Verizon Connect
Associate Director – Software (Feb 2023 – current)
Verizon Connect provides Fleet management software to help track vehicles in the field, improve fleet operations, increase worker productivity and safe driving with Verizon Connect fleet management solutions. It does this though asset tracking, Compliance and ELD, Video and dashcams, advanced routing and logistics and many more. Based in Dublin, Christchurch, Florence, and across the US and Canada and many other locations around Europe and Asia.
As Associate Director & Head of the Compliance Company, I was responsible for the coordination and completion of large development efforts utilising Kanban & Lean principles and measures through Hoshin. This position serves as the Engineering Leader across multiple autonomous teams providing solutions that connect over 1 Million vehicles to our mobile workforce network. Working closely with various stakeholders, I was accountable for the design & delivery of our Compliance solutions, maintaining up-to-date backlogs, and understanding & reporting of key SDLC metrics & making suggestions for process improvements.
Systems are built on top of the AWS platform leveraging .NET and open source technologies and driving an automation-first approach to delivery. The Compliance and ELD offerings cover a range of hardware and software include back-end services and mobile applications for both Android and iOS. Top 5 aspects:
- Driving best in class Software Development engineering practices within the Compliance company.
- Working with other Engineering Leaders, Product, Product UX and the other Engineering functions to prioritise work.
- Leading the team through a transition to Continuous Delivery, driving automation of build, deployment and test.
- Providing direction to direct and indirect reports in the performance of their duties, establishing work priorities, and in achieving company initiatives.
- Building high performing teams of innovative systems professionals by mentoring, coaching and developing internal talent and recruiting industry top talent.
Voyager Internet
Software Practice Lead (Jul 2021 – Jan 2023)
Voyager are broadband and communication specialists. Proudly New Zealand owned, keeping Kiwis online at home and at work with supersonic broadband speeds. Voyager enables businesses to grow with smart IT business solutions, from simple phone plans to website hosting and domain names..
The Software Practice Lead heads up the Software and Testing Practice.
Key Points:
- Build and maintain Voyager Software – Drive the DevOps software delivery and maintenance areas based on the software enterprise architecture and Agile principles and frameworks that are fit for purpose, commercially viable and align with Voyagers strategy.
- Software Testing Practice – Establish and drive a software testing practice to achieve a high level of testing automation and quality software releases.
- Team Leadership – Role model the Voyager values and lead, coach and motivate the software engineers and automation testers, ensuring the consistent achievement of targets and career growth.
- Customer Service and Administration – Manage the team to deliver the highest standard of customer service to Voyager stakeholders.
- Health and Safety – Meet obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 including supporting more active participation in health and safety systems, and taking steps so far as is reasonably practical in ensuring a health and safe working environment.
Computer Concepts Ltd
Delivery Lead, Cloud Transformation (Aug 2020 – Jun 2021)
Computer Concepts Limited has forged an enviable reputation for providing innovative, engineering-powered ICT solutions. Founded in 1990 CCL delivers services to a variety of clients, from some of New Zealand’s largest and most complex organizations, to smaller innovative local businesses. CCL is flexible, fast and experienced. We pride ourselves on building quality services, designed and deployed by some of New Zealand’s most passionate and experienced engineers.
Responsible for providing Agile delivery expertise to ensure the successful execution of customer engagements covering cloud and transformation delivery and consulting projects, as well as managed cloud service delivery. Regardless of methodology I required a mindset of delivering value early and frequently. As an Agile practitioner I provided Agile, Lean and DevOps guidance and coaching both internally and externally.
Key Points:
Delivery Engagements
- Able to fulfil Project Management, Scrum Master, and Product Owner roles
- Collaborates, co-creates and continuously improves to ensure effective delivery.
- Delivers to a high standard, drives for results and high-quality products and services.
- Delivers value early and frequently.
- Demonstrates leadership capabilities while working with cross-functional distributed teams.
- Resolves delivery impediments.
- Improves the predictability of solution delivery.
- Engages stakeholders in achieving business value.
- Acts as a trusted adviser for customers (internally & externally).
- Provides a good understanding of project and development delivery methodologies and practices.
- Coordinates execution of project and managed services engagements including task and dependency planning and tracking.
- Facilitates delivery events and ceremonies.
- Risk and issue identification and management.
- Stakeholder management, communications planning and management, and status reporting.
