Who am I?
I’m Stuart — an AWS accredited and experienced software engineer based in Manchester, UK. Most of what I build lives in the cloud, usually on AWS, and tends to fall somewhere between infrastructure and backend systems.
Sometimes I write TypeScript, sometimes Go or Python, and I’m usually learning something else. I care a lot about clarity — in code, in delivery, and in how we treat each other.
I’ve worked across sectors like finance, healthcare, and the energy industry, delivering everything from real-time data pipelines, cross-platform mobile apps, identity migrations and automation tooling. I’m happiest when I can design the system and the delivery path — and help others move through both with confidence.
I don’t always right much but read my posts for some challenges I didn’t find elsewhere on the internet.
What do I work with?
I don’t really have a “stack.” I see code as a tool — and like most tools, it’s less about the brand and more about choosing the right one and what you build with it. I can pick up what’s needed quickly, and I’m more interested in solving the problem than arguing about the screwdriver.
That said, here are some tools I’ve used a lot and shaped into useful systems:
- Serverless — AWS Lambda, API Gateway, Kinesis, CloudFront, ECS and more
- Infrastructure as Code — Terraform, CDK, CloudFormation, Serverless Framework, and homegrown tooling
- CI/CD — GitHub Actions, AWS CodePipeline, CircleCI, GitLab CI, and custom workflow automation
- Observability — Datadog, Grafana, Prometheus, AWS CloudWatch
- Data — MySQL, InfluxDB, AWS Timestream, AWS DynamoDB
- Security — OAuth, OWASP, and least-privilege design patterns
- Testing — TDD, unit tests, mutation testing, integration tests, A/B testing, feature flagging
- AI-enhanced tooling — I use and advocate for tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot to augment developer workflows and accelerate value delivery
I don’t see tools as an identity — just as ways to build better outcomes with clarity, speed, and care.
I don’t always right much but read my posts for some challenges I didn’t find elsewhere on the internet.
What do I get up to AFK?
Outside of work, I’m a cyclist. I’ve ridden unsupported across countries in races like the Transcontinental Race, where you learn very quickly what really matters — both on and off the road. You can read some ride reports here if you’re curious about that side of me.
A few years ago, I had a serious accident that left me with life-changing injuries. I still ride. Still think. Still write. I believe in perseverance, not perfection.
When I’m not building systems or chasing sunsets on a bike, I’m probably:
- Building bikes
- Baking something
- Growing chillies
- Reading something that makes me think
Fancy a chat?
If you’re here because of a job application or professional interest - welcome. I hope this page gives you a sense of how I think, what I care about, and what it’s like to work with me. You won’t find a CV here, but I’ve tried to build something that feels more personal - and maybe more useful.
If you’re here for other reasons - hello also. Please do reach out if you like bikes, chillies, cakes or questions with no answers.