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Steven Lawton - CV / Resume
Summary
I’m a senior software engineer with over 20 years’ experience
building reliable, scalable systems across fintech, retail, publishing,
and Web3. I specialise in backend and platform work, GoLang
microservices, modernising legacy systems, and delivering cloud-native
infrastructure that works in production. I’ve worked across regulated
environments. I’ve delivered in high-trust teams and contributed
open-source and internal tooling. My technical background spans hardware
and software, and my project work includes:
- Developer experience - CI/CD automation, platform
migration, and observability-first design.
- Infrastructure - migrating legacy systems to
scalable, containerised microservices.
- Cloud-native engineering - developing microservices
deployed to AWS/GCP, Kubernetes, and PaaS platforms.
- Regulatory and compliance - systems aligned with
PCII DSS, GDPR, PSD2, and internal audit frameworks.
- Event-driven - RabbitMQ, Kafka, and event-driven
systems built for scale and resilience.
- Payments - internal and customer-facing flows
across fintech, retail, and embedded environments.
- API design - OpenAPI/AsyncAPI publishing pipelines,
mocking, validation, and spec-first development.
- Internal tools and automation - building tools that
unblock teams and reduce manual effort.
I enjoy solving problems. I’ve learned to balance speed with rigour
and pragmatism with long-term thinking. I write code that works, is easy
to maintain, and self-documents. Sound engineering is as much about
people as it is about the code. I have worked on critical projects where
autonomy, clarity, and delivery are crucial. I’m equally comfortable
building new systems, refactoring old ones, or mentoring developers.
Outside of work, I volunteer as a Scout Leader, which mainly involves
mud, camping, and helping kids figure things out the hard way. I’m also
heavily involved in jousting in the UK and practice classical
dressage.
Skills
Languages:
GoLang, Java, Node.js/TypeScript, PHP, Bash, SQL, HTML/CSS/JS, Scala,
Python, Groovy, .NET
Cloud & Infrastructure:
AWS (ECS, Lambda, S3, RDS, IAM, etc), Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes
(EKS), Azure, VPC design, security groups
Frameworks & Tools:
Spring (Boot), Akka, Scalatra, JSF, Thymeleaf, JPA/Hibernate, Keycloak,
Auth0, JWT, Android SDK, Mule ESB, JBoss, WebSphere, Tomcat, Jenkins,
TeamCity, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Swagger/OpenAPI, RabbitMQ, AMQP
Databases:
PostgreSQL, MS SQL Server, Aurora, MySQL, Oracle, MongoDB, DynamoDB,
Neo4j, Infinispan, H2, SQLite
Testing & DevOps:
- Go: testing, testify, httptest, gomock, coverage
tools, custom assertions
- Node.js: Jest, ts-node for testing flows
- Java: JUnit, TestNG, Mockito, integration test
harnesses
- Other: CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI),
containerisation with Docker, observability stacks (Datadog, NewRelic,
Prometheus, Grafana, Kibana)
Other Domains:
Web3, Solidity, Crypto assets, Flutter/Dart, Android, SOA, RESTful/SOAP
APIs, ETL, data warehousing, complex SQL, enterprise architecture,
legacy modernisation, DevEx tooling
Experience
Sainsbury’s - Senior
Full Stack Developer
Mar 2025 - Jul 2025 - Remote
- Improved developer experience by building robust GitHub
Actions and reusable workflows in TypeScript
Sainsbury’s API onboarding across internal teams.
- Integrated OpenAPI and AsyncAPI
specifications into SwaggerHub Design Hub and
Portal, streamlining delivery.
- Initiated and led the design of a new backend service for managing
SwaggerHub state, authentication, and
authorisation within Sainsbury’s internal
PaaS (Kubernetes, Helm, GitHub Actions).
Technologies: TypeScript, GitHub Actions, Docker,
Kubernetes, Helm, SwaggerHub, OpenAPI, AsyncAPI
Sainsbury’s
SmartShop - Senior Full Stack Developer
Nov 2023 - Mar 2025 - Remote
- Migrated legacy PHP services to GoLang
microservices, significantly improving app scalability and
maintainability.
