Andrew is available for hire

Andrew Dobson

Verified Expert in Engineering

Back-end Developer

Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom

Toptal member since February 5, 2022

Expertise

Back-end Developers API Full-stack Multithreading Java JSON PostgreSQL iOS REST API Git Spring

Bio

Andrew is a senior full-stack developer with 10+ years of experience building scalable web and mobile applications. He specializes in React Native, Java, Node.js, and PHP, with a strong background in high-performance back-end systems, real-time data processing, and production mobile apps. He focuses on building reliable, scalable products with clean architecture and strong performance.

Portfolio

AJ Development

Swift, Objective-C, Xcode, React Native, Node.js, Laravel, PHP, React, Figma...

International Baccalaureate Organization

JavaScript, React Native, Flutter, CSS, HTML5, Node.js, React, iOS

FDJ Gaming Solutions

Java, Oracle, REST, Apache Kafka, Spring, APIs, Concurrency, Multithreading...

Experience

Apache Tomcat - 10 years
REST - 10 years
Java - 10 years
JUnit - 10 years
Spring - 4 years
React - 3 years
React Native - 2 years
Node.js - 2 years

Preferred Environment

MacOS, Eclipse, Slack

The most amazing...

...thing: I've built and optimized back-end systems processing huge volumes of real-time sports and betting data under heavy traffic.

Work Experience

Freelance Mobile App Developer

2022 - PRESENT

AJ Development

Developed a leading fitness application for iOS and Android in React Native, which involved creating a Node.js server to talk to Shopify to expose many endpoints for use within the app.
Developed a React application to take payments from users using Stripe and verified the payment with a Java back-end to confirm the payments' validity.
Provided maintenance and added new functionality to an iOS application written in Objective-C for a leading provider of examination papers in the UK.
Worked on both the front and back ends for a food delivery mobile application. The front end was written in React Native, and the back end was written in Laravel.
Cooperated with a client to specify, estimate, and build a dating application. This involved taking the client's requirements, turning them into a detailed specification, breaking them down into actionable tasks, and estimating them.

Technologies: Swift, Objective-C, Xcode, React Native, Node.js, Laravel, PHP, React, Figma, PostgreSQL, Stripe, API Development, Back-end Development, Microservices, Architecture, Microservices Architecture, Database Design, RESTFul APIs, Full-stack, iOS, Software Architecture, Android, Artificial Intelligence (AI), API Backwards Compatibility, SSH, XML, Full-stack Development, Third-party APIs, API Integration, App Store, RevenueCat

[FT/PT] Cross-plaftorm Developer, Flutter or React Native | Evaluation Card-based Application

2022 - 2022

International Baccalaureate Organization

Developed an interactive card-based game using React that allowed students to pick cards and build up a motif, which could then be exported and printed.
Liaised with the client to deploy test versions, manage feedback and outstanding issues, and make the relevant changes.
Ensured the application was translatable into three different languages.

Technologies: JavaScript, React Native, Flutter, CSS, HTML5, Node.js, React, iOS

Senior Java Developer

2017 - 2022

FDJ Gaming Solutions

Worked as a back-end engineer to develop an extremely performant Java application that took a large number of bets from players in a short time span. This involved complex algorithms to process the bets and calculate potential returns.
Ensured the API evolution was controlled by securing that any changes to the API were well thought out and followed industry and internal standards.
Overhauled how the company receives feed information, from taking a single feed in a strict format to multiple feeds in various formats. Ensured performance targets were maintained.
Implemented and rolled out our product to new North American clients with the quickest launch and most significant release in recent years. Defined key requirements and efficiently delivered the product on time.

Technologies: Java, Oracle, REST, Apache Kafka, Spring, APIs, Concurrency, Multithreading, Apache Tomcat, JUnit, Unit Testing, Git, JSON, Agile, ELK (Elastic Stack), Liquibase, Swagger, Back-end Performance, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Docker, Jira, PostgreSQL, Kafka Streams, Hibernate, PSQL, Jersey, Pull Requests, JConsole, API Development, Back-end Development, Microservices, Architecture, Microservices Architecture, Database Design, RESTFul APIs, Software Architecture, REST APIs, API Backwards Compatibility, SSH, XML, Linux, Full-stack Development, Third-party APIs, API Integration

Development Team Leader

2012 - 2017

Capita IB Solutions

Acted as the main point of contact for multiple projects, oversaw the team's resources, worked closely with clients to provide day-to-day support, scheduled bug fix releases, scoped new functionalities, and ensured deadlines were met.
Created bespoke web applications using Java within a Tomcat environment and played a key role in all stages of the development lifecycle—from initial analysis with clients to design the proposed solution, development, and testing.
Designed and developed a new web-based system to keep track of people attending training courses and added additional functionality to the existing expense management system used by NHS.

