Ian Read
About Ian Read
Ian Read is a Senior Software Developer with extensive experience in software development and team leadership. He has worked at various companies, including Nearform and Unipart, and has a strong academic background in Computer Science and Software Engineering.
Work at NearForm
Ian Read has been employed at NearForm as a Senior Software Developer since 2018. In this role, he collaborates with DevOps teams and works with technologies such as AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, and Quay. His responsibilities include advancing software development practices and contributing to various projects that enhance application performance and user experience.
Previous Employment History
Before joining NearForm, Ian Read held several positions in software development. He worked at Unipart as Application Architect from 2015 to 2017 and as Head of Development from 2017 to 2018. He also served as a Senior Java Analyst Programmer at Bertram Books from 2011 to 2013 and as Lead Developer at Soup from 2007 to 2008. Additionally, he was a Web Developer at the University of East Anglia from 2008 to 2011 and a Web Development Team Leader at Williams Lea from 2013 to 2015.
Education and Expertise
Ian Read studied at the University of East Anglia, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from 1999 to 2002 and later completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science from 2002 to 2006. He also attended City College Norwich from 1997 to 1999. His educational background supports his extensive expertise in software development, particularly in areas such as automated testing, performance optimization, and memory leak resolution in large React applications.
Key Projects and Contributions
Throughout his career, Ian Read has led significant projects, including the development of the DVSA’s learning to drive apps, which achieved the status of the #1 top-selling app on the UK Apple App Store. He also implemented an enterprise warehouse management system for McLaren Automotive, focusing on logistics and stock management for road car production. His work emphasizes the integration of automated testing, code review, and user experience testing within development teams.
Technical Skills and Tools
Ian Read possesses a range of technical skills relevant to modern software development. He utilizes Jest and Watchman for traditional JavaScript unit tests, snapshot tests, functionality testing, and integration testing. His experience includes advanced techniques in text-to-speech synthesis and a strong focus on performance optimization within large-scale applications.