- Contributed to development and optimisation of Android
(Kotlin) and iOS apps using
TDD and pair programming
practices.
- Reduced memory allocation by 40% on a key endpoint
through profiling and optimisation, cutting cloud operational
costs.
- Strengthened performance, reliability, and resilience across the
SmartShop ecosystem through hands-on backend
development.
- Designed backend services and mobile endpoints to resist probing,
spoofing, and abuse. Operating under constant exposure to production
load testing, malicious actors, and synthetic traffic.
- Implemented defensive coding practices, observability hooks, and
secure client/server flows within a heavily scrutinised consumer-facing
environment.
- Integrated with GraphQL, REST and
gRPC services from other teams, ensuring compatibility
and robustness across multiple protocols, while maintaining REST as the
primary interface for SmartShop
Technologies: GoLang, Android (Kotlin), iOS, Docker,
AWS (ECS), TDD, Pair Programming, REST, gRPC, GraphQL
Ace
Web Services Ltd - Development Lead (for Barbourne Brook)
Dec 2023 - Mar 2024 - Remote - Fixed Price Project
- Replaced a fragile, underperforming PHP application
with a scalable, event-driven data pipeline built in
GoLang.
- Conducted full system/code review, defined a modern architecture,
and led delivery of microservices deployed to Kubernetes
(EKS) via Terraform.
- Dramatically improved throughput, enabling the client to target
larger customers previously blocked by performance limitations.
- Designed for scalability, observability, and future extensibility
using cloud-native best practices.
Technologies: GoLang, Docker, AWS, Kubernetes (EKS),
Terraform, RabbitMQ, PHP, PaaS, DevOps
Sainsbury’s
Groceries Online - Senior Full Stack Developer
Nov 2022 - Nov 2023 - Remote - Contract (3 + 3 + 3 + 3
months)
- Delivered Server-Side Rendering (SSR) features
across core grocery applications to boost performance and user
experience.
- Built and maintained GoLang microservices for
backend features and API integration.
- Streamlined DevOps workflows, integrating Node.js
into the backend pipeline and improving delivery across
environments.
- Led migration to a new internal Platform-as-a-Service
(PaaS), leveraging Kubernetes (EKS),
Istio, Helm, and observability tools
to modernise infrastructure and enhance scalability.
- Applied robust secrets management, environment
isolation, and secure deployment practices across
Kubernetes and Terraform stacks.
- Hardened microservices and API gateways for multi-team use in a
large-scale, multi-tenant environment, with an emphasis on
governance, auditability, and
resilience.
Technologies: GoLang, Node.js, React, Docker, AWS,
Kubernetes (EKS), Terraform, DevOps, Istio, Helm, Kibana
Ace Web Services Ltd -
Development Lead
Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 - Remote - Fixed Price Project for
whartonbc.co.uk
- Designed and delivered a bespoke self-assessment tool for Wharton
Business Consultancy.
- Built a workflow where users enter job role details and answer
dynamically generated questions.
- Implemented a scoring system that compares user responses to
expected role competencies and suggests training pathways.
- Delivered a full-stack solution using GoLang,
React, and PostgreSQL, deployed on
AWS with containerisation via K8s
Technologies: GoLang, Docker, AWS, Postgres, React
Baanx Group - Development
Lead
Apr 2022 - Aug 2022 - Remote - Fintech
- Led the redesign of Baanx’s core platform to meet
scalability, compliance, and
regulatory demands (PCI DSS, PSD2, GDPR).
- Rewrote critical product components from
Node.js/React into GoLang, improving
performance, modularity, and maintainability.
- Introduced containerisation with Docker, and
provisioned a scalable AWS ECS environment using
Terraform, enabling smooth rollout for new and existing
clients.
- Migrated all B2B and B2C customers to the new infrastructure,
unlocking onboarding for high-profile fintech partners.
- Architected and initiated phase two: multi-tenant
capabilities, security hardening, and
Keycloak-based identity and access management.
