Backend Engineering
PHP expert with deep Laravel experience across RESTful APIs, GraphQL, performance tuning, and complex application architecture.
Stokoe.dev
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SC LEVEL - PREVIOUSLY HELD / ELIGIBLE
MICHAEL STOKOE
Senior Consultant | Lead Engineer | Systems Architect
PERFORMANCE_GAIN
71%
Lead Engineer and Systems Architect with 12+ years of full-stack infrastructure experience. Focused on high-performance PHP/Laravel, government-grade security, and SaaS architecture. Bridging software engineering with enterprise systems administration, I handle both application logic and hardware infrastructure.
CORE_STACK
Laravel
PHP 8.x
AWS
VueJS
AlpineJS
TailwindCSS
Nginx
Linux
01_CORE_EXPERTISE
Engineering expertise for ambitious systems.
A practical mix of application engineering, infrastructure, security, CMS architecture, and technical leadership.
Frontend Engineering
VueJS, AlpineJS, and TailwindCSS, with Alpine championed for faster delivery, leaner interfaces, and stronger page performance.
Infrastructure & Systems
AWS services including EC2, S3, ElastiCache and WAF, plus Nginx, Linux systems administration, Bash, shell automation, and enterprise systems operations.
Security & Compliance
Previously SC cleared through National Security Vetting, with hands-on experience in secure-by-design delivery, ISO 27001-aligned systems, Cyber Essentials frameworks, and data integrity.
SaaS & Product Architecture
Multi-tenant SaaS architecture, recurring revenue product design, and hybrid CMS/application builds shaped around long-term maintainability.
CMS & Statamic Architecture
Deep Statamic experience spanning custom site builds, addon development, marketplace distribution, performance strategy, and hybrid Statamic plus Inertia.js architecture.
Technical Leadership
Technical roadmapping, stakeholder management, mentorship, root cause analysis, and guiding teams out of severe technical debt.
Achievements
Proof in shipped outcomes.
PERFORMANCE_OPTIMISATION
46s
13s
Slashed mean average response times on a high-traffic marine insurance platform from 46s to 13s under heavy load with 100+ concurrent users.
CRITICAL_STABILITY
Mission-Critical Uptime
Architected and implemented a Statamic Stache caching strategy that eliminated frequent PHP-FPM server crashes during peak usage.
CLOUD_ARCHITECTURE
Official Materials Platform
Designed and deployed a training platform on AWS so robust that AWS requested to host official materials within the system.
PRODUCT_STRATEGY
Recurring Revenue Architecture
Spearheaded delivery of a complex multi-tenant revenue-sharing SaaS, moving the business from a service model to a recurring revenue model.
FRONTEND_EFFICIENCY
Faster Development Cycles
Reduced development cycles by 20% by leading a strategic migration to Alpine.js, improving developer velocity and site-load speeds company-wide.
02_WORK_HISTORY
Experience across product, agency and secure systems.
NOV 2023 - PRESENT
Revolution Growth Ltd.
Lead Developer
Serving as the technical authority for high-scale Laravel and Statamic builds.
- Leading infrastructure audits and performance tuning for high-value client accounts.
- Mentoring and guiding junior members of the team.
OCT 2022 - SEPT 2023
Marketing Position Ltd.
Lead Web App Developer
Owned the technical roadmap and architectural decisions for the agency's primary software outputs.
- Managed stakeholder expectations and translated business goals into technical deliverables.
DEC 2018 - SEPT 2022
Consilience Media Ltd.
PHP/Laravel Developer
Progressed from mid-weight to senior under elite mentorship, taking ownership of the most complex infrastructure challenges in the firm.
OCT 2014 - APRIL 2018
Beaumont Colson Ltd.
Enterprise System Administrator
Managed systems for a firm handling UK Government contract work, including full server stacks, network security, and enterprise database integrity.
- Maintained SC Level Clearance and ensured hardware and software met stringent national security vetting standards.
03_EDUCATION_&_ACHIEVEMENTS
Education, clearance and technical influence.
EDUCATION
BSc Computer Science (Software-focused)
Open University | 2022 - Present
SECURITY_CLEARANCE
SC Level - Previously Held
Previously held for government and defence sector work. Eligible for immediate renewal / re-vetting.
AWARDS_&_RECOGNITION
Paul Van Cliff Award / World Skill Challenge
First recipient of the Paul Van Cliff Award for excellence in IT and overall performance at college. Also achieved the highest overall score across multiple World Skill Challenge technical events, with BDaily coverage.
SECURITY_&_COMPLIANCE
ISO 27001 / Cyber Essentials
Direct responsibility for operating systems aligned to ISO 27001 standards, alongside ongoing work within Cyber Essentials frameworks in my current role. SC clearance experience has been applied in live government-contracted environments.
TECHNICAL_INFLUENCE
Standards and Architecture
Introduced and standardised the TALL stack across three organisations to improve delivery speed and maintainability. Also designed Statamic plus Inertia.js architecture combining Statamic with React via Inertia.js.
COMMERCIAL_EXPOSURE
Sector Delivery
Delivered systems across maritime insurance, fintech, cloud infrastructure partnerships, data centre and processor ecosystems, membership organisations, and charities.
PRODUCT_CONTRIBUTION
Statamic Marketplace Addons
Published and commercially distributed multiple Statamic addons used by other developers and businesses.
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