Gavin Allmond

Senior Backend Engineer

Personal Statement

Senior backend engineer with over a decade of experience building APIs and service platforms in Node.js and PHP to support evolving products. I collaborate with product and engineering stakeholders to turn requirements into clear technical direction, designing systems that remain reliable and maintainable as they grow.

I prioritise explicit contracts, observability, and pragmatic architecture so teams can ship quickly without hidden complexity and minimal tech debt, enabling continuous product development and a strong developer experience.

Skills

Languages: TypeScript / JavaScript (Node.js), PHP, SQL; working knowledge of Python, Rust, Java
Frameworks: Fastify, Express, Laravel, Svelte, React
Data & Infrastructure: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Firestore, Redis, AWS (EC2, RDS, Lambda, S3, API Gateway, Bedrock)
Engineering Practices: API & Service design, system modelling & refactoring, project estimation, cross-team collaboration

Experience

Bynder - Senior Software Engineer(Oct 2023 - Present)

Node.js, TypeScript, Fastify, AWS

  • Designed modular service architecture supporting AI-driven product capabilities
  • Defined API contracts enabling parallel frontend and backend development
  • Mentored engineers and established service patterns improving delivery consistency

HomeExchange - Senior Backend Developer(Jan 2023 – Aug 2023)

PHP, Laravel, AWS

  • Delivered data migration tooling consolidating acquired platforms while maintaining production stability
  • Supported platform sunset and ensured operational continuity

Love Home Swap - Senior Backend Developer(Nov 2022 – Jan 2023)

PHP, Laravel, AWS

  • Built new API layer supporting mobile product development
  • Clarified service boundaries to enable safer feature iteration

Snappy Shopper - Senior Web Developer(Sep 2021 – Nov 2022)

PHP, Laravel, Node.js

  • Redesigned ordering APIs to support expanding workflows
  • Incrementally improved platform reliability while maintaining feature velocity

Research Partnership - Web Developer(Oct 2019 – Sep 2021)

PHP, Custom Framework, AWS

  • Developed internal tools for proposal management, fieldwork tracking, and training administration
  • Translated operational processes into reliable, usable systems for cross-team use

ImpulsePay / Donr - Senior Web Developer(Mar 2013 – Oct 2019)

PHP, Laravel, Node.js, JavaScript, MS JScript, AWS

  • Built core billing platform integrating multiple payment providers
  • Developed internal tooling supporting merchant operations and transaction management
  • Maintained operational stability and mentored junior developers

Example Projects

Darwin LDB Node - NPM package exposing live National Rail Live Departure Board data.

Markdown Notes - Browser-based TS/Firebase app for structured note-taking.

CycleParking - Browser-based TS/Svelte Service for finding and routing to cycle stands throughout London.