- Sets up and maintains project tooling including project registers and backlogs.
- Project financial management incl. procurement, time and material tracking and budget and billing reporting, with good service provider commercial acumen.
Agile | Lean Coaching
- Champion & Evangelise Cloud, DevOps, Lean and Agile practices.
- Enable Agile adoption by teaching, mentoring and coaching teams in Agile-based frameworks.
- Provide Agile | Lean delivery expertise to standardise delivery and development methodology and approach and implement modern operating models.
- Setting up Delivery teams as a servant process, not a commanding process.
- Guiding the Development team towards self-organization.
- Leading the team through healthy conflict and debate.
- Teaching, coaching and mentoring the organisation and team in adopting and using Agile practices and principles.
- Shielding the team from disturbance and external threats.
- Helping the team make visible progress and flow, remove and prevent impediments.
- Encouraging, supporting and enabling the team to reach their full potential and abilities.
- Creating transparency by radiating information via e.g. Product and Sprint Backlogs, Daily Stand-Ups, Reviews and a visible workspace.
- Ensuring a collaborative culture exists within the team.
- Embed best practice Agile and Lean practices using continuous improvement and retrospectives.
- Agile Scrum tool expert and go-to person allowing teams to focus on deliverables rather than administration. (e.g. Jira, etc.)
- Customer and internal journey mapping to identify end-to-end customer/team experiences.
Principal Continual Service Improvement Manager (Nov 2018 – Aug 2020)
The Principal Continual Service Improvement (CSI) manager was responsible for leading a functional team within the Strategy Team. This is a brand new business function, and I was will be responsible for both establishing and managing CSI across CCL creating a network of CSI subject matter and knowledge leads. I had to develop the processes and governance required to operate a CSI portfolio creating the compelling cases for investment that support both opportunities to address existing problems, business risk and exploit value and best practice. I also operated and developed Problem Management creating an integrated operating model between the CSI, Problem and Service teams.
Key Points:
- Building relationships across the business.
- Responsible for mentoring and training areas with Lean Startup methodologies.
- Instigated Agile methodologies and tools within CSI team and migrating across to other teams as was applicable.
- Project and Programme Management for all aspects of CSI. Created a comprehensive but simple framework to provide visibility and task flow management.
- Responsible for building, coaching, mentoring and growing team members.
- Financial and budget responsibility for Engineering Department.
- Involved in strategic management and alignment of CSI functions to the wider business goals.
- Implementing a lean start-up bedded infrastructure, framework and toolset for the management and communication of the CSI function across the business
Virscient
Business Development Manager (6 months – short term during 2018)
Virscient works for the world’s leading semiconductor and product companies, because of their deep expertise in wireless and Internet of Things technologies. Every day developing secure embedded software for connected systems, designing hardware from silicon to PCB/product-level, and supporting all other aspects of the connectivity journey from technology selection through to product RF and interoperability certification.
Their expertise spans a wide range of technologies including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LoRa, Sigfox, IEEE 802.15.4, cellular, GNSS, and many more, and they work across all system layers from physical to application.
Aranz Medical
Director of Engineering (May 2017 – Mar 2018)
ARANZ Medical is a technology company that makes imaging and 3D measurement solutions for wound care and fitting orthotics/prosthetics. Silhouette is an electronic wound assessment solution that includes both the point of care wound imaging and 3D measurement device, as well as the software that enables data capture, storage and analysis. Silhouette is a proven solution in both clinical trial and clinical practice environments, and it is rapidly expanding its market presence around the world.
The Software Team is made up of “full-stack” web developers using .NET (C#, ASP.NET), web building services (REST, JSON, WebAPI), modern HTML5 development (Aurelia, SignalR, Angular) and SQL server. The Hardware/Firmware and Research Engineers are a mix of highly skilled multi-disciplined engineers.
The Director of Engineering is responsible for delivery from software, hardware/firmware, research, and testing services. Demonstrating stewardship of the assets and resources of the organization. Working effectively in collaboration with other members of the department, and with managers and staff across the organization. Complying with all legal requirements, all corporate policies and procedures, and with generally accepted business and ethical practices and ensuring work complies with AML development methodology and quality system.
Key Points
- Member of the Senior Leadership Team.
- Leadership of multi-disciplinary team that includes electronics, hardware, firmware, software “full stack” engineers as well as production and assembly technicians.
