I'm Andrew Yardley, a software engineering leader with over 15 years of experience in building and managing high-performing development teams.
Explore my journeyThoughts on engineering practices, emerging technologies, and nurturing talent in the digital age.
Navigating the 2024 tech job market: Lessons learned and strategies for success after an unexpected career shift.
Read moreAs AI code generation tools like Anthropic's new artifact model reshape the development landscape, we explore the opportunities and challenges for the tech industry.
Read moreWith over 15 years in the software development industry, I've grown from a full-stack developer to an engineering leader.
Throughout my career, I've successfully led teams in both agency and product environments, delivering high-impact solutions for major clients. I'm passionate about fostering innovation, improving development processes, and creating inclusive team cultures that drive excellence.
Oversaw engineering efforts for innovative digital products across hospitality, manufacturing, and media industries. Managed a diverse, 20-member remote engineering team spanning frontend, backend, QA, DevOps, and mobile development.
Identified an opportunity to expand our mobile development capabilities. Founded and grew a mobile team from scratch, significantly expanding our company's service offerings and opening new revenue streams.
Led the engineering effort to create a centralised content API and site builder platform for a major player in the hospitality industry. This solution enabled rapid creation of dynamic microsites, enhancing the client's marketing capabilities.
Directed a team that built and maintained a large-scale web platform for the social care sector, serving numerous providers including a government-backed support agency. This project demanded robust solutions for performance, security, and content management.
Partnered with a leading mortgage provider to develop a strategy for efficient application tracking and management. This project required balancing technical solutions with strict financial regulations and data security requirements.
Led engineering efforts for diverse e-commerce projects, from sports merchandise to luxury spirits. Built and upskilled teams in technologies like Shopify, overseeing development of sophisticated platforms with integrated payment gateways and POS systems.
Led cloud migration initiatives to improve scalability and performance of client websites. Spearheaded the implementation of ISO 27001 accreditation, enhancing information security management across the engineering department.
Spearheaded the adoption of AI and machine learning technologies within our development processes. Led initiatives to explore and implement emerging tech, enhancing our product offerings and internal efficiencies.
2024 - Present
I am currently serving as an Engineering Manager at ENSEK, a leading software provider for the energy industry. In this role, I oversee a team of talented engineers, driving the development of innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of our clients.
2020 - 2024
4 Years - Remote Working
Following my success as Team Lead, I was promoted to Head of Engineering at 383 Project, a digital product studio partnering with ambitious brands. In this role, I led the technical strategy and managed a diverse, 20-member remote engineering team. My responsibilities included establishing and refining department processes to enhance team efficiency and product quality. I played a key part in the company's ISO 27001 compliance efforts, strengthening our information security management practices. Additionally, I collaborated closely with our commercial teams, assisting in formulating proposals and providing technical expertise to cost solutions for our clients. This role required balancing technical leadership with business objectives to drive the studio's growth and maintain our competitive edge in the digital product space.
2018 - 2020
2 Years - Hybrid / Birmingham, UK
After joining 383 Project as a Senior Engineer, I was promoted to Team Lead within six months. In this role, I led a high-performing backend engineering team, focusing on performance optimization and code quality improvement. Our team developed sophisticated infrastructure for major clients in various sectors. I established systems that enhanced knowledge sharing and fostered a culture of continuous improvement within our growing studio.
2013 - 2018
5 Years - Bromsgrove, UK
Superdream was a full-service marketing agency offering creative, digital, and PR services to a diverse client base across various industries. My contributions and growth at the company led to my promotion to Head of Web Development. In this role, I led a team of web developers, overseeing backend operations and coordinating development projects for our wide-ranging clientele. My responsibilities included providing strategic direction, mentorship, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality web solutions. I managed the architectural design and maintenance of numerous websites for key clients across various sectors. Additionally, I led cloud migration initiatives and facilitated our international expansion by integrating our first Australian developer.
2011 - 2013
2 Years - Bromsgrove, UK
In this role at Superdream, I led development efforts on complex web projects, collaborating with cross-functional teams. I spearheaded the development of full-stack solutions, including e-commerce platforms with integrated POS systems. Mentoring junior developers and championing best practices in code quality were key aspects of this position. I also established weekly knowledge-sharing sessions to enhance our team's technical capabilities.
2010 - 2011
2 Years - Bromsgrove, UK
As a Full-Stack Developer at Superdream, I developed custom web applications using MVC frameworks and implemented user-friendly interfaces optimized for various devices. I enhanced our resource management by establishing a Digital Asset Management system and authored responsive email templates for marketing campaigns. This role involved seamlessly incorporating third-party APIs and services to maximize functionality and provide additional value to our clients.
2008 - 2010
2 Years - Coventry, UK
Verilan Technologies was a software development company specializing in web solutions for small to medium-sized businesses. This role was instrumental in shaping my early career as a developer. I immersed myself in various aspects of web development, rapidly acquiring and honing essential skills. My responsibilities included developing and customizing open-source CMS websites using WordPress and Umbraco, allowing me to gain proficiency in PHP and .NET environments. I also gained valuable experience in e-commerce development, working with platforms such as Magento and Prestashop.
MentoringCross-functional Team LeadershipTalent DevelopmentPerformance Management1:1sCareer DevelopmentRecruitmentOnboardingOffboardingTeam BuildingRemote Team ManagementConflict ResolutionNeurodiversity supportMental Health Support
ISO 27001OWASP Top 10 VulnerabilitiesGDPR CompliancePCI DSS ComplianceData ProtectionData encryptionSecure Coding PracticesSecurity Audits
PHPJavascriptHTMLCSSTypeScriptMarkupBashSQLBlade / Smarty / Twig Templating Languages
LaravelReact.jsNext.jsTypeScriptjQuery
MySQLSQLiteRedisElasticSearch
AWS (EC2, S3, CloudFront, Lambda, Amplify)DockerUbuntuApachenginxVercelServerless.jsNetlify
GitSVNCircleCIGitHub ActionsAWS Elastic Beanstalk
WordPressLaravel NovaStrapi
WooCommerceShopify
OpenAI API (ChatGPT)AnthropicLLaMA
RESTful APIs
Agile MethodologiesWaterfallSoftware Development Lifecycle
Atlassian Suite (Jira, Confluence)Google WorkspaceSlackMicrosoft TeamsVisual Studio CodePhotoshop & LightroomFinal Cut ProTable PlusPostmanFigmaTrelloAsanaNotionMiroZoomPhotography
Equipped to provide initial support for mental health issues, fostering a more inclusive and supportive work environment.
Mastered Agile methodologies to enhance project efficiency and team collaboration.
Acquired skills to develop sustainable tech solutions, aligning software development with environmental goals.
Gained comprehensive understanding of AI fundamentals and practical applications in software development.
The degree covered a wide range of digital skills including video production, animation, illustration, photography and web development.
The course covered website development, game development using Adobe Flash and Lingo, and animation in 3D Studio Max.
Crafted with :