Hello! I'm Chris Pearson, Software Engineering Manager @ Missguided. I am a specialist in software engineering and IT/Development management. I am experienced with all stages of the development cycle. Well-versed in numerous programming languages including PHP, C/C++ and Java. I have a Strong background in software development and development management.
Work Experience
Missguided
Software Engineering Manager
At my role as a Software Engineering Manager at Missguided.com, I am responsible for managing engineers across multiple product teams, helping to translate business requirements into technical solutions.
My position requires me to work with directors, department managers, product owners, project managers, scrum masters, system administrators, DBA's, system architects, business analysts and software engineers.
I am versed in the full life cycle of software development from inception, planning/scoping, story creation/Jira management, development, testing, UAT release and ongoing support.
My duties as a line manager of 3 product teams working with a total of 15 backend software Engineers, Frontend web developers and full-stack software engineers on multiple large scale projects. Also, as part of my line management duties, I am responsible for mentoring, instilling agile methodologies, sprint planning, daily stand-ups, performance management, quarterly performance reviews, objective setting, promotions and training amongst other duties.
Highlights
- Introduction of Agile practices
- Team stability and growth
- Development of multiple tools/systems for the business
- Development of systems and service upgrade plans to move to a micro API architecture
The Protein Works
Head of Technology
TPW has been an exciting and challenging experience, I was brought into the company to take over their development/technology function which was consistently missing deadlines and failing to deliver.
I spent a lot of time rebuilding team confidence and enthusiasm after the department had been neglected for such an extended period. After restoring the team's morale, I introduced Jira, the agile methodology (Scrum) and a multitude of other solutions and processes to help the teams begin to self-organise themselves and start delivering on urgent business software needs.
I worked with different departments and teams to define product owner roles and identify a clear and concise project and business requirements. Since my arrival, the teams have improved performance over 50%, and the department now has short, medium and long-term project plans, goals and targets. Engineering now has a close relationship with the business and is no longer a bottleneck for marketing and other departments. We have addressed a multitude of problems from staff morale to production environment inadequacies, database issues and poor system architecture. There is still challenges ahead for the company, but the tech department is now in an excellent position to help grow the business and provide solutions to these problems.
Highlights
- Introduction of Agile practices
- Team stability and growth
- Development of multiple tools/systems for the business
- Development of systems and service upgrade plans to move to a micro API architecture
Rentalcars.com (Priceline PCLN)
Software Engineering Manager
During my role as a Software Engineering Manager at Rentalcars.com, I was responsible for translating business requirements into technical solutions.
My position required me to work with directors, department managers, product owners, project managers, system administrators, DBA's, system architects and software engineers.< I am fully versed in the full life cycle of software development from inception, planning/scoping, story creation/Jira management, development, testing, UAT release and ongoing support.
My duties also included line management of 4 product groups working with a total of 20 Software Engineers on multiple large scale projects. Also, as part of my line management duties, I was responsible for mentoring, instilling agile methodologies, sprint planning, daily stand-ups, performance management, quarterly performance reviews, objective setting, promotions and training amongst other duties.
Some of the major projects I worked on are listed below.
Highlights
- Supplier Extranet Portal
- RC Connect (Affiliate) Portal
- Development of multiple tools/systems for the multilingual call centre
- Core web service API's used by all major systems at the company, (XML,Json integrations, Restful API designs, Oauth implementation)
Crossland Technology Investments
IT Manager
My position as IT Manager at Crossland Technology Investments required me to work very closely with our small IT team and the directors of the company.
I was responsible and accountable for an ongoing program of IT services from software development, Test, Infrastructure design, database design, project management, data analysis, technical advice and support.
Highlights
- Successful Integration of Elasticsearch into the Magento CE Framework
- Created an augmented reality android application using a small place holder and trigonometry to place virtual furniture into a room.
- Designed and developed a Magento trade module for international/multilingual e-commerce systems
- Worked with and integrated many features of the Google API including but not limited to Maps, Location, Calendar, Contacts, Directions, Charts
- Designed and developed a full reporting dashboard using Elasticsearch as a rapid interface to data for near real time status. Displaying System information, Sales KPI's. The system also had an integration with Google ad words allowing reporting on ROI and CPA
Traveljigsaw/Rentalcars.com
Developer / Development Manager
Working as development manager at Traveljigsaw, later to become rentalcars.com I was responsible for analysing and translating business requirements into workable development projects. I was responsible for designing the underlying architecture for the software programs, as well as overseeing the work being done by any other software engineers working on the project.
As well as overseeing development work I was involved in coordinating teams of people in different areas off the company. Working with directors, department heads, testing teams, system admins/DBA's and project managers.
I was involved in all aspects of the development cycle from concept to release and ongoing support, making decisions based on what was required from the project and for the business.
Highlights
- I was the development manager in charge of bringing the core booking system in-house. This system was developed in Estonia, as part of the process for migrating from an outsourced system to in-house I performed meetings with our internal development staff and the Estonian teams, disgust and advised on contract decisions made during the buying of the IPR. Also I visited the head offices in Tallinn and Tartu working with their development teams during the final take over stage. Working with the IT Director Harry Dixon and former IT Director (Andrew Crossland), I gave the final sign off on the source code provided.
- Built and developed the IT Departments PHP Team, covering development of applications across the entire company.
- Developed CTI Systems for the call centre as an extension to the call logger
- Developed Multiple reporting systems for all areas of the company
- Introduced GIT, Jira, Git Flow, GitLab
- Developed Processes and Procedures for development and release of the booking system
Education
CCNA, Computer Science, Networking and Telecommunications
City College Manchester
IT, ICT, Geography, GCSE
Reddish Vale Technology College
Frontend/Backend & Mobile Software Engineering Languages, Frameworks & Libraries
References
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Chris is one of the brightest and most accomplished developers I have had the pleasure of working with.
He shows real dedication and a positive attitude to managing projects and dealing with problems,
his ability to balance the technical requirements of the business with the overall commercial operations makes him a great colleague to work with.His team management and organisation means that dealing with any members of his team is straightforward and never a problem.
On top of this he is a genuinely nice person and a real pleasure to work with
Peter Rooney Marketing Director, Rentalcars.com -
Chris worked for me as a Product Owner and then a Development Manager leading PHP & Java development teams.
He is committed & hard working and gets on well with his colleagues and those he manages.Chris led teams on key projects and could always be counted on to deliver what was needed when I needed it.
He has a broad range of development and management experience and detailed knowledge of the software, systems and procedures at Rentalcars.com which makes him an ideal candidate, particularly in an e-commerce setting.
Ian Whillans IT Director, Rentalcars.com
My Interests
I have a keen interest in flight. I have taken several flying lessons and hope to one day have my PPL
(Private Pilots License).
I also play the piano "to a degree"
- Bicycling
- Watch Movies
- Skating
- Shopping
- Swimming