Build
Software Architecture
Good architecture is invisible until it’s missing. I design the structure beneath your product so it stays quick, secure and affordable as the numbers climb, and doesn’t need rebuilding the moment it succeeds.
Where I come in
- Data and system design. Models and structure that make sense now and don’t paint you into a corner later.
- APIs and integrations. Clean interfaces so your product can talk to payments, data feeds and third-party tools without duct tape.
- Verification and identity. Designing how records are proven and trusted (something I’ve built for real, from verification-by-reference to certificate integrity).
- Scale and cost. Architecture that grows with your users without your hosting bill or your response times growing faster.
- Sensible technology. The discipline to choose boring, proven tools where they fit and avoid over-engineering that slows everyone down.
- Architecture review. A structured look at an existing system to find the risks, bottlenecks and the honest cost of fixing them.
How I work
The platform I built integrates external national-standard and awarding-body data feeds, standard payment processing and a verification model, all sitting behind a clean, maintainable structure. That experience means I design for the unglamorous things that actually decide whether software survives contact with real users: data integrity, sensible integrations, and cost that scales gently.
I’ll work on a greenfield design with you, or review and shore up what you already have. And I’ll always tell you where not to spend, because the most expensive architecture is the kind built for scale you don’t have yet.
Common questions
Greenfield design or existing systems?
Both. On new products I help get the foundations right before code is written. On existing ones I review what’s there and design the path to something more robust, usually in stages, not a risky big-bang rebuild.
Do you offer a one-off architecture review?
Yes. A fixed-scope review is a common way to start: I assess the system, flag the real risks and bottlenecks, and give you a prioritised, costed plan you can act on with or without me.
Will you help my developers, or replace them?
Work alongside them, almost always. Good architecture guidance makes an existing team faster and more confident; it isn’t about pushing anyone out.