- Embedded secure secrets management, isolated
environments, and zero-downtime migration.
- Supported regulatory alignment through infrastructure modernisation,
process redesign, and technical upskilling of internal teams
Technologies: GoLang, Node.js, React, Docker, Terraform,
RDS, Keycloak
RS Components - Senior
Developer
Sep 2021 - Apr 2022 - Remote - Retail/Engineering
- Delivered a new internal payment service to replace
legacy SAP components, ensuring PCI and
PSD2 compliance.
- Developed and deployed Java 11 / Spring Boot
microservices within RS’s DevOps environment.
- Integrated services with platforms such as Auth0,
TokenX, CyberSource,
Adflex, and VoxPay.
- Worked across a high-scale cloud environment using
AWS, Kubernetes,
Nomad, and Terraform.
- Contributed to continuous delivery workflows, leveraging
GitLab CI, Datadog for observability,
and Kong for API management.
Technologies: Java 11, Spring Boot, Docker, AWS, Kubernetes,
Nomad, GitLab, Terraform, DynamoDB, RDS, Datadog, NewRelic, Swagger,
Kong, Auth0.
Rayvn.digital /
Monavate Ltd - Senior Developer
May 2021 - Sep 2021 - Remote - Fintech / Blockchain
- Helped design and build a multi-vendor marketplace and
eCommerce platform using GoLang,
Kafka, and Kubernetes.
- Contributed to a closed-loop digital sales and data
platform, aligned with ISO 20022 messaging and
blockchain integrations
- Took ownership of the company website and core product
architecture, collaborating with a distributed team (including
Ukraine-based developers)
- Delivered internal tooling and infrastructure, including
SharePoint rollout and a Google Workspace to
MS365 migration for 30+ employees
- Supported product evolution across Ethereum,
Solidity, and decentralised technologies
Technologies: GoLang, Kafka, Java, Kubernetes, Docker,
Azure, Linux, GitLab, Ethereum, Solidity, Jekyll
Primis Mortgage
Network - Java Developer
Feb 2021 - May 2021 - Remote - Financial Services
- Maintained and extended the Toolbox platform, a key
compliance and workflow tool used across the mortgage network.
- Delivered bug fixes and new feature development on
a legacy stack, ensuring FCA-compliant behaviour and broker
usability.
- Operated within a small, focused dev team, working across
Spring Boot, Struts,
EJB3, and JSP.
- Contributed to stabilising and incrementally modernising the
codebase while supporting live service delivery.
Technologies: Java, Spring Boot, Angular, Struts, EJB3, JSP,
IntelliJ, Linux, GitLab
Samsung - Java Developer
Oct 2018 - Feb 2021 - Cambridge (Onsite & Remote) - Mobile /
Embedded Systems
- Contributed to automated testing tooling for
Android devices, used globally to benchmark RF connectivity and
performance.
- Maintained and extended a Java-based orchestration
application coordinating test execution across hardware
setups.
- Implemented JUnit and integration tests,
user-driven enhancements, and critical bug fixes across Java, Bash, and
Python layers.
- Ensured seamless interaction between test scripts, Android devices,
and a central results processing system
Technologies: Java, Python, Android SDK, Bash, IntelliJ,
Linux, Git, Gerrit, JUnit, TestNG, Mockito, Jira, Agile/Scrum
Nokia - Java Developer
May 2018 - Sept 2018 - Cambridge - Video Ad Delivery / Media
Streaming
- Built RESTful Spring Boot microservices to serve
re-encoded, personalised video ads on-the-fly based on user streaming
profiles.
- Developed new functionality in Dockerised backend
services, contributing to a scalable content delivery
pipeline
- Supported QA by maintaining and extending Python-based
simulators used for automated testing
- Delivered unit and integration test coverage using
JUnit, Mockito, and
TestNG
Technologies: Java 8, Spring Boot, Docker, Spring MVC,
Eureka, Zuul, MySQL Cluster, Python, IntelliJ, Git, GitLab, Jira, Linux,
Agile/Scrum
RS Components - Java
Developer
October 2016 - April 2018 - Corby - Infrastructure Modernisation
& eCommerce
- Led upgrade of legacy tech stack to enable a high-pressure
data centre migration
- Contributed to multiple follow-on projects, including:
- Migrating the entire eCommerce site to
HTTPS-only.
