering capabilities, account + management with clients across healthcare, financial services \& retail sectors +\item Promoted adoption of DevOps practices, Terraform \& AWS deployment blueprints \item Managed internal technical operations, coordinated vulnerability remediation across 120 user devices and introduced new BYOD policies to satisfy Cyber Essentials Plus audit -\item Promoted adoption of DevOps practices, Terraform \& management of AWS Partner programme -\item Experienced in delivering tech strategy, M\&A technical due diligence \& ISO 27001 / CE+ compliance +\item Mentor for 5 senior architects \& engineers supporting individual career paths \& capability leadership \end{itemize} % DMS Sep 2024 - Apr 2025 @@ -69,7 +103,7 @@ \subsection{Interim CTPO, Preventx} % May - Jul 2024 \begin{itemize} \item Ownership, management and execution of the Preventx technology strategy \item Overall responsibility for technology within Preventx, including the platform, - infrastructure, operations \& quality management + target architecture, infrastructure, operations \& quality management \item Responsible for IT budget, including forecasting, allocation, and expenditure tracking \item Product strategy and alignment of commercial aspirations with technical capabilities \item Senior leadership, mentorship \& motivation of a 20-person blended technical team @@ -79,8 +113,7 @@ \subsection{Interim CTPO, Preventx} % May - Jul 2024 \subsection{Engineering Lead, Scottish Friendly Assurance} % Oct 2023 - Apr 2024 \begin{itemize} \item Managed a blended team of 10 engineers distributed across multiple workstreams \& locations -\item Supported development \& assurance testing for a successful multi-year platform upgrade \& - introduction of Consumer Duty +\item Supported development \& assurance testing for a successful multi-year platform upgrade \item Delivered organisation digital modernisation \& maturity improvements for SDLC, software governance, continuous integration \& ways of working \end{itemize} @@ -88,9 +121,9 @@ \subsection{Engineering Lead, Scottish Friendly Assurance} % Oct 2023 - Apr 2024 \subsection{Principal Architect, Strike} % May - Sep 2023 \begin{itemize} \item Architecture lead for Strike during acquisition of Purplebricks -\item Technical appraisal of existing technology platforms, services \& suppliers -\item Defined target operating model, consolidated target architecture, change roadmap \& risk - assessment, enabling accelerated re-launch under a single brand \& proposition within 6 months +\item Technical appraisal \& decomposition of existing architecture, technology platforms, services \& suppliers +\item Defined consolidated target architecture, operating model, change roadmap \& risk + assessment, enabling accelerated re-launch of a single platform, brand \& proposition within 6 months \end{itemize} \subsection{Lead Architect, NHS England} % Jul 2022 - Apr 2023 @@ -98,7 +131,7 @@ \subsection{Lead Architect, NHS England} % Jul 2022 - Apr 2023 \item Architect \& Account Manager for NHS COVID Pass programme \item Supported creation of target operating model for successful service transition from NHSX to NHS BSA, aligning commercials, policy \& technical governance -\item Responsible for architecture principles \& Technical Design Authority to oversee programme change +\item Responsible for architecture principles \& chaired Technical Design Authority to oversee programme change \item Led the initiative to embed SDLC best practices \& release COVID Pass source code to the public \end{itemize} @@ -107,11 +140,12 @@ \subsection{Lead Architect, NHS England} % Jul 2022 - Apr 2023 %---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \begin{experience}{Senior Solutions Architect}{2017--2022}{Sky Betting \& Gaming}{Leeds, West Yorkshire} -\item Launched a product-agnostic games content aggregation platform with teams across the Flutter group, - saving over £2m annually in third-party platform fees and driving platform independence \item Technical Architect for Platform Engineering team responsible for on-premises Kubernetes cluster, internal tooling, Infrastructure as Code, Developer Experience \& SRE practices -\item Pioneered use of Kafka to standardise real-time event-driven architecture with Data teams +\item Designed \& launched a real-time Kafka data streaming platform enabling event-driven integration + with Data teams +\item Responsible for integration of games content aggregation platform with teams across the Flutter group, + saving over £2m annually in third-party platform fees and driving platform