Kennith is available for hire
Hire KennithKennith Nichol
Verified Expert in Engineering
Full-stack Developer
Royston, BC, Canada
Toptal member since June 27, 2019
Bio
Ken is a senior full-stack engineer who specializes in platform modernizations, legacy system troubleshooting, and moving legacy systems to modern architectures. With 20 years of experience spanning the PHP and WordPress ecosystem to modern JavaScript stacks (React, Next.js, and Node.js), he’s the person teams bring in to bridge the gap between old and new codebases. Ken embraces modern AI development workflows like Claude Code, with a vigilant eye on the output, to ship production code faster.
Portfolio
Altus Solutions, Inc.
WordPress, WP Engine, ActiveCampaign, Google Analytics, Microsoft Clarity...
Nichol Consulting
WordPress API, CSS, WordPress Themes, WordPress Plugins, JavaScript, HTML5...
Bowen UX, LLC
PHP, WordPress, HTML, JavaScript, Bitbucket, Build Pipelines, Roots, Sage 10...
Experience
- Terminal - 12 years
- Linux - 12 years
- Node.js - 6 years
- TypeScript - 5 years
- React - 5 years
- GitHub Actions - 5 years
- Next.js - 4 years
- Payload CMS - 1 year
Preferred Environment
Terminal, Vim Text Editor, Linux, Jira, React, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Agentic Coding, TypeScript, Next.js, Payload CMS
The most amazing...
...project I've built was architecting a network of independent enterprise WordPress sites utilizing a CLI-based theme and plugin deployment system.
Work Experience
Senior Consultant and Engineer
2024 - PRESENT
Altus Solutions, Inc.
- Contributed to ongoing system maintenance and security risk mitigation, working with the CTO on a weekly basis to maintain and improve systems.
- Rebranded the website across all company sites, including performance improvements through theme simplification and plugin reduction where possible.
- Aided staff members with content creation and new marketing campaign materials, consulting with staff and 3rd parties to provide insights into feasible solutions for business initiatives and applications.
Technologies: WordPress, WP Engine, ActiveCampaign, Google Analytics, Microsoft Clarity, Zapier, Zoho, Web Security, WordPress Plugins, WordPress Themes, CSS, PHP, JavaScript, SQL, Agile, HTML, Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), Terminal, Website Performance, APIs
Full-stack Developer | Consultant
2004 - PRESENT
Nichol Consulting
- Architected, developed, and deployed custom full-stack web applications and RESTful APIs using PHP, Laravel, React, and MySQL for business clients, driving internal automation and core business workflows.
- Provided technical consultation on system architecture, database design, web performance optimization, and security hardening for client web applications and infrastructure.
- Managed end-to-end Linux server environments (NGINX, CI/CD pipelines, and system administration), ensuring high availability, robust security protocols, and optimized load times.
- Maintained and modernized legacy platforms and custom CMS environments, executing smooth data migrations, plugin and API integrations, and front-end overhauls.
- Conducted comprehensive code audits and web performance optimizations, reducing page load latency, optimizing complex SQL queries, and eliminating security vulnerabilities.
- Served as principal technical advisor for small businesses and organizations, guiding clients through technical scoping, system architecture, database design, and long-term maintenance strategies.
Technologies: WordPress API, CSS, WordPress Themes, WordPress Plugins, JavaScript, HTML5, WordPress, PHP, SQL, Vim Text Editor, Adobe Photoshop, Linux, MySQL, Full-stack Development, NGINX, Tailwind CSS, Laravel, Bootstrap, Eloquent, Linux System Administration, React, HTML, Terminal, Website Performance, Web Security, CI/CD Pipelines, NPM, APIs, PNPM
Senior Full-stack Engineer
2025 - 2026
Bowen UX, LLC
- Architected and executed a pilot program evaluating WordPress as a decoupled, Headless CMS supplying data via REST and GraphQL APIs to a modern Next.js front-end application.
- Engineered new layout features and structural components on an enterprise WordPress platform, translating high-fidelity Figma designs into production-ready code within the advanced Sage 10.x theme framework.