- Project Management of Engineering Products from concept to market.
- Development of annual strategic and operational plans.
- Involved in Senior Leadership Team strategic planning and implementation.
- Responsible for Hardware, Software, Firmware, Research and Production.
- Budget and Financial responsibility for Engineering Department.
- Monitor and improve the Production Team’s output and ability to meet forecast sales.
- Process improvement through Engineering.
- Ensuring all product development meets quality and regulatory requirements for medical devices.
- Develop the delivery programme plan to meet Marketing and Sales needs.
- Supporting the development of products, technology and business strategies.
- Actively supporting the use and development of companywide cross-functional teams.
This was a newly created role that resulted from identifying that the Company’s Engineering function was broken. This job provided me with the challenge I was after. The Engineering Team had not been able to release new products to market for over a year, and some substantial changes were required to enable the team to perform. This role was highly contested, and my fit as a ‘fixer’ rather than a ‘caretaker’ along with my varied background across technologies was a good fit.
The Engineering Team consisted of 15 direct and indirect reports, made from a mix of Hardware, Firmware, Software, and Research Engineers. This also required mentorship of Engineers and a Manager.
After an internal restructure, the small in-house Production Team moved into the Engineering Department, meaning that I was also acting Production Manager with three Electronics Technicians. They were responsible for the stock, repairs of product, and production of the SilhouetteStar cameras. Additionally, Two Senior Research Engineers moved from the Advanced Development team into the Engineering Team to help bolster getting Products to market faster.
Cavotec MoorMaster
Controls Team Leader (September 2014 – April 2017)
Cavotec is the home of MoorMaster™, an innovative vacuum-based mooring system. The company also supplies Alternative Maritime Power (AMP) systems, and a comprehensive range of staple port equipment, including motorised cable reels, marine propulsion slip ring columns, electrical power connectors, power chains, and crane controllers.
From automated mooring to ship propulsion, Cavotec’s innovative Ports & Maritime systems serve the global ports industry, ensuring efficient and sustainable operations.
The Controls Team Leader provided management and mentoring of 8 -12 controls engineers, ensuring best practice design, project effectiveness and teamwork. This role was also a key part of the Engineering Team and wider company, contributing to engineering and project management that enabled the company to achieve its operational and strategic objectives.
Key Points
- Contribute to the resourcing of critical projects.
- Motivate, coach and mentor team members, giving direction and guidance to foster Personal / Professional Development and Team / Business goals.
- Address and manage any performance issues or conflict scenarios.
- Observe Cavotec MoorMasters™ internal design & documentation process standards.
- Develop robust functional descriptions and product/software documentation.
- Oversea PLC Programming, Network, HMI design and execution, electrical specification and systems design execution, Conception and development of software and electrical systems to support new products and improvements to existing products.
- Complete documentation required for Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT).
- Foreign travel to attend FAT, site commissioning and SAT (mostly offshore).
- Customer liaison, providing warranty, monitoring and support for issues arising throughout the products lifecycle.
- Increase the quality, efficiency and productivity of the controls team.
- Prepare, review and maintain CMM product documentation.
- Research & Development of new and existing MoorMaster™ Products and other products which Cavotec MoorMaster or Cavotec wish to develop.
- Contribute to the discovery and collection of information for new and innovative materials, processes and functionality.
- Contribute to the CMM Knowledge Base capturing relevant information.
I had three major streams of work at Cavotec to note, these were:
- The introduction of Software and Electrical process, including integrating into JIRA;
- Driving the team to create a ‘cookie cutter’ standardised HMI offering, including a PHP/Web based tool to assist sales in generating a standardised set up for a site,
- Move towards a continuous PLC and HMI Software Release, automated to provide the ability keep multiple sites up to date, this included driving for a PLC and HMI architecture that is modularised.
Samsung (Cambridge Solution Center)
Senior Manager – Radio Firmware Group (June 2011 – April 2014)
Samsung Electronics purchased the mobile connectivity business from CSR in October 2012. The purpose was to enhance Samsung Electronics ability to deliver complete solutions into the mobile business area, by providing in house WLAN, GPS, Bluetooth, and video connectivity technologies. (As part of the transfer, I was a nominated TUPE representative for the Software Group based in Cambridge)
(CSR is a global leader in wireless, and CSR’s Bluetooth, location, FM, Wi-Fi, audio, TV, video, and camera technologies are at the heart of many of the world’s most recognised electronics brands.)
