David Ewing, Developer in Spring Hill, TN, United States
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David Ewing

PHP Developer

Spring Hill, TN, United States

Toptal member since April 11, 2014

Bio

Computers are David's passion—a hobby that became his career. He loves solving puzzles and looks forward to overcoming any obstacle that comes his way. He loves helping people and maintains excellent customer relations.

Portfolio

Ludi
JavaScript, PHP, GitLab, GitLab CI/CD, Static Analysis...
Typhoon On Demand
Python 3, Stripe API, Stripe, Docker Compose, Docker, APIFlask, SQLAlchemy...
Tradefull / AreaTrend
JavaScript, PHP, Laravel, Git, GitLab, GitLab CI/CD, DevOps, Elastic, Docker...

Experience

  • Linux - 20 years
  • JavaScript - 19 years
  • Python - 19 years
  • Object-oriented Programming (OOP) - 19 years
  • MySQL - 19 years
  • Vim Text Editor - 19 years
  • PHP - 19 years
  • Git - 18 years

Preferred Environment

Git, Vim Text Editor, Linux

The most amazing...

...thing I've built is a PHP/Ajax CMS featuring real-time preview of changes before they are applied.

Work Experience

Engineering Manager — Core Systems & Architecture

2023 - PRESENT
Ludi
  • Owned the operational execution of a massive core application rebuild, migrating highly complex legacy systems over to a performant PHP 8.3/Laravel architecture.
  • Spearheaded the company-wide transformation of development processes, introducing automated CI/CD security pipelines, quality gates, and rigorous code formatting standards.
  • Took full ownership of the developer onboarding lifecycle, refactoring internal runtime environments to slash engineer startup times from days to under an hour.
  • Partnered directly across product and executive lines to run comprehensive project scoping, ruthlessly managing timelines and reducing development effort to guarantee predictable delivery.
Technologies: JavaScript, PHP, GitLab, GitLab CI/CD, Static Analysis, Static Application Security Testing (SAST), Laravel, Docker, Docker Compose, APIs, Back-end, Agile, Jira, Slack, Postman, Project Planning, Linux, SQL, MySQL, Python, jQuery, CSS, Test-driven Development (TDD), Legacy Code, Vim Text Editor, Unit Testing, DevOps, Source Code Review, Web Applications, Web Architecture, CI/CD Pipelines, Databases, Architecture, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Legacy Software, Code Review, Web Development, Security, Database Management, Multi-tenant SaaS, Multi-tenant Architecture, SaaS, Tailwind CSS, Software Architecture, Technical Leadership, Code Refactoring, Performance Optimization, Observability, Engineering Management

Senior Team Lead

2026 - 2026
Typhoon On Demand
  • Built a set of API endpoints to allow the front-end to check payment statuses.
  • Integrated with Stripe's API to allow management of Stripe Express account creation.
  • Added support to process payout transfers via Stripe's API.
Technologies: Python 3, Stripe API, Stripe, Docker Compose, Docker, APIFlask, SQLAlchemy, Stripe Express, GitHub, Web Development, SaaS, PostgreSQL, Payment APIs

Engineering Delivery Manager — Platform Scalability

2020 - 2023
Tradefull / AreaTrend
  • Identified and eliminated structural code bottlenecks across high-traffic platforms, driving refactoring strategies that boosted platform response speeds by 10x.
  • Integrated robotics platform into the WMS to augment warehousing staff.
  • Directed a distributed engineering unit, taking full accountability for roadmap planning, sprint sequencing, and daily development velocity.
  • Built out integrations with multiple third-party APIs, as well as maintaining an internal API.
Technologies: JavaScript, PHP, Laravel, Git, GitLab, GitLab CI/CD, DevOps, Elastic, Docker, Docker Compose, Robotics, APIs, REST APIs, Jira, MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Linux, SQL, jQuery, CSS, Test-driven Development (TDD), Agile, Legacy Code, Vim Text Editor, Elasticsearch, Back-end, Unit Testing, Source Code Review, Web Applications, Web Architecture, CI/CD Pipelines, Databases, Distributed Systems, Architecture, Redis, Legacy Software, Code Review, Web Development, Security, Database Management, Multi-tenant SaaS, Multi-tenant Architecture, SaaS, Software Architecture, eCommerce, Technical Leadership, HTML5, Code Refactoring, Performance Optimization, Observability, Engineering Management