- Led the complex version migration of core web properties from Sage 10.x to Sage 11.x, successfully managing breaking framework changes, dependency updates, and platform stability.
- Designed and simplified DevOps pipelines by architecting customized CI/CD automation via GitHub Actions, Bitbucket Pipelines, and GitLab CI/CD, streamlining seamless deployments across both Cloudways and WP Engine environments.
- Provided engineering documentation within Notion, authoring technical runway guidelines and deployment runbooks to ensure smooth onboarding and knowledge transfer for future developers.
Technologies: PHP, WordPress, HTML, JavaScript, Bitbucket, Build Pipelines, Roots, Sage 10, WP Engine, TypeScript, Patches & Updates, Sage 11, Figma to HTML, Notion, Tailwind CSS, Next.js, Headless CMS, GitHub Actions, WordPress Plugins, WordPress Themes, CSS, Linux, React, Agile, Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), Terminal, Node.js, Website Performance, Web Security, CI/CD Pipelines, NPM
Senior Full-stack Engineer
2025 - 2026
Fullscript - Natural Partners Inc
- Contributed to the large-scale web migration and modernization of an enterprise healthcare marketing platform, delivering a 1:1 functional port of complex commercial and support properties from legacy WordPress to a modern headless architecture.
- Worked as part of a small team to build a multi-tenant ecosystem utilizing Payload CMS tenant features to consolidate support sites, developing production-ready React/Next.js components from Figma designs and existing systems.
- Isolated complex functionalities, dependencies, and user flows alongside internal teams to completely recreate and port an internal Article Auditing system over from the custom legacy WordPress solution.
- Leveraged AI-assisted development workflows—including Claude Code, Cursor, and Agentic Coding paradigms—to accelerate rapid feature implementation, testing, and debugging within aggressive 2-week deployment cycles.
Technologies: Next.js, React, Node.js, JavaScript, Payload CMS, WordPress, CSS, HTML, Claude Code, Linear, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Amazon Web Services (AWS), GitLab CI/CD, PNPM, TypeScript, Cursor AI, Data Migration, Linux System Administration, Linux, Agile, Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), Terminal, CI/CD Pipelines, NPM, APIs, Vitest
Front-end Specialist
2024 - 2025
Dream Catcher Connect
- Participated in the migration of a legacy Drupal website to WordPress and created WordPress plugins to implement business logic and systems functionality on par with the previous system.
- Completed unfinished tools and migrations started by the previous developer, focusing on debugging and triage to ensure critical systems and reporting were functioning as expected.
- Managed expectations to calm tensions during the transition period between systems, providing regular communication and clarifying problems and required solutions with stakeholders.
Technologies: WordPress, WordPress Plugins, PHP, MySQL, WordPress Themes, WooCommerce, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Funnel Analysis, Debugging, Drupal, SQL, Website Performance
WordPress Developer
2024 - 2024
WindoTrader, INC.
- Crafted a plan to reorganize website information, streamlining the user experience to make the purchasing decision process simpler and more intuitive.
- Updated the infrastructure, themes, and plugins to ensure the WordPress sites were aligned with the latest security patches.
- Restored integration between the front-end websites and the service desk applications.
Technologies: WordPress, PHP, WordPress Themes, WordPress Design, UX Design, CSS, HTML
WordPress Developer
2023 - 2024
FlowPress
- Started work on a custom reporting tool that would extract data from APIs and inject them into reports. The goal was to distribute KPIs and usable statistics into automated reports for clients to reduce the burden of reporting on staff.
- Performed regular maintenance of client websites (updates, security fixes, and content changes).
- Developed a client reskin/redesign from a provided design into a beaver builder block-based theme (customized blocks).
Technologies: WordPress, WP Engine, Git, GitHub, CircleCI, Amazon Web Services (AWS), PHP, MySQL, SQL, Beaver Builder, Gulp, WordPress Plugins, CSS, Agile, HTML, Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), Website Performance, Web Security, CI/CD Pipelines
WooCommerce Developer
2023 - 2024
Training Solutions International
- Developed a customization to enable multi-day events to recur through FooEvents, modifying the plugin and creating a secondary script to adjust the plugin files after updates by adding a filter call to the JSON output.