Management of the Radio Firmware Group, which included the Bluetooth Radio Firmware Team and the Wi-Fi Radio Firmware Team, as part of Global Software. Provide the embedded firmware for the silicon chips that are used in various handsets/smart-phones, personal navigation and audio/visual devices. The primary output from the Radio Team was the control and management firmware for the analogue WLAN and Bluetooth radios.
Key Points
- Assisted in refining Agile processes and procedures for all aspects of Global Software.
- Line management of a team of professional embedded firmware engineers/group leaders.
- Line management and coordination of several contractors based locally and overseas.
- Responsible for the assignment of work and delivery of work to project milestones.
- Responsible for the technical direction of the teams.
- Manage the development and test of software work packages to an agreed timescale as defined by chip development programmes or internal IP development plans.
- Project management of the Radio firmware for the WLAN and Bluetooth subsystems.
- Manage the development and utilization of the development test infrastructure.
- Increase the quality, efficiency and productivity of radio firmware, ensuring a fast bring-up and eventual productisation of the radios.
- Responsible for budget, salary, recruitment, and resources of the Radio Firmware Group.
Although the role was initially as part of Cambridge Silicon Radio(CSR), the purchase by Samsung Electronics(SSEL) was a carve out of a complete business unit. This meant that my role was transferred across with no change in role or responsibility.
As part of the transfer of employment, I was also an elected employee representative for the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) TUPE process.
In addition to line managing a multi-disciplinary team, the initial focus was to identify and assist in the improved quality and output of the Software Department. The Department included 3 Firmware teams, 2 Host Software teams (one located in Bangalore, India) and 2 WLAN System Test teams (one located in Bangalore). The track record of output was not optimal, and I was able to identify issue tracking, code branching and delivery process as being the key areas requiring considerable improvement.
The WLAN Radio Team included:
- Test; comprising 1 test infrastructure architect, 1 test developer, 1 test system administrator.
- Development; comprising 7 firmware engineers with a split of MAC/PHY and RF capability.
- Contractors; comprising applications and firmware capability based in Cambridge and New Zealand.
- Secondments; 2 firmware engineers working from our Denmark office, 1 engineer from Bluetooth.
Working closely with the Radio Systems and Integration Team and the Analogue Design Team (based in Sophia, France) the team supported, and implemented code through MATLAB conversion from the RF world into the WLAN firmware world. The role was a mix of Technical Authority and Project Manager for the Radio Firmware.
Later, this role expanded to Managing the newly created Radio Firmware Group. The Group included the management of two multi-disciplinary teams both focussed on radio technology; The Wi-Fi Radio Firmware and Bluetooth Radio Firmware teams. Whilst there was significant synergy between the teams and even the analogue components within silicon, these subsystems were very different technologies using different embedded environments, code bases and even development processes.
WhisperTech
Principal Engineer – Software and Electronics (June 2009 – April 2011)
Whisper Tech Limited’s vision is the Stirling engine-based WhisperGen™ heat and power system – a smarter way to provide home heat and power with the added benefit of reduced environmental impact. This micro combined heat and power (microCHP) system is produced in both on-grid and off-grid forms.
This role is responsible for the technical leadership, development and management of a small team of multi-disciplined embedded engineers that designed and developed the control power electronics for the WhisperGen heat and power system.
The role was primarily to take the Electronics and Software Department from a start-up group to a fully professional Department using mature processes and procedures as it looks for more opportunities to grow in size and capability.
Key Points
- Provide clear technical direction for the Electronics and Software Department.
- Working with other Engineering disciplines to establish a professional development life cycle for Electronics and Software.
- Actively maintain and develop new relationships with professionals outside of the business that will be required for consultancy from time to time.
- Responsible for the delivery of technical work to the project plan.
- Project planning the Electronics and Software components of larger projects.
- Perform analysis and create industry best practice processes and development life cycles for the Electronics and Software Department.
- Work closely with QA Manager and other Engineering groups to agree on Software Release and Hardware Revision processes.
- Instigate an issue tracking and work flow management system for the Electronics and Software Department.