Senior PHP Developer

2014 - 2019
CommPartners
  • Maintained and updated multiple legacy applications.
  • Migrated a large existing system from Laravel 4 to Laravel 5 and from Bootstrap 2 to Bootstrap 4.
  • Performed database query optimizations to reduce query counts and improve database performance.
  • Optimized database table structures to improve query performance and simplify the associated PHP code.
  • Added multiple third-party API integrations for account management and payment processing.
  • Maintained and updated a custom reporting API for both in-house and customer use.
  • Performed large-scale system-wide refactorings to reduce technical debt.
Technologies: Back-end, PhpStorm, HTML, LAMP, CSS, Agile, Legacy Code, Vim Text Editor, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), REST APIs, Git, SQL, Linux, jQuery, JavaScript, MySQL, Laravel, PHP, Web Applications, Databases, Legacy Software, Learning Management Systems (LMS), Web Development, SaaS, HTML5, Code Refactoring

Software Developer

2007 - 2014
Robertson Heating Supply
  • Created and maintained multiple APIs for internal and external use.
  • Administered multiple Debian Linux and Windows servers.
  • Created multiple PHP/Ajax content management systems, including one with a real-time preview of multiple data formats and sources.
  • Created a program to integrate with the Postfix email pipeline to parse, archive, and de-duplicate attachments on all incoming and outgoing messages.
  • Developed a Flash application in Flex/ActionScript to manage communication with a select group of customers via their preferred method (fax, mail, or email).
  • Developed and maintained an online catalog system.
  • Created a tool to automatically parse PDF documents and import customer-specific details.
Technologies: Back-end, HTML, LAMP, Apache2, Smarty, CSS, Legacy Code, Vim Text Editor, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), jQuery, Git, SQL, Flash ActionScript, Flex, Windows Server, Linux, MySQL, JavaScript, PHP, Windows, Python, Web Applications, Databases, Legacy Software, Web Development, Database Management, Code Refactoring

Experience

CommPartners - Elevate LMS

"Elevate brings together curriculum development, informal sharing of knowledge, social learning, and live onsite and online events."

Robertson Heating Supply

Coded in PHP, JavaScript, and MySQL.

Education

2002 - 2004

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science

Mount Union College - Alliance, Ohio

Skills

Libraries/APIs

REST APIs, jQuery, Twilio API, Stripe API, Stripe, SQLAlchemy

Tools

Vim Text Editor, Git, Docker Compose, GitHub, GitLab, GitLab CI/CD, PyCharm, PhpStorm, Apache, Elastic, Jira, Slack, Postman, Stripe Express

Languages

PHP, SQL, JavaScript, Python, HTML, Python 3, HTML5, Flash ActionScript, Nim, C, CSS

Frameworks

Laravel, Smarty, Flex, Flask, Django, Twig, Tailwind CSS

Paradigms

Test-driven Development (TDD), Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Code Refactoring, Unit Testing, REST, Agile, DevOps, Web Architecture

Platforms

Linux, Docker, Windows, Windows Server, Twilio, Apache2, LAMP, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Storage

Databases, MySQL, Database Management, Redis, Elasticsearch, Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL

Other

Back-end, Legacy Code, Static Analysis, Web Applications, Legacy Software, Web Development, Multi-tenant Architecture, SaaS, APIs, Static Application Security Testing (SAST), Source Code Review, CI/CD Pipelines, Distributed Systems, Architecture, Learning Management Systems (LMS), Code Review, Security, Multi-tenant SaaS, Software Architecture, eCommerce, Technical Leadership, Performance Optimization, Observability, Engineering Management, Robotics, Computer Science, Project Planning, APIFlask, Payment APIs

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