Hansen Salim

Lead Software Engineer · AI & Machine Learning · (44) 75806 41491 · [email protected]

Software Engineer with 13+ years of experience designing and implementing scalable backend systems and AI-driven solutions. Proven track record of leading cross-functional teams, securing high-value contracts, and delivering innovative SaaS and mobile applications across FinTech, Energy, IoT, and E-commerce sectors. Ph.D. in Computer Science with published research in AI-driven systems.

Experience

Lead Software Engineer

Epicat LTD, Newcastle upon Tyne
  • Led and mentored 4-6 person development teams across multiple projects, delivering SaaS platforms, mobile applications, and AI-driven technologies for diverse industries including FinTech, Energy, IoT, and E-commerce
  • Secured a £100k+ contract by developing comprehensive project briefs and technical proposals, demonstrating strong business acumen and technical leadership
  • Grew and managed the development team from 2 to 6+ engineers over 4 years through strategic recruitment, onboarding, and mentorship programs
2020 - Present

Senior Web Developer

Consilience, Newcastle upon Tyne
  • Architected and built a greenfield SaaS platform from ground up using modern PHP/Laravel practices, making critical decisions on technology stack, database design, API structure, and scalability patterns
  • Developed microservices-based payroll automation system integrating with Xero, processing thousands of transactions daily with high reliability and data accuracy
  • Established technical documentation standards including OpenAPI specifications, architecture decision records, and deployment runbooks
2019 - 2020

Senior Web Developer

Code-Operative, Newcastle upon Tyne
  • Led team of 4 developers in modernizing monolithic legacy systems, breaking down tightly-coupled code into service-oriented architecture using PHP, Laravel, and modern patterns
  • Upgraded outdated PHP framework codebases, introducing Composer dependency management, PSR standards, autoloading, and modern tooling (PHPUnit, Git workflows)
  • Architected and implemented feature integrating HM Land Registry data with GIS software, handling complex spatial data processing, API integrations, and data transformation pipelines
2017 - 2019

Skills

Programming Languages & Tools
  • Programming Languages: PHP, Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, Java, SQL
  • AI & Machine Learning: Natural Language Processing, ML Model Integration, AI Workflow Automation
  • Backend Technologies: REST API, GraphQL, Microservices Architecture, OOP, Design Patterns

  • Infrastructure & Cloud: Docker, Kubernetes, AWS/Azure/GCP, Linux, Serverless Architecture
  • Development Practices: TDD, CI/CD, Agile/Scrum, Code Review, Git Version Control
  • Databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, Couchbase

I specialise in building scalable backend systems and AI-driven solutions. With a Ph.D. in Computer Science and published research in AI, I bring deep expertise in integrating machine learning models, automating AI workflows, and architecting robust API-intensive applications. I put emphasis on strong testing practices and formal documentation to produce highly maintainable systems.

Recent Projects

Print Trail
Harmonic

Role: Lead Developer

Responsible for the design and development of the IoT API, web dashboard, database design, and mobile app.

IoT, Microservices, RESTful API, mobile app, Azure

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Land Explorer
OnBuy.com

Role: Senior PHP Developer

Responsible for application modernisation including database migration, code-refactor, unit test, and caching strategy.

E-commerce, NoSQL, Monolith, Unit Test.

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Cars Affair
Xero

Role: Senior Laravel Developer

Responsible for implementing the payroll functionality to make payments to the UK faster payment system.

Microservice, FinTech, Unit Test, Laravel

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Print Trail
Print Trail

Role: Senior Laravel Developer

Responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of PrintTrail's core back-end logic and its API.

Microservices, Single Sign-On (Keycloak), RESTful API, OpenAPI, TDD, package development

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Land Explorer
Land Explorer

Role: Scrum Master, Senior back-end Developer

Responsible for constructing back-end system (not the wordpress site!) to serve the map application.

Microservices, RESTful API, GeoJSON.

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Cars Affair
Cars Affair

Role: Senior Full stack developer

Responsible for designing overall back-end system that includes internal B2B car auction system and integration with Singapore's National Digital Identity system.

Internal portal, OAuth 2.0, bespoke CMS

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Education

Newcastle University

Computer Science, PhD
Towards Model-Based Systems Engineering for Autonomous Cyber-Physical Systems [download]

Publications: [1], [2]

Nov 2022

Newcastle University

Bachelor of Computer Science

1st Class

May 2014

Publications

  • Salim, H. Fitzgerald, J. (2017). "Towards Multi-Models for Self-* Cyber-Physical Systems." International Conference on Cyber-Physical Systems. [pdf]
  • Fitzgerald, J., Bryans, J., Larsen, P. G., & Salim, H. (2014). Collaborative Systems of Systems Need Collaborative Design. Collaborative Systems for Smart Networked Environments (pp. 16–23). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. [link]

Interests

Apart from being a software engineer, I enjoy developing my spiritual journey in Christianity. I'm a strong believer in a purpose driven life and always seek to help others discovering their own life purpose and living their best.

When I'm not being my most productive self, I spend a large amount of my free time playing games with my friends, reading books and being part of entrepreneurship projects.