- Repaired the theme so that it worked properly with Elementor templates and WooCommerce.
- Tested several event plugins to establish the functionality required by the project, choosing the plugin with the closest functionality and adding some customizations on top.
Technologies: WordPress, WooCommerce, Elementor, Learning Management Systems (LMS), WordPress Plugins, CSS, HTML
PHP & React Developer
2021 - 2023
Improve the News Foundation
- Developed a React-based, user-friendly GUI to allow data analysts to sort data clusters more rapidly. This required the re-development of the back-end API as well.
- Implemented a new feature to allow data curators to add and remove information regarding public figures. This was a full-stack application with a React and Next.js front end and a PHP and MySQL back end.
- Worked with the lead engineer to resolve bugs in the APIs from a steady list of Jira tickets.
Technologies: PHP, React, JavaScript, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Next.js, PM2, TypeScript, SQL, Vim Text Editor, Redux, Linux, MySQL, Material UI, Figma, Web Development, User Experience (UX), Full-stack Development, NGINX, Tailwind CSS, React Query, Linux System Administration, CSS, Agile, HTML, Terminal, Node.js, Website Performance, CI/CD Pipelines, NPM, APIs, Vitest
WordPress Developer
2020 - 2022
Three Five Two
- Improved the performance of an older WordPress site that was heavily customized to migrate from s2Member to MemberPress. The site required an extensive review of the custom functionality to determine what could be safely removed.
- Maintained and updated a three-part product with a WordPress marketing site, a React client app, and a Heroku-hosted Node.js API. Issues are handled via Jira and weekly spring planning.
- Participated in the restructuring and redesigning of the application with a new design provided via Adobe XD.
Technologies: WordPress, Node.js, React, Git, GitHub, Recurly, PubNub, MemberPress, Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), Heroku, HTML5, JavaScript, PHP, Redux, Agile, WordPress Plugins, User Experience (UX), Full-stack Development, MongoDB, CSS, HTML, Terminal, Website Performance, NPM, APIs
WordPress Developer
2020 - 2022
Altus Solutions, Inc.
- Aided in the set up and improved performance of a multisite WordPress network, which consisted of interconnecting standalone marketing WordPress sites with the network.
- Implemented automated tagging, automation, and integration between LearnDash and ActiveCampaign. Worked with the marketing team to devise a practical approach to labeling, lists, and segmentation.
- Investigated and resolved tickets, bugs, and other issues as they appeared. Aided in the Zoho Desk set up to help manage support tickets.
Technologies: ActiveCampaign, WordPress, Web Analytics, PHP, LearnDash, MemberPress, Learning Management Systems (LMS), CSS3, SQL, MySQL, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), WordPress Plugins, WP Engine, Elementor, Google Analytics 4 (GA4), Google Analytics, Microsoft Clarity, WordPress Multisite, CSS, JavaScript, HTML, Terminal, Web Security, APIs
WordPress Developer
2020 - 2021
YouTurn, Inc
- Developed an out of the box WordPress system with LearnDash. This project required as little custom code as possible, which has been challenging to reconcile with its unique requirements.
- Debugged unique edge cases with LearnDash, Uncanny Owl, and Uncanny groups, including login and register redirection via a referrer.
- Implemented multi-site usage via a broadcast plugin, which is used to clone the central learning platform and customize it for access and branding purposes.
Technologies: WordPress, LearnDash, MemberPress, Learning Management Systems (LMS), HTML5, PHP, SQL, MySQL, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), WordPress Plugins, WP Engine, WordPress Multisite, User Experience (UX), CSS, JavaScript, HTML
WordPress Developer
2019 - 2020
iSpot Interactive
- Developed custom WordPress plugins and themes for an enterprise multisite WordPress installation.
- Implemented WordPress REST API customizations and Ajax-powered front-end development with a modular theme and plugin integrations.
- Worked as part of a variable-sized enterprise team that is part of a larger enterprise structure. Several development teams were working on the production product in different geographic areas.
