Ray Blair

At Wordnerds.ai, a platform that empowers CX and Insights professionals with advanced text analytics, I lead engineering efforts across platform, data, and DevOps domains:

• ›Designed and delivered tools that extract actionable insights from qualitative feedback.
• ›Built scalable, cloud-native pipelines to ingest and process unstructured data from multiple sources.
• ›Advocated for and implemented modern frontend engineering standards to improve consistency, testing, and maintainability.
• ›Delivered cloud-agnostic Infrastructure-as-Code solutions using industry-standard tools and patterns.
• ›Introduced observability practices, including cloud-based logging, monitoring, and alerting, to enhance system reliability.
• ›Led adoption of automation and code quality tooling across CI/CD pipelines.
• ›Mentored team members and helped mature engineering practices across SDLC, testing, and delivery.

As a technical consultant and lead engineer, I served clients in eCommerce, financial services, and recruitment:

• ›Delivered technical architecture and implementation plans for scalable full-stack systems.
• ›Developed high-performance PHP and JavaScript applications, focused on security, accessibility, and maintainability.
• ›Drove performance profiling, static analysis, and quality assurance across multiple teams.
• ›Improved CI/CD workflows and resolved critical service support/security issues.
• ›Mentored client developers and led knowledge-sharing sessions on code quality and engineering best practices.

Directed technology strategy and software delivery for a hospitality SaaS platform:

• ›Architected high-performance systems to meet scaling demands and tight deadlines.
• ›Oversaw delivery of critical features aligned with business growth.
• ›Mentored engineers, enforced coding standards, and ensured milestone success.
• ›Elevated infrastructure, deployment pipelines, and long-term product viability.

Supported and led in-house software initiatives at a commercial energy broker:

• ›Shaped and executed strategic development plans for scalable, secure internal platforms.
• ›Mentored the dev team and fostered a culture of continuous learning and high standards.
• ›Advised leadership on aligning tech direction with business objectives.

Owned development of internal CRM tools and led the launch of Qube Direct, a utility SaaS platform:

• ›Built custom APIs and integrated third-party services to streamline operations.
• ›Launched Qube Direct from concept to MVP, enabling sales automation and market differentiation.

Delivered digital solutions for SMEs, primarily using Laravel and Vue.js. Later merged into W8R Ltd.

• ›Developed custom web apps, mobile apps (Cordova), and VoIP integrations using FreePBX.
• ›Helped clients modernise their digital presence and improve customer engagement.