independence \item Oversaw vulnerability management initiative prioritising \& resolving hundreds of vulnerabilities across the gaming estate in under 6 months \item Incident Commander providing measured support to on-call teams during incidents \& major events @@ -127,7 +161,6 @@ \subsection{Lead Architect, NHS England} % Jul 2022 - Apr 2023 \item Evolved \& communicated SDLC, increasing deployment frequency from 10 to over 200 per week \item Managed third-party vendor relationships with Architects and Service Delivery Managers \item Responsible for recruiting and retaining diverse-skill teams, working closely with Talent Recruiters -\item Championed corporate open-source contribution and technical community involvement \end{experience} %---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- @@ -136,9 +169,8 @@ \subsection{Lead Architect, NHS England} % Jul 2022 - Apr 2023 \item Technical lead for Sky Poker LAMP development team using Zend Framework \& modular JavaScript \item Built \& maintained a JavaScript poker application integrating with existing third-party engine \item Technical liaison for third-party supplier integration and overall software architecture -\item Defined product roadmap and strategic direction with Director of Product \item Collaborated with Platform and Service Operations teams to ensure high availability -\item Worked with Architects to evolve company technical roadmap +\item Worked with Architects to evolve technical architecture roadmap \end{experience} %---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- @@ -148,15 +180,13 @@ \subsection{Lead Architect, NHS England} % Jul 2022 - Apr 2023 enabling real-time customer feedback \item Established Agile delivery practices (Scrum, XP, Kanban) \& supported organisation in Agile adoption \item Maintained Jenkins continuous integration platform and code analysis tools -\item Design authority and development of standards for RESTful Web services -\item Supported team recruitment process conducting interviews \& technical tests +\item Responsible for API contract design, integration patterns \& standards for REST/SOAP services \end{experience} %---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \begin{experience}{Developer}{2007--2009}{Vebra Solutions}{Pocklington, North Yorkshire} \item Development of PHP property management system with JavaScript Web frontend -\item Refactored existing implementation for cross-browser compatibility \item Maintained the LAMP platform, CVS repository, coding standards and Bugzilla \end{experience} @@ -189,6 +219,7 @@ \section{Personal Interests} \begin{itemize} \item Programming (contributions to several open-source projects) +\item Home automation / IoT \item Rock climbing \item Snowboarding \item Cycling / mountain biking From 9e439759b0ce3bd9771b01e073b1e275b4518d43 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Chris Buckley Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:05:07 +0000 Subject: [PATCH 2/4] DWP role --- _src/aspell/jargon.pws | 5 ++++- _src/aspell/locations.pws | 3 ++- _src/cv.tex | 23 ++++++++++++++++------- 3 files changed, 22 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-) diff --git a/_src/aspell/jargon.pws b/_src/aspell/jargon.pws index 1ca2920..21f7375 100644 --- a/_src/aspell/jargon.pws +++ b/_src/aspell/jargon.pws @@ -1,4 +1,4 @@ -personal_ws-1.1 en 28 +personal_ws-1.1 en 32 ActiveMQ BYOD CTPO @@ -11,10 +11,13 @@ Kubernetes NHS NHSX RESTful +SAFe SDLC +SLT SMS SRE SaaS +SbD Symfony Terraform TypeScript diff --git a/_src/aspell/locations.pws b/_src/aspell/locations.pws index 2ae9a15..392656b 100644 --- a/_src/aspell/locations.pws +++ b/_src/aspell/locations.pws @@ -1,6 +1,7 @@ -personal_ws-1.1 en 9 +personal_ws-1.1 en 10 Darlington Dunelm +DWP Hild Ilkley Pocklington diff --git a/_src/cv.tex b/_src/cv.tex index 3d62c3a..296dcea 100644 --- a/_src/cv.tex +++ b/_src/cv.tex @@ -43,15 +43,16 @@ \subsection{Architecture} \begin{itemize} \item Distributed systems \& event-driven architecture \item API-first design \& integration (REST, SOAP) -\item Architecture governance, design authorities, decision records -\item Security \& compliance (ISO 27001, CE+) +\item Architecture governance \& decision records +\item Security \& compliance (ISO 27001, CE+, SbD) \end{itemize} -\subsection{Languages \& Frameworks} +\subsection{Technology} \begin{itemize} -\item PHP (Symfony / Zend Framework) \item JavaScript / TypeScript (Node.js ecosystem) +\item PHP \item High-performance MySQL +\item Kafka \end{itemize} \subsection{Tooling} @@ -66,7 +67,7 @@ \subsection{Practices} \begin{itemize} \item