Technologies: WordPress API, CSS, WordPress Themes, WordPress Plugins, HTML5, JavaScript, PHP, SQL, MySQL, WordPress Multisite, Web Development, User Experience (UX), Full-stack Development, Agile, HTML, Terminal, APIs
Website Administrator
2014 - 2019
Vista Radio, Ltd.
- Created and deployed more than 36 community websites as a source of local news, events, and contests.
- Developed custom themes and plugins with core customizations to facilitate various radio station promotions and functionality.
- Provided internal technical support and troubleshooting.
Technologies: CSS, WordPress Themes, WordPress Plugins, JavaScript, CSS3, WordPress, PHP, SQL, Bitbucket, Adobe Photoshop, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), MySQL, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), WordPress Multisite, User Experience (UX), Full-stack Development, Linux System Administration, Agile, HTML, Terminal, Website Performance, Web Security, CI/CD Pipelines, APIs
Front-end Developer
2016 - 2017
Noble, Inc.
- Built the initial landing page and lead capture forms with an API integration to Twilio and Mailchimp.
- Created a custom WordPress theme based on the designer's files in InVision.
- Worked with a prior version of this project that involved similar technologies but focused on skipping the line at bars and pubs.
Technologies: CSS, Mailchimp, Twilio, JavaScript, jQuery, CSS3, HTML5, WordPress, PSD to WordPress, Adobe Photoshop, PSD to HTML, HTML
Campaign Manager
2010 - 2012
Love Clients, Inc.
- Executed and managed numerous SEO and PPC campaigns for clients around the world.
- Built internal project management tools to replace paid platforms like Basecamp to reduce costs.
- Implemented various server-side and on-page optimizations on a variety of client websites.
Technologies: PHP, CSS, HTML, Google Ads, jQuery, CSS3, HTML5, WordPress, PSD to WordPress, Adobe Photoshop, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), PSD to HTML, WordPress Plugins, SEO Tools, JavaScript
Advanced Link Builder
2007 - 2008
Beanstalk SEO
- Researched a variety of advanced link-building techniques.
- Automated link scraping and page rank analysis for reporting and research.
- Built manual links for many clients via forums, blogs, and other means.
Technologies: WordPress, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), HTML5, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), HTML
Experience
Enterprise WordPress-to-Payload CMS Platform Migration
I contributed as a senior full-stack engineer to a high-priority, large-scale web migration initiative for an enterprise healthcare marketing platform. The core objective was modernizing legacy infrastructure by porting high-traffic commercial and support properties out of a custom WordPress architecture and into a decoupled, modern Next.js and Payload CMS stack.
Working within an agile, remote team, I focused on executing 1:1 functional ports of complex features while meeting aggressive two-week deployment cycles. I worked closely with internal teams to isolate data relationships and user flows, enabling the seamless porting of a custom legacy WordPress Article Auditing system to the new headless back end. Additionally, I helped engineer a multi-tenant support site ecosystem using Payload CMS's tenant features, translating Figma UI designs into high-performance React/Next.js components.
To maintain high development velocity, we pioneered AI-assisted development workflows leveraging Claude Code, Cursor, and Agentic Coding paradigms to rapidly implement, test, and debug code. The entire platform was managed within two PNPM monorepos and deployed via GitLab CI/CD pipelines to AWS (EC2/S3).
Working within an agile, remote team, I focused on executing 1:1 functional ports of complex features while meeting aggressive two-week deployment cycles. I worked closely with internal teams to isolate data relationships and user flows, enabling the seamless porting of a custom legacy WordPress Article Auditing system to the new headless back end. Additionally, I helped engineer a multi-tenant support site ecosystem using Payload CMS's tenant features, translating Figma UI designs into high-performance React/Next.js components.
To maintain high development velocity, we pioneered AI-assisted development workflows leveraging Claude Code, Cursor, and Agentic Coding paradigms to rapidly implement, test, and debug code. The entire platform was managed within two PNPM monorepos and deployed via GitLab CI/CD pipelines to AWS (EC2/S3).
