Joe Bailey

I had another steep learning curve to transition fully to backend development using Symfony. 6 months on and a team re-shuffle meant I could go back to being a full-stack developer. I now help build both our front-end (React) and back-end platforms. Having software that caters to thousands of users means code must be robust and thoroughly tested, quite a change from the small websites I was working on before. As part of our efforts to reduce bugs, I'm constantly suggesting improvements to our workflows both from a DevOps and business perspective.

Starting at Rareloop, I had a steep learning curve to bring myself up to speed on OOP PHP and Laravel. I quickly got to grips and started building MVC WordPress sites with ACF, Lumberjack and Rareloop’s bespoke page builder. With each site, I continuously iterated on company processes, improving things for future developers. I am proud to have worked at a B-Corps company, helping to make the web a better place for all.

Transitioning to a part-time role, I managed more high-level projects whilst continuing with my previous responsibilities:

• Come up with new ideas and brief up tasks for back-end developers to implement into our internal CRM and CMS
• Manage the migration of 1400 domains’ DNS from eNom to Cloudflare in response to a service provider outage
• Assess staff needs and provide technical solutions to everyday burdens
• Assist with migration of server stack from Rackspace to Azure
• Thorough testing of all internal systems

As my role within Toolkit Websites grew, so did my responsibilities:

• Train new staff members
• Create coding documentation for new staff members
• Create an intricate learning program for new staff members
• Manage code snippets
• Create a coding style guide
• Review coding procedures and best practises
• Quality assure newly published websites
• Perform code reviews
• Manage a redesign of Toolkit’s support and main website
• Perform email migrations for clients
• Manage clients domain names, transfers, DNS, etc.

Working at Toolkit Websites, I had many varying responsibilities:

• Design logos
• Design websites
• Develop custom solutions for client requests on websites
• Add content to websites using Toolkit’s bespoke Content Management System
• Support clients via email with a 1 hour SLA
• Support clients via phone

Train In Blocks developed an app for Personal Trainers to manage their clients more efficiently. I managed a team to develop and promote the app. My responsibilities included:

• Code reviewing other staff members work
• Testing the application for speed, use, and accessibility, among other things
• Managing the hosting of the application and website via Netlify
• Managing background functions needed to make the application work
• Managing the PHP API and adding new features and tables as and when needed
• Integrating the Stripe API with the application for payment processing for both us and our clients
• Managing the authentication flow of users via Okta
• Implementing new features within the VueJS application
• Responding to any bugs within the application
• Hiring staff members for our Marketing strategy
• Reviewing staff members performance
• Assigning tasks to marketing and development staff
• Analysing analytics to better serve our users
• Creating advertising campaigns to promote the application
• Planning marketing activities to promote the application
• Facilitating the necessary collaboration tools needed for staff members such as Jira, Discord, Google Drive
• Managing 3rd party suppliers of marketing services
• Writing technical dossiers for new staff members

Graduating Solent University with a First Class Honours took 4 years of hard work and dedication. My university experience as a whole helped build a strong foundation for my current development career.

Travelling to Denmark, I took part in a week long project working with students from around Europe to design a website for a real client. This gave me great independence, whilst also teaching me how to work as part of a team.

The Dynamo Challenge hosted at The University of Bournemouth and sponsored by Enterprise and IBM was a one-day event for students from different universities around the South of England. I teamed up with like-minded students to solve real-world problems that IBM were facing. This was a great day to network, problem-solve, and pitch ideas.