Secure SDLC \item Test \& release automation -\item Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) +\item Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe) \end{itemize} \end{multicols} @@ -76,6 +77,14 @@ \subsection{Practices} \section{Professional Experience} +\begin{experience}{Lead Architect}{2026--Present}{Department for Work \& Pensions}{Leeds, West Yorkshire} +\item Ownership of strategic architecture roadmap for PIP, aligned to DWP reference architecture +\item Represent the team at SLT, external governance boards \& service standard assessments +\item Collaborate with Enterprise Architects to evolve architecture principles across Health + \& Disability +\item Support supplier Statements of Work, transformation budgeting \& sustainability +\end{experience} + \begin{experience}{Head of Engineering}{2025--2026}{SmartSearch}{Ilkley, West Yorkshire} \item Led and scaled 15-person engineering team maintaining a B2B SaaS platform serving 7000+ clients, using Symfony microservices architecture deployed to Azure Kubernetes Services @@ -142,10 +151,10 @@ \subsection{Lead Architect, NHS England} % Jul 2022 - Apr 2023 \begin{experience}{Senior Solutions Architect}{2017--2022}{Sky Betting \& Gaming}{Leeds, West Yorkshire} \item Technical Architect for Platform Engineering team responsible for on-premises Kubernetes cluster, internal tooling, Infrastructure as Code, Developer Experience \& SRE practices -\item Designed \& launched a real-time Kafka data streaming platform enabling event-driven integration - with Data teams \item Responsible for integration of games content aggregation platform with teams across the Flutter group, saving over £2m annually in third-party platform fees and driving platform independence +\item Designed \& launched a real-time Kafka data streaming platform enabling event-driven integration + with Data teams \item Oversaw vulnerability management initiative prioritising \& resolving hundreds of vulnerabilities across the gaming estate in under 6 months \item Incident Commander providing measured support to on-call teams during incidents \& major events From 200150a96c3cf406845103b66919c4d9e8a521bf Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Chris Buckley Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2026 21:27:10 +0000 Subject: [PATCH 3/4] Tweaks to core skills --- _src/aspell/jargon.pws | 1 + _src/cv.tex | 15 +++++++-------- 2 files changed, 8 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-) diff --git a/_src/aspell/jargon.pws b/_src/aspell/jargon.pws index 21f7375..89c7fa5 100644 --- a/_src/aspell/jargon.pws +++ b/_src/aspell/jargon.pws @@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ Kanban Kubernetes NHS NHSX +RDBMS RESTful SAFe SDLC diff --git a/_src/cv.tex b/_src/cv.tex index 296dcea..0900533 100644 --- a/_src/cv.tex +++ b/_src/cv.tex @@ -43,19 +43,18 @@ \subsection{Architecture} \begin{itemize} \item Distributed systems \& event-driven architecture \item API-first design \& integration (REST, SOAP) -\item Architecture governance \& decision records +\item Architecture assurance \& governance \item Security \& compliance (ISO 27001, CE+, SbD) \end{itemize} -\subsection{Technology} +\subsection{Technologies} \begin{itemize} -\item JavaScript / TypeScript (Node.js ecosystem) -\item PHP -\item High-performance MySQL -\item Kafka +\item Event streaming (Kafka) +\item High-performance RDBMS (MySQL) +\item JavaScript / TypeScript ecosystems \end{itemize} -\subsection{Tooling} +\subsection{Platform Engineering} \begin{itemize} \item Terraform / infrastructure as code \item CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Jenkins) @@ -67,7 +66,7 @@ \subsection{Practices} \begin{itemize} \item Secure SDLC \item Test \& release automation -\item Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe) +\item Agile delivery (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe) \end{itemize} \end{multicols} From 43479374cb640a6d984f1d914167ea8b4940bf87 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Chris Buckley Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2026 22:21:00 +0000 Subject: [PATCH 4/4] Reduce bullets for a number of roles --- _src/cv.tex | 19 +++++-------------- 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 14 deletions(-) diff --git a/_src/cv.tex b/_src/cv.tex index 0900533..1308167 100644 --- a/_src/cv.tex +++ b/_src/cv.tex @@ -109,13 +109,10 @@ \section{Professional Experience} \subsection{Interim CTPO, Preventx} % May - Jul 2024 \begin{itemize} -\item Ownership, management and execution of the Preventx