Improve the News
https://www.improvethenews.org/A news portal powered by machine learning which allows you to see news from different perspectives. This system is a React application on top of Next.js powered by a custom PHP, MySQL, and Python back-end.
Learn with Justice U
https://www.learnwithjusticeu.com/A WordPress multi-site-based learning system used to bring awareness to the impacts of modern human trafficking. I was the WordPress specialist and worked with the marketing team, executive team, and project planner to optimize and improve the integration of LearnDash, MemberPress, Active Campaign, Google Analytics, and Microsoft Clarity.
Planning Poker
A React-based app with a Node.js API. This app is used as a Scrum planning software. I am a full-stack developer for this project and have been heavily involved in the product redesign. I liaise with the project manager and DevOps manager to fix bugs and implement new features.
JDM-Roofing
https://www.jdm-roofing.ca/A small business roofing company website powered by WordPress. Includes a gallery of services with an emphasis on search marketing for organic client acquisition. This project also included Google Maps listing management and some social media assistance.
Apartment Listing Application
This full-stack application uses a Laravel back end. The Laravel application uses Sanctum and API endpoints to provide a RESTful API for the front end. Addresses added via the API are processed with Google Cloud's Geocoding API to generate latitude and longitude.
The front-end application is a React application that uses React Router to facilitate navigation. A map is presented with pins for listings using Mapbox's free API.
User authentication is done via tokens and local storage, which Laravel Sanctum processes. Users can register as normal or realtor users. Realtors can add/edit their own listings.
The front-end application is a React application that uses React Router to facilitate navigation. A map is presented with pins for listings using Mapbox's free API.
User authentication is done via tokens and local storage, which Laravel Sanctum processes. Users can register as normal or realtor users. Realtors can add/edit their own listings.
Certifications
MARCH 2019 - PRESENT
Master the Coding Interview: Data Structures + Algorithms
Udemy
OCTOBER 2018 - PRESENT
The Complete Web Developer
Udemy
OCTOBER 2018 - PRESENT
The Complete Junior to Senior Web Developer
Udemy
MARCH 2017 - PRESENT
JavaScript: Understanding the Weird Parts
Udemy
Skills
Libraries/APIs
WordPress API, jQuery, React, Node.js, REST APIs, React Query, React Router, PubNub, Google Maps API, Mapbox GL, Google Geocoding API
Tools
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), Terminal, Git, GitHub, LearnDash, NPM, Vim Text Editor, Bitbucket, Webpack, Google Analytics, Trello, Jira, CircleCI, AWS Command Line Interface (CLI), NGINX, Claude Code, GitLab CI/CD, Vitest, Mailchimp, Adobe Photoshop, Recurly, PM2, Figma, Gulp, Zapier, Roots, Figma to HTML, Notion
Languages
CSS, HTML, PHP, JavaScript, SQL, CSS3, HTML5, TypeScript
Frameworks
Next.js, Tailwind CSS, Bootstrap, Payload CMS, Redux, JSON Web Tokens (JWT), Express.js, Material UI, Laravel, Jest, Eloquent
Platforms
Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Linux, WordPress, LAMP, Heroku, Docker, Amazon Web Services (AWS), WooCommerce, Amazon EC2, Twilio, Google Ads, AWS Lambda, Drupal
Storage
MySQL, PostgreSQL, WP Engine, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), MongoDB, Redis
Paradigms
Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Agile, Testing, UX Design
Other
WordPress Plugins, WordPress Themes, PSD to WordPress, MemberPress, SSH, Website Performance, APIs, WordPress Multisite, Web Development, Full-stack Development, Debugging, Headless CMS, Linux System Administration, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), ActiveCampaign, Learning Management Systems (LMS), Data Structures, Algorithms, Web Security, CI/CD Pipelines, Elementor, SEO Tools, User Experience (UX), Axios, Agentic Coding, Data Migration, Linear, PNPM, Cursor AI, GitHub Actions, PSD to HTML, Web Analytics, Microsoft Clarity, Google Analytics 4 (GA4), Beaver Builder, WordPress Design, Funnel Analysis, Zoho, Build Pipelines, Sage 10, Patches & Updates, Sage 11
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