- Implementing China-specific regulatory changes for
regional compliance.
- Rewriting the B2B eCommerce solution using Spring Boot
microservices in preparation for cloud migration.
- Refactored and containerised legacy servlet-based Java
code into modern Docker-based microservices,
deployed to physical servers with a view to future cloud migration.
Technologies: Docker, Spring Boot, mongo, Seam, Struts,
Oracle, Java, Spring MVC, JBoss, Linux, Apache, JPA/hibernate,
Agile/Scrum, RESTful Web Services, SOA continuous build, JUnit, TestNG,
Mockito, Jira.
BGL Group - Java Developer
Nov 2015 - Feb 2016 - Peterborough - Insurance & Telematics
Integration
- Contributed to the O2 Telematics project as part of
a large Agile team.
- Designed and implemented the integration of O2’s SSO
system into BGL’s internal services, enabling secure exchange
of telematics data with providers and customers.
- Worked across RESTful APIs (O2) and SOAP
services (BGL) to bridge legacy and modern systems.
- Delivered work in a high-compliance insurance
context, with careful attention to data security and
integration reliability.
Technologies: Java, Mule ESB, Tomcat, REST, SOAP, SSO, Git,
Jira, Bamboo, Confluence
MoMo Group Ltd -
Java/Scala Developer
Jan 2015 - Nov 2015 - Cambridge - Fintech Startup
- Delivered backend services for MoMo Top (global
mobile top-up via PayPal) and a new mobile banking
application.
- Quickly upskilled in Scala, moving from initial
Java work to core feature development using Akka and
Scalatra.
- Designed and implemented key product functionality as part of a
small Agile team, collaborating closely with senior
management on high-priority initiatives.
- Built RESTful APIs and service-oriented components to support
mobile-first user experiences in global financial contexts.
Technologies: Scala, Java, Akka, Scalatra, MySQL, MyBatis,
T24, Tomcat, Jetty, Nginx, Linux, Jira, Bitbucket, Bamboo,
Confluence.
Jagex Ltd -
Java Developer / Web Systems Developer
2013 - 2014 - Cambridge - Games / Online Services
- Maintained and extended the Microtransaction (MTX)
platform powering in-game and app-based purchases for Jagex
titles.
- Delivered both customer-facing applications and
critical internal RESTful services, supporting online
game infrastructure.
- Contributed to story estimation, task breakdown, and delivery
planning within an Agile Scrum team.
- Maintained rigorous automated test suites (unit,
integration, regression), ensuring platform reliability across
services.
- Built service-oriented backend components and participated in
cross-team software-as-a-service (SaaS) integrations.
Technologies: Java, Groovy, Spring MVC, JPA/Hibernate,
Postgres, Informix, Neo4j, Infinispan, RabbitMQ, JBoss, Linux, Nginx,
Git, Eclipse, Jira, JUnit, TestNG, Mockito.
PCMS - Java Developer
2011 - 2013 - Huntingdon - Retail Software (ePOS)
- Delivered a custom Electronic Point of Sale (ePOS)
platform for a Tier 1 Australian retailer, completing the project
three months ahead of schedule and under
budget - a first for the company.
- Extended the core BeanStore product to meet
client-specific requirements across a large retail estate.
- Worked in a newly formed Agile Scrum team,
contributing to sprint planning, story breakdown, estimation, and
technical delivery.
- Developed features and fixes against customer-defined
acceptance criteria, and collaborated with QA and business
analysts to ensure quality.
- Supported internal testing teams by providing fixes, guidance, and
context on implementation and expected behaviour
Technologies: Java, Spring MVC, Struts, JPA/Hibernate, DB2,
Oracle, JBoss, WebSphere, Linux, Mercurial, Eclipse, JUnit, TestNG,
Mockito, iText, Maven, Crystal Reports, Jira.