technology strategy \item Overall responsibility for technology within Preventx, including the platform, target architecture, infrastructure, operations \& quality management \item Responsible for IT budget, including forecasting, allocation, and expenditure tracking -\item Product strategy and alignment of commercial aspirations with technical capabilities \item Senior leadership, mentorship \& motivation of a 20-person blended technical team -\item Fostered a culture of innovation and collaboration, representing the technical team at board level \end{itemize} \subsection{Engineering Lead, Scottish Friendly Assurance} % Oct 2023 - Apr 2024 @@ -129,7 +126,7 @@ \subsection{Engineering Lead, Scottish Friendly Assurance} % Oct 2023 - Apr 2024 \subsection{Principal Architect, Strike} % May - Sep 2023 \begin{itemize} \item Architecture lead for Strike during acquisition of Purplebricks -\item Technical appraisal \& decomposition of existing architecture, technology platforms, services \& suppliers +\item Technical appraisal of existing architecture, technology platforms, services \& suppliers \item Defined consolidated target architecture, operating model, change roadmap \& risk assessment, enabling accelerated re-launch of a single platform, brand \& proposition within 6 months \end{itemize} @@ -139,7 +136,7 @@ \subsection{Lead Architect, NHS England} % Jul 2022 - Apr 2023 \item Architect \& Account Manager for NHS COVID Pass programme \item Supported creation of target operating model for successful service transition from NHSX to NHS BSA, aligning commercials, policy \& technical governance -\item Responsible for architecture principles \& chaired Technical Design Authority to oversee programme change +\item Responsible for architecture principles \& Technical Design Authority overseeing programme change \item Led the initiative to embed SDLC best practices \& release COVID Pass source code to the public \end{itemize} @@ -152,13 +149,10 @@ \subsection{Lead Architect, NHS England} % Jul 2022 - Apr 2023 internal tooling, Infrastructure as Code, Developer Experience \& SRE practices \item Responsible for integration of games content aggregation platform with teams across the Flutter group, saving over £2m annually in third-party platform fees and driving platform independence -\item Designed \& launched a real-time Kafka data streaming platform enabling event-driven integration - with Data teams +\item Designed \& launched Kafka data hub, enabling event-driven integration with multiple teams \item Oversaw vulnerability management initiative prioritising \& resolving hundreds of vulnerabilities across the gaming estate in under 6 months -\item Incident Commander providing measured support to on-call teams during incidents \& major events \item Technical contact for third-party suppliers providing supporting services and delivery capability -\item Mentor \& coach to other architects \& engineers in teams across gaming products \& services \end{experience} %---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- @@ -174,11 +168,9 @@ \subsection{Lead Architect, NHS England} % Jul 2022 - Apr 2023 %---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \begin{experience}{Principal Engineer}{2012--2015}{Sky Betting \& Gaming}{Leeds, West Yorkshire} -\item Technical lead for Sky Poker LAMP development team using Zend Framework \& modular JavaScript -\item Built \& maintained a JavaScript poker application integrating with existing third-party engine +\item Technical lead for Sky Poker development team using Zend Framework \& modular JavaScript \item Technical liaison for third-party supplier integration and overall software architecture \item Collaborated with Platform and Service Operations teams to ensure high availability -\item Worked with Architects to evolve technical architecture roadmap \end{experience} %---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- @@ -187,8 +179,7 @@ \subsection{Lead Architect, NHS England} % Jul 2022 - Apr 2023 \item Delivered multi-channel customer satisfaction survey platform using Zend Framework \& ActiveMQ, enabling real-time customer feedback \item Established Agile delivery practices (Scrum, XP, Kanban) \& supported organisation in Agile adoption -\item Maintained Jenkins continuous integration platform and code analysis tools -\item Responsible for API contract design, integration patterns \& standards for REST/SOAP services +\item Maintained Jenkins continuous integration platform \& code analysis tools \end{experience} %----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------