Technologies: Java, Oracle, Apache Tomcat, JUnit, Team Leadership, PSQL

Experience

AI Product & Ingredient Analysis Platform

I developed an AI-powered mobile platform that allows users to scan food and cosmetic products to retrieve ingredient information, analyze ingredients using AI models, and generate health and hormone-related scores and insights. The platform combined barcode scanning, AI-powered analysis, subscription systems, and scalable back-end services to deliver real-time product evaluations and personalized feedback.

AI Specification Writing Platform for Architects

I developed an AI-powered web application for architects that generated technical specification documents based on project requirements and structured inputs.

The platform streamlined the specification-writing process by leveraging AI-generated content, editable document sections, project management tools, and scalable back-end services for document generation and storage.

Fitness and Nutrition App in React Native

I developed a cross-platform fitness and nutrition application for iOS and Android using React Native. I built a scalable Node.js back end that integrated with Shopify to synchronize product, nutrition, and subscription data in real time. The project focused heavily on performance, API integration, clean architecture, and delivering a smooth mobile experience across both platforms.

Conference Event App for Automotive Organization

I developed a cross-platform conference and event application for a leading automotive organization. The app allowed attendees to browse exhibitors and featured vehicles, view interactive venue maps, book test drives, manage event schedules, and access digital tickets with integrated validation and scanning functionality for event entry. The platform was designed to support high attendee volumes and real-time event updates.

POS & PED Donation Platform

I developed Android-based POS and PED software for a payment solutions company that prompted customers to make charitable donations during card transactions. The platform integrated directly with payment hardware, processed donation flows in real time, and reported transaction and donation data back to back-end systems for analytics and reconciliation. The project required a strong focus on reliability, transaction integrity, and hardware integration.

Food Delivery & Ordering Platform

I developed a mobile food delivery application that allowed users to browse restaurants and cafes, place orders, process payments, and track deliveries in real time. The platform included live order status updates, location tracking, back-end order management, and scalable APIs to support multiple vendors and high order volumes.

Golf Coaching & Training Platform

I built a coaching platform that enabled golf coaches to manage students, assign training courses, create coaching challenges, and track player progress. The application included user management, course content delivery, progress tracking, and communication features designed to improve engagement between coaches and students.

Education

2008 - 2012

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science

University of Hertfordshire - Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

Skills

Libraries/APIs

Liquibase, API Development, REST APIs, Firebase iOS SDK, Spotify API, React, Stripe, Stripe API, Node.js, Open APIs

Tools

Apache Tomcat, Git, Slack, ELK (Elastic Stack), Jira, Xcode, Kafka Streams, JConsole, Figma

Languages

Java, Objective-C, JavaScript, PHP, XML, Swift, GraphQL, CSS, HTML5, TypeScript, Kotlin

Frameworks

Spring, JUnit, React Native, Swagger, Hibernate, Jersey, Unity, Flutter, Laravel

Paradigms

REST, Database Design, Unit Testing, Agile, Microservices, Microservices Architecture

Platforms

Eclipse, iOS, RevenueCat, Oracle, Apache Kafka, MacOS, Docker, Firebase, Android, Linux, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Shopify

Storage

JSON, PostgreSQL, PSQL, Hasura

Other

Web Services, APIs, Concurrency, Multithreading, Pull Requests, Back-end Development, RESTFul APIs, Full-stack, API Backwards Compatibility, Full-stack Development, Third-party APIs, API Integration, App Store, Web Applications, Team Leadership, Back-end Performance, Architecture, Software Architecture, Artificial Intelligence (AI), SSH, Ticketing, QR Codes, Admin Panels, POS, Transactions, UPC & Barcodes, Subscriptions, Tracking, Payments, User Management, Cloud

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