Martin Gouws, Developer in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
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Martin Gouws

Verified Expert  in Engineering

Back-end Developer

Location
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Toptal Member Since
November 7, 2016

Martin is a young and talented JavaScript developer and software engineer who has his roots in enterprise Java. He has a mature understanding of the full SDLC and has helped build many applications from scratch for clients such as Anglo American. He has worked in corporate as well as startup environments, and transparent communication is always prevalent in his work ethic. He is also an advocate of the Agile development mindset.

Portfolio

Nettbil
Amazon Web Services (AWS), React, Loopback, Node.js, JavaScript
Tenon (via Toptal)
Docker, React, jQuery, Node.js, JavaScript
Integrity Engineering (Pty) Ltd
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Selenium, Protractor...

Experience

Availability

Part-time

Preferred Environment

Fish, Git, WebStorm, Ubuntu, MacOS

The most amazing...

...collection of code I've ever written handles the syncing of data between offline capable applications and a remote server, ensuring eventual data consistency.

Work Experience

Software Engineer

2017 - PRESENT
Nettbil
  • Designed and implemented the back-end stack that would serve all the requirements of the business model. This included database design, an API interface, AWS infrastructure, on-the-fly image resizing and cropping, and scheduled batch processes.
  • Played an instrumental role in steering the overall technology direction of the product to ensure that it is aligned with best practices and modern technology trends.
  • Wrote all of the service layer code for the front end and was responsible for linking the presentation layers of the application to the service layers. Worked closely with the UI/UX engineer to ensure optimal results while maintaining pixel perfection.
  • Assumed the role of product driver to make sure that what the CTO expected from the team and from the product stayed in sync at all times—went beyond the borders of just writing code.
  • Consulted with the CTO for all technology-related discussions concerning the product.
  • Set up both the staging and production environments on AWS.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), React, Loopback, Node.js, JavaScript

JavaScript Developer

2017 - 2017
Tenon (via Toptal)
  • Caught and resolved the overflow work while the client was preparing to engage with the accessibility industry at CSUN 2017.
  • Assisted in creating, improving, and tweaking accessibility tests written in jQuery.
  • Resolved issues and created new features for the web application with React.
Technologies: Docker, React, jQuery, Node.js, JavaScript

Software Engineer

2014 - 2017
Integrity Engineering (Pty) Ltd
  • Worked on enterprise information management web applications for several big clients including Anglo American and Limpopo’s Department of Health.
  • Led the team in the transition from PHP to full-stack JavaScript and the adoption of automated end-to-end testing.
  • Maintained and set coding best practices and principles.
  • Evaluated new technologies pending adoption.
  • Developed and improved core technology stack as well as the in-house project assembly tool (CLI).
  • Worked as the technical design liaison to the product owners on various web applications.
  • Was involved closely with DevOps and the implementation of continuous integration.
  • Engineered and transitioned an existing system to SAAS.
  • Designed and implemented a hybrid mobile application development stack using Ionic and Cordova.
  • Participated as an active team member in the Scrum project management methodology.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Selenium, Protractor, Gulp, Jenkins, Grunt, Node.js, AngularJS, JavaScript

Junior Java Developer

2012 - 2014
Discovery Holdings (Pty) Ltd
  • Worked as a junior Java developer on the back-end and front-end of the Discovery Card (credit card) client-facing web application.
  • Was considered by peers to be very well-trained and to have loads of technical potential.
  • Experienced my first exposure to enterprise level software.
  • Worked alongside a senior engineer who was designing and implementing an abstraction layer to be used as the basis for an alert system based on data triggers.
  • Exposed existing data endpoints, using the SOAP protocol, that would later be used by a new application.
Technologies: Spring, JEE

DBIS

The Drill and Blast Information System (DBIS) was and is being built as the main dashboard and information management platform for all open cast iron ore mines. It represents all the life cycle items associated with the extraction of raw iron ore.

WIMS

The Water Information Management System (WIMS) is currently in development as software as a service (SaaS) to help any institution, corporation, or group of people to manage and see aggregated information regarding the water contained in dams, boreholes, and reservoirs. It also includes a mobile app for both iOS and Android.

Nettbil

Nettbil is Norway's leading auctioning application for second cards, connecting private individuals directly to dealerships.

Languages

ES5, ECMAScript (ES6), JavaScript, SQL, HTML5, C#, Less, HTML, CSS, Java

Frameworks

Loopback, AngularJS, Protractor, Spring, Bootstrap, Ionic, Selenium

Libraries/APIs

Node.js, React, Highcharts, jQuery

Tools

Git, Webpack, Jenkins, Terminal, Bitbucket, GitHub, Grunt, WebStorm, Gulp

Paradigms

REST, Agile Software Development, Continuous Integration (CI), Continuous Deployment, DevOps, Unit Testing

Platforms

Amazon Web Services (AWS), Ubuntu Linux, MacOS, Ubuntu, Docker, JEE

Storage

MySQL, IndexedDB, SQLite, MongoDB, Microsoft SQL Server, SQL Server 2008 R2, SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)

Other

APIs, Back-end, Freelancing, Ubuntu Server, Application State Management, Front-end, Fish, Chrome Extensions, QA Automation

2009 - 2012

Bachelor's Degree with Honors in Information Technology

North-West University - Potchefstroom, South Africa

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