My technical involvement covered two major projects. The first was a re-architecture of a piece of safety critical firmware that had been written by a previous junior engineer was found to have some potentially serious issues. The firmware running on an Atmel CPU was being used to measure and determine if the product was trying to generate electricity and had become isolated from the electricity grid. A circuit, called GIMU (Grid Impedance Measurement Unit) would try to determine if the grid had disappeared by measuring tiny changes in the impedance at the generator.
The second piece of technical work involved creating a test system (a linux pc) which could test the engine control software and electronics by simulating a real stirling engine. A stirling engine is a very complex device to control and testing the various failure modes on a real engine would take many hours due to the complex mechanical machinery and environmental aspect. The test suite comprised of a network interfaced virtual stirling engine, and a test engine which took test scripts and assertions. By adding a test mode to the control electronics to effectively speed up time, a full safety test run could be completed in 2 hours, something that previously took one mechanical/electrical engineer over a week. The virtual stirling engine could also be used to diagnose issues on a real engine, by taking control of individual or groups of a real stirling engine when connected to a real running unit.
Allied Telesis Labs
Allied Telesis is a world-wide company, and is one of the world’s leading producers of computer networking equipment Founded in 1987 it has offices all over the world, including the USA, the UK, Netherlands, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, China, Singapore, India, the Philippines, and Australia.
In New Zealand, we develop some of the company’s most advanced products for international markets. Specifically Advanced Layer 3+ switches, including Gigabit and 10Gigabit Ethernet.
Software Department Manager (March 2006 – December 2008)
This role is responsible for the leadership, development and management of a software department. Seven Software Team Managers reporting directly with up to 65 software engineers reporting indirectly.
Key Points
- Helped introduce Agile Development to the Company.
- Providing direction for the software department, accountable for software delivery from ATLNZ to the global group.
- Actively, leading, managing and developing the team ensuring performance management and career development actions are in place and monitored.
- Identifying, implementing and continually improving process and procedures for accomplishing work, including iterative and Agile development methodologies.
- Development and management of budgets for Software Teams within the Software Department.
- Project management, financial budgeting for the department, strategic and resource planning, assisting with product planning and company roadmap.
- Assisted in creating career development framework and managing career development, performance management, and performance appraising.
Software Team Manager (December 2004 – February 2006)
This role was responsible for the leadership, development and management of a team of up to 15 software engineers. The team worked on new product and feature development as well as customer support for existing products. As one of six software teams at Allied Telesis, this team was responsible for the LAN protocols and drivers code. A key aspect of this management role was the development and maintenance of strong relationships with all customers.
Key Points
- Coaching, communication, creating and maintaining a happy team environment.
- Setting team objectives and the technical direction.
- Project management, budgeting, strategic and resource planning.
- Further developed iterative/Agile development methodologies.
- Career development, performance management, performance appraising.
Senior Software Engineer / Software Group Leader (July 2001 – December 2004)
This role led between three and ten software engineers on significant software development projects, including the AT-8948 and AT-9900 Series of multilayer IPv4 and IPv6 Gigabit switches.
Key Points
- Software resource and technical planning and reporting.
- Providing direction for software development.
- Being involved in all aspects of the software development life cycle: requirements gathering, specification, design, coding and verification testing.
- Introduced iterative software development methodology.
Lincoln Ventures (Now Lincoln Agritech)
Research and Development Engineer (February 1996 – April 2001)
This role at Lincoln Technology Ltd, the commercial arm of Lincoln University, encompassed a wide range of skills and abilities.
Key Points
- Short and long term planning, SWOT analysis, risk management, and environmental scanning for a team of twelve.
- Managing up to five people on projects that lasted up to three years at the bleeding edge of research.
- Managing 50 desktop PCs and assorted networking devices for the company.
- Producing electronic devices for industry and research partners.
- Selling personal and group skills to industry through technical meetings and events, the production of marketing materials and strategic documentation.
The most significant project was the development of the next generation of sensor that allows closing elevator doors to reverse as people approach the lift. It was initiated through a successful technology assessment project (TAP), continued through a Technology for Business Growth (TBG) funded project. The technology was image based (CMOS cameras and used state of the art Digital Signal Processors (TI TMS320C6000 series DSP).
This project provided the industry partner with new intellectual property through patents, but also involved a certain component of trade secret due to the nature of the lift door sensing industry. Whilst I was involved in the project from the beginning, the last two years I was leading the small development team on behalf of the industry partner.