Gabriel McCallin

Staff Software Engineer

I am a staff software engineer working in the London region. I don't live in central London because that would be crazy but I am on the tube (zone 8 😱).

I spend most of my work life building, deploying and caring for apps or websites, and some of that time trying to get whatever office room I'm in to be the right temperature. All rooms should be 24 degrees Celsius, discuss - - -

At the moment I am experiencing the dizzying sensation of one minute designing enterprise architecture (just chains of load balancers really) and the next trying to decide between marginTop or marginBottom (never padding (ok - sometimes)).

This past year I have:

paired with at least 7000 developers, throuples are better, mobs are the best
written over a million stickies in Miro / Figma / Mural (I think this might be my greatest skill)
talked about the benefits of automated testing *every* *single* *day*
suggested to my peers to “do it in the front end” and not build a GraphQL server that models the entire universe. But business logic should be in the back end right? Does it depend what kind of business? What if it is funny business?
suggested to my peers that a facade API would be a good place to abstract over different vendor solutions. And then remembered I had argued the opposite recently. Horses for courses, I told myself
tried yet again to find another way to say, "well, it's a trade-off"
explained that yes, that will cost £2 million
worked with someone so incredibly toxic it gave me nightmares
worked with so many lovely humans that I remembered it was all ok 💖
been told that I am “on mute”
been told that I had ripped up the memo and thrown it in the bin. Is a “memo” a masculine meme?

I have realised this list is not describing my professional skills particularly well.

You know what, just get in touch 👋

Technologies

JavaScript Typescript Node CSS React React Native Expo GraphQL Cypress Webdriverio Docker AWS Azure Netlify Vercel Nextjs Contentful Firebase

(and many more! Ansible for example 😀)

Experience

AND Digital

Staff Software Engineer
September 2022 - present

I help companies create inspiring digital products. I support teams by building trust, an innovative, creative environment and cultivating software best practices.

I am an advocate for diverse, autonomous and high-trust teams, continuous automated quality, continuous deployment, pair programming, pull-based workflows, trunk-based and test-driven development, experimentation as a default, customer data as a default and learning as a metric for success.

As part of leadership teams, I have delivered high profile React Native applications to the app stores for Frasers Group (Sports Direct) and Aviva

Technologies used: Typescript, React, React Native, GraphQL, webdriverio, Appium, Firebase

Thoughtworks

Technical Lead
October 2018 - September 2022

I led cross-functional product teams to help deliver transformative customer experiences and establish modern digital business practices. Multiple clients across many industries including the NHS, Tesco, WorldFirst, Open GI, Evri and Wood Mackenzie.

Technologies used: Typescript, .NET Core, Node, styled-components, Vue, React, GraphQL, Cypress, Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, Azure, Netlify, Powershell, Terraform, AWS CDK, Firebase

Whitbread

DevOps Lead
September 2015 - October 2018

As part of a digital transformation of Whitbread Digital, I led a product team in the effort to adopt modern Agile and DevOps practices.

I helped to deliver a new responsive search experience for https://premierinn.com, through concept, MVP and launch.

Technologies used: Adobe Experience Manager, Typescript, Node, Jenkins, Akamai

Grand Visual

Technical Lead
April 2014 - September 2015

I led a development team to build interactive, dynamic and data-driven digital experiences in public spaces and retail environments.

I was also responsible for line management, technical sales, mentoring and recruitment.

Freelance

Technical Lead
August 2010 - March 2014

Development and delivery of multiple software projects including games, installations, websites and digital campaigns.

Web and advertising agencies include BD Network, Razorfish, unit9, Albion, WEIR + WONG, Spark44, Digital Annexe and Kin Design. Clients included Google, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Uniqlo, National Lottery and Sony Pictures UK.

TBWA

Senior web developer

March 2007 - August 2010

Front end web development for multiple clients such as Canon, Nike, Nissan and Mazda.