TravelTainment Ltd -
Developer
2010 - 2011 - Peterborough - Travel Tech / eCommerce
- Developed and maintained enterprise web
applications used by travel agents and tour operators
worldwide, built using Java, PHP, and Seam.
- Created and maintained data adaptor services to
transform and standardise inbound formats (e.g. flat files, SOAP, REST,
custom XML) into internal representations for processing and
caching.
- Sole developer for a Spring Web Flow-based product
targeting international markets, from initial design to delivery.
- Actively contributed to international Agile teams,
collaborating across time zones and disciplines.
- Involved in technical interviewing, assessing
candidates and advising management on hiring decisions.
Technologies: Java, PHP, Seam, Spring Web Flow, jQuery,
JBoss, JBoss ESB, XSLT, JPA/Hibernate, DB2, Oracle, MySQL, LDAP, Linux,
SVN, Maven, JUnit, TestNG, Eclipse, Jira.
Whistlebrook Ltd - Analyst
Developer
2004 - 2010 - St Ives, Cambridgeshire - Fintech / Bespoke
Software
- Delivered full lifecycle software solutions for high-profile clients
including Suzuki GB, TNT, and major
UK building societies.
- Hands-on across analysis, estimation, development, testing,
documentation, deployment, and 3rd-line
support.
- Led technical handovers, authored support documentation, and
provided ongoing assistance for legacy systems across
financial products
- Acted as on-call escalation contact for business-critical
deployments, including on-site visits and direct client
liaison.
- Co-founded and maintained internal IT
infrastructure, later supporting a dedicated infra team in
3rd-line capacity.
- Provisioned new development environments: virtual machines,
OS installs, hardware setup, and complete application
stacks.
Technologies: VB.NET, C#, Java, SQL Server, Oracle, legacy
MS Access systems, IIS, Windows Server, VMWare, bespoke ETL tools,
internal DevOps workflows
Open Source & Personal
Projects
Sphinx.chat - Contributor (2023, Paid
Bounty Work)
- Contribute GoLang, Node.js, and Docker-based features to a Lightning
Network-powered chat, social, and payments platform.
- Completed paid bounties in areas such as protocol integration,
service containerisation, and testing infrastructure.
Selected Personal GitHub
Projects
ip-monitor
- Public
Discord bot written in Go to monitor IP changes and
broadcast updates; includes pinned message sync and basic
alerting.
go-telegram-alert
- Public
Lightweight Go logger extension that forwards logs to
Telegram, ideal for low-footprint services
GPT-Whisper-captions
- Public
Subtitle generator using OpenAI’s Whisper API and Go,
producing embedded captions from transcribed video audio
xlsReader
- Public
Go library for reading legacy .xls Excel
files; maintained fork with improvements and usage
documentation
ace-loto-backend / ace-loto-pwa
(Private)
Complete GoLang + TypeScript stack for
a Lock-Out Tag-Out (LOTO) management PWA; includes QR code-based
check-in flows, audit logs, and API validation tools
my-payment-gateway (Private)
Custom Go microservice to simulate and validate card
payment flows with support for test harnessing and telemetry.
SliceWise / rconDash / seo-stuff (Mixed
visibility)
Tools ranging from Minecraft server dashboards to content automation and
SEO auditing, built for internal use and learning
Additional private projects span domains including DevOps, eCommerce,
API design, and developer tooling - frequently built using Go, Docker,
Kubernetes, and JavaScript/Typescript
Transferability:
Experience gained in fintech, retail, and e-commerce is highly
transferable to SaaS, infrastructure, Web3, public sector, and regulated
industries. Comfortable working across domains where performance,
security, and team agility are key
Why Me?
I’m the person teams turn to when something’s complex, messy, or
stuck. Whether refactoring a legacy system, launching a new service, or
developing internal tooling, I focus on leaving systems clearer, teams
faster, and outcomes stronger. Trusted to work independently or lead
delivery when it matters, I’ve built a career on pragmatism, depth, and
delivering results.