Matthew James

Matthew James

Team Leader

Profile

Software engineering leader with a strong background in delivering scalable applications, websites, and games. I specialise in building and leading high-performing teams, driving strategic initiatives, and aligning engineering outcomes with business goals - particularly within the Microsoft Web stack. I'm quietly confident, love a challenge, and always striving to grow. Also, I never say no to a good chicken parma.

Technical Skills

  • C#
  • HTML
  • CSS
  • SQL
  • JavaScript
  • TypeScript
  • NodeJS
  • PHP
  • Java
  • Bash / Shell

Applications

  • Visual Studio
  • MS SQL Studio
  • AWS
  • Azure

Experience

Freelance Full Stack Developer

2015 - Current

Providing end-to-end service for website, app and game development, I manage a variety of projects for clients across a range of industries.

  • Collaborate directly with clients to identify where commercial value can be most effectively delivered - generating over $3M in revenue for clients.
  • Guide clients through design and delivery phases, using iterative processes to drive business outcomes with 100% client satisfaction.
  • Manage projects of varying lengths - from short-term (2 weeks) to long-term (4 years) engagements, never missing a delivery deadline.
  • Actively volunteer, mentor, and support career development through organisations such as Griffith University, BrisJS, and Girls Can Code.

Squad Lead,
Reapit

2023 - Current

Leading the people management operations of the MMI Squad, I focus on strategic project delivery, team leadership, and maintaining a high standard of technical excellence.

  • Established structured formal check-in processes to support team performance and engagement.
    • I proactively developed a Technical Skills Matrix, which in addition to retaining a high-value, high flight-risk staff member also resulted in 100% positive team feedback.
  • Mentor and teach team members - directly impacting the professional development of over 45 cross-functional staff.
  • Efficiently allocate resources - ensuring the right people are assigned to the right job increasing the weekly release rate to 98% success.
  • Real-time business reporting on developer time and efficiency per sprint.
    • I successfully designed a developer allocation reporting template that improved transparency, resource planning, and deadline adherence.
  • Manage incidents, including operational fixes and stakeholder communication - reducing stakeholder complaints by 35% YoY.
  • Work closely with Product and other stakeholders, ensuring strategic initiatives are technically feasible and resourced by developers accordingly.
  • Complex code development across .NET, Blazor, React, SQL and cloud platforms, code reviews, high-priority bug fixing, and ad hoc challenges.

Senior Developer,
PlaySide Studios

2022 - 2023

Managing two teams of programmers, I led the development of a cutting-edge Triple A multiplatform strategy game.

  • Led front-end and back-end React UI team, overseeing technical delivery, team coordination, and process improvements, including coding standards, review strategies, and transparent reporting.
  • Assisted in the creation of a Technical Skills Matrix and supported cultural initiatives to enhance team growth and career progression.
  • Managed stakeholder relationships with major partner companies.
  • Wrote, reviewed, and maintained TypeScript React code for Coherent Labs’ proprietary GameFace renderer.
  • Collaborated with Product, Design, Graphics, Art, and UI teams to meet every delivery milestone.

Senior Web Developer,
InspectRealEstate

2022 - 2022

As the Senior Programmer in my team, I focused on managing the most technically complex projects.

  • Led a greenfield .NET6 project, including the management of stakeholder relationships.
  • Created the technical skeleton with industry-standard practices, such as CI/CD and automated testing.
  • Delivered multiple presentations on various topics, including ElasticSearch, JavaScript and CSS.
  • Collaborated with the Architecture, QA and Products teams to resolve issues and deliver business outcomes.
  • Architected and implemented ElasticSearch auto-complete and suggestions for property search, including ETL processes with daily regression checks across two data stores.
  • Worked daily with C# in both .NET Framework and .NET Core projects, and regularly used T-SQL on large monolithic relational databases.

Senior Full Stack Developer,
Real Serious Games

2021 - 2022

Acting in a leadership role reporting directly to the CTO, I contributed to the strategic direction, technical decision-making and development of a large scale React application.

  • Established processes and tooling to improve web development practices, code quality, and onboarding.
  • Modernised a large-scale React application, reducing technical debt and improving performance.
  • Implemented CI pipelines for Unity and .NET Core projects using GitLab runners with an auto-scaling Docker+Machine setup, leveraging AWS spot instances to minimise costs.
  • Built a server-client integrity system using Azure to enhance platform security and reliability.
  • Worked full-stack utilising Postgres, .NET Core, React, TypeScript, ADB, AAPT, Bash, and PowerShell.

Senior Application Developer,
Urban Global

2018 - 2021

Operating in a leadership role reporting directly to the C-suite, I managed all development projects, including revenue generators, support tickets, compliance, resource allocation and ad hoc requests.

  • Acted as the principal escalation point for key external accounts, managing high-level stakeholder relationships.
  • Developed and implemented security policies covering data governance, breach response, and secure coding standards.
  • Modernised a large .NET web application, reducing technical debt and significantly improving performance.
  • Implemented Always Encrypted SQL across elastically scaled AWS EC2 instances to enhance data security.
  • Maintained and extended AWS infrastructure, including Elastic Beanstalk environments, Lambda microservices, and DNS routing via Route 53.
  • Delivered full-stack features using C#, .NET, MSSQL, HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and Razor.
  • Served as Database Administrator, designing schemas, writing stored procedures and triggers, and monitoring system performance.

Senior Web Developer,
Expose Media

2017 – 2018

Managing a small team, I developed custom websites for clients that successfully achieved their business targets.

  • Managed direct client relationships with weekly meetings to drive resolution and alignment.
  • Managed team performance, hiring and onboarding.
  • Collaborated with Design, UX, and Product teams to shape website functionality and user experience.
  • Delivered responsive web solutions using HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, C#, PHP, and database design.
  • Worked across various hosting platforms, including Azure, Plesk, and Vultr.

IT Programmer,
SEMA Group

2016 – 2017

  • Utilised Linux, Bash, SSH, Windows, Java, C# and various in-house languages.
  • Operated under strict confidentiality for clients requiring work with legal or financial interests.

IT Programmer,
Forgotten Empires

2014 - 2016

  • Worked at a multi-lingual games studio, communicating with businesses such as Microsoft and Steam.
  • Worked on a large C, C# and .NET project from conception through to deployment.

Education

Bachelor of Information Technology Griffith University, QLD

Major: Software Development Griffith Award for Academic Excellence 2015