James Allen

Senior Software Engineer

Professional and impact-driven Senior Software Engineer currently delivering strategic, architecture-level solutions for KFC UK&I's digital platforms. Leading high-impact initiatives that have improved conversion, reduced technical debt, and shaped platform direction across a global organisation.

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Recent Blog Posts

I Let an AI Build My Game

02/07/2025

I used to think generative AI was just for marketing fluff, but then I challenged it to build a full-blown 2D physics game. What happened next absolutely blew m...

Generating Dynamic Social Images with Next.js and R2, and Why Cloudflare Workers Let Me Down Gently

26/06/2025

I wasted days wrestling with ugly social shares, trying to build an automated Open Graph image generator. What happened next will blow your mind (and save you e...

Beyond the Chatbot: Navigating the Nuances of AI Generation and Building Robust LLM Systems

21/06/2025

You think building a production-ready LLM is just about "the perfect prompt"? Trust me, I've been there. The truth? Hallucinations, spiraling costs, and unpredi...

Next generation personal site and blog

19/06/2025

My "simple" website update snowballed into a full-blown publishing platform, complete with a blog, dynamic RSS, and automated sitemap. All of it shipped in unde...

v0 A delve into LLM Code Generation outside Cursor & Windsurf

18/06/2025

Vercel's v0 is powerful, right? But if you're battling generic output and constant corrections, you're missing the single biggest trick. I cracked the code on i...

AI generated post

18/06/2025

Everyone says React and React Native are "just JavaScript"—but they're lying. Copy-pasting your web components into an app? Get ready for pain. I'm dropping the...

Core Technologies

AWS
React
React Native
Node
Postgres
MongoDb
Next.js
Docker
Typescript
FHIR/HL7
HTML5/CSS3

Professional Experience

KFC UK&I

Woking

Senior Software Engineer

August 2025 - PRESENT

Leading high-impact initiatives that have improved profitability, reduced technical debt, currently working on delivering global solutions to the UK market. Working as part of the domain leadership team to shape platform direction and deliver high-impact solutions.

Key Achievements:

  • Driving delivery of a resilient, Docker-based in-store server platform, complementing the global byte product; shipped within scope by a small, high-performing team and engineered for operational resilience.

Software Engineer

June 2023 - August 2025

Though formally employed as a Software Engineer, I was consistently entrusted with responsibilities and influence typical of a senior/lead role across architecture, delivery, and strategic alignment.

Key Achievements:

  • Reduced measurable tech debt by 80%, tracked through SonarCloud, by addressing critical code smells and security issues.
  • Worked with domain leadership to right-size the team (~75% reduction), preserving quality and velocity through smarter tooling, collaboration and focus.
  • Reduced geolocation costs by 85% by implementing a custom AWS AppSync and JavaScript resolver solution, greatly reducing the reliance on expensive third-party services.
  • Enabled a 20% uplift in year-on-year user conversion via targeted improvements
  • Decommissioned an underutilized A/B testing tool, resulting in six-figure annual cost savings.
  • Introduced Gherkin-based BDD testing frameworks, leading to higher code quality, improved collaboration, and a measurable reduction in bugs.

Tech Stack: React Native, React, Next.js, TypeScript, AWS (Lambda, AppSync, S3), Cypress, Maestro, CI/CD (scripting), Docker

Red Ant Digital Limited

London

Full Stack Developer

March 2021 - June 2023

Responsible for leading a number of projects, for Red Ant's largest client, MHRA. This included a completely new report configurator which allows for a lot more function than their previous solution whilst still being compliant with E2B (R3/R2), MIR, FSCA etc reporting form standards.

Key Achievements:

  • Leading project workstreams
  • Developing high throughput APIs
  • Engineering a new report configurator for use in medical reporting
  • Coaching and mentoring junior developers on projects

Tech Stack: Postgres, Node.js, Express.js, React, Next.js, React Native, TypeScript

Multitone Electronics Plc

Basingstoke

Full Stack Developer

August 2018 - March 2021

Responsible for creating an entire new product to integrate and eventually replace a legacy stack using MERN technologies. Aided in the development of many current, widely used systems using a host of communication protocols.

Key Achievements:

  • Developed an entire new product to integrate and eventually replace a legacy stack using MERN technologies
  • Aided in the development of many current, widely used systems using a host of communication protocols
  • Modernised firecoding and emergency crash systems for UK Fire and Rescue Service and Ireland Coast Guard

Tech Stack: MongoDB, Node.js, Express.js, React, TypeScript, Electron, React Native

Let's Build Something Amazing Together

Ready to discuss your next project or explore opportunities?

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