Sam Newhouse

Brighton / United Kingdom

07867 424 919

hello@samnewhouse.co.uk

github.com/SamNewhouse

linkedin.com/in/snewhouse

Brighton-based Software Engineer with 5+ years of full-stack experience, specialising in scalable web applications, modern JavaScript frameworks, and cloud technologies. Skilled in architecting performant solutions, writing clean, maintainable code, and leading technical initiatives to enhance performance, security, and scalability.

Technical Expertise

Core Technologies

JavaScript, TypeScript, React.js, Next.js, Node.js

Expert in modern JavaScript development, including state management, component architecture, and performance optimization.

Backend & Databases

PHP, Laravel, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, GraphQL, REST APIs

Experienced in building scalable backend systems, optimising databases, and developing efficient APIs.

Cloud & DevOps

AWS (Lambda, EC2, S3, CloudFront), Serverless Framework, Docker, GitHub Actions, CircleCI

Skilled in cloud architecture, CI/CD automation, and infrastructure as code.

Frontend & UI

Tailwind CSS, SASS/LESS, Styled Components, Responsive Design

Focused on building responsive, accessible, and high-performance user interfaces.

Development Practices

Agile, TDD, Microservices, Security Best Practices

Dedicated to writing clean, maintainable code with strong testing and documentation.

Tools & Platforms

Git, JIRA, Confluence, Sentry, Cloudflare, Heroku, Vercel, Netlify

Proficient with modern development tools for efficient workflow and deployment.

Current Employment

Software Engineer / Freelance

Nov 2023 - Present / Remote

Key Responsibilities:

  • Developed, maintained, and optimised a variety of web applications, from small projects to large-scale platforms.
  • Worked across both new and legacy codebases, improving performance, security, and maintainability.
  • Collaborated closely with clients to define project requirements and deliver tailored software solutions.

Key Achievements:

  • Consistently delivered high-quality projects, strengthening client relationships.
  • Optimised legacy applications, reducing load times by roughly 40% and improving maintainability.
  • Led the setup of new projects, defining architecture and best practices for long-term scalability.

Technologies Used:

TypeScript, JavaScript, React, Next.js, Node.js, Tailwind CSS, AWS DynamoDB, AWS Lambda, AWS SNS, AWS SQS, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, GraphQL, REST API, Docker, Prisma, Serverless, SST, Jest, GitHub Actions, CI/CD

Employment History

Software Engineer / Shieldpay

May 2022 - Oct 2023 / Remote

Key Responsibilities:

  • Handled most platform maintenance for our microservice architecture, ensuring high performance and security.
  • Designed and implemented microservices architecture, improving system modularity and scalability.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align technical solutions with business objectives.
  • Conducted thorough code reviews and mentored junior developers to maintain best practices.
  • Optimised cloud infrastructure to enhance performance and reduce operational costs.

Key Achievements:

  • Helped migrate legacy systems to a microservices architecture, improving reliability and efficiency.
  • Reduced deployment times by 50% through CI/CD automation with Docker and GitHub Actions.
  • Improved developer efficiency with TypeScript, reducing runtime errors and boosting maintainability.
  • Implemented Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using SST, streamlining deployments and enhancing scalability.

Technologies Used:

TypeScript, Node.js, Serverless, SST, AWS DynamoDB, AWS Lambda, AWS SNS, AWS SQS, Docker, PostgreSQL, GraphQL, GitHub Actions, CircleCI

Full-stack Developer / Canterbury Council

Sept 2021 - May 2022 / Remote

Key Responsibilities:

  • Developed and maintained council web applications and internal tools, ensuring scalability and performance.
  • Built and optimised APIs to support various services, ensuring seamless data flow and integration.
  • Implemented comprehensive unit and integration testing strategies using Jest to enhance code reliability.
  • Led development of a Serverless microservices architecture, enhancing flexibility and maintainability.

Key Achievements:

  • Built a new Serverless project to handle all microservices, improving scalability and maintainability.
  • Increased test coverage from 40% to 65% using Jest, significantly reducing bugs in production.

Technologies Used:

TypeScript, JavaScript, React, Node.js, AWS Lambda, AWS DynamoDB, Jest, Serverless, Docker, CI/CD

Full-stack Developer / The Unit

Jan 2019 - Sept 2021 / Brighton

Key Responsibilities:

  • Developed and maintained websites and applications for a diverse range of clients.
  • Built and optimised front-end and back-end solutions using PHP, JavaScript, and TypeScript.
  • Integrated third-party services, including CRM and data management platforms.
  • Managed cloud infrastructure and implemented DevOps best practices to improve deployment workflows.

Key Achievements:

  • Migrated five major client websites to a faster stack, cutting load times by 60%.
  • Implemented a new caching strategy that reduced server costs by 30%.
  • Developed an internal tool that automated report generation, saving the team 10 hours per week.
  • Delivered modern Next.js applications while maintaining and upgrading legacy PHP projects.

Technologies Used:

TypeScript, JavaScript, React, Next.js, Vue.js, AWS, PHP, Laravel, WordPress, Salesforce, Docker, GitHub Actions