Tom Bryden
Navigating the tech landscape with
I harness the transformative power of programming and technology to drive innovation and deliver impactful solutions. With a rich skill set I craft dynamic, scalable digital solutions that meet the demands of today's world.
01. About Me
Hello and welcome to the portfolio of someone who started their programming journey in the most unconventional of classrooms: the endless, pixelated landscapes of Minecraft. At the age of 12, armed with nothing but a passion, a Minecraft account, and a curiosity for how things worked, I dived headfirst into the world of Java to create my very own Minecraft plugins. Fast forward to the present, and while my projects have evolved beyond the confines of Minecraft, the essence of fun and exploration in technology remains the same.
Since 2018, I've been working for IBM as an IT Consultant in the UKI Quality Engineering Practice, where I began with a degree apprenticeship, leading to a First-Class Honours in Digital & Technology Solutions with a focus on Software Engineering. This path allowed me to transition smoothly into a full-time role in 2022, where I've tackled diverse testing duties across various industries, enhancing my skills in API stubbing and automation suite development.
Before IBM, I was a Maker Leader at York Maker Hub, teaching young learners about computing with Raspberry Pi's and Arduino's, and leading STEM projects. Dive deeper into my portfolio to discover the projects and adventures that have shaped my journey since those early Minecraft days.
02. Experience
Senior Software Engineer @ Privasee
2024 - Present
One of two devs leading the Privasee website rebuild from the ground up, determining tech stack, project structure and CI CD.
Ran database migrations to convert poorly structured data into a more efficient format.
Implemented a new design system, improving the user experience and making the site more visually appealing.
Developed a new AI solution which automates compliance questionnaire completion, already producing large revenue increases.
IT Consultant - UKI Quality Engineering Practice @ IBM
2018 - 2024
Underwent an intensive degree apprenticeship at IBM for my first four years, allocating four days weekly to client work and one day to study.
Achieved a First-Class Honours degree in Digital & Technology Solutions (Software Engineering Pathway).
Smoothly transitioned to a full-time role within IBM's UKI Quality Engineering Practice.
Managed teams through high pressure test phases.
Acquired broad experience in various industries.
Fulfilled diverse testing duties, enhancing skills in API stubbing, automation suite development and more.
Refined technical skills and deepened knowledge of sector-specific challenges.
Emerged as a highly adaptable and essential contributor to the software testing and development sphere.
Maker Leader @ York Maker Hub
2017 - 2018
Teaching students as young as eight to develop their knowledge and understanding of Raspberry Pi’s, Arduino’s and computer programming.
Assisting students to produce projects incorporating the STEM disciplines.
Operate equipment such as soldering irons, multimeters, screwdrivers, pliers, and wire strippers.
Create and document projects for the York Maker Hub manual.
Led the breakout session with sports and games activities.
Work Experience @ Aviva
2017
Worked within a business environment in the IT department of Aviva.
Conducted data analysis using upcoming interactive software such as “Qlik”.
Improved the uploading time of data from a previously coded C# software that is used by the data analysis team by re-coding how it interacts with the database.
Added an additional feature to an MVC C# project that automatically emails clients form portfolios.
Software Engineer @ Ripon Cathedral
2015 - 2017
Coded a Windows-based application for Ripon Cathedral, enabling the input of singer absences.
Automated the process of sending notification emails to the absent singer's replacement.
Automated the process of sending absence notifications to the Finance Office.
Further developed the application by transitioning from a Windows-based to a web application.
Achieved cross-platform compatibility, allowing use on various devices and operating systems.
Work Experience @ King James School
2016
Assisted the Network Manager with the management of the school network.
Installed back-up batteries for the network to run without downtime in the event of a power cut.
03. Side Projects
I've been working on personal projects as a hobby since the age of 12.
Lootable - Group Buying E-Commerce Store
Having used Massdrop years ago, I wanted to recreate the website, where users can sign up and enter a ‘drop’ – essentially saying ‘I want to buy this item’. Once the drop reaches the number of users required for each milestone, or the time period expires, the ‘drop’ would occur and users would be charged for the item.
I coded this using React (Next.js + Material UI) and Java (Spring Boot REST API) with a MySQL database and Stripe integration.
Adaprio - Course Creation Platform
A course creation platform that allows users to sign up and create their own area of courses.
This incorporated video uploading to S3 on Amazon Web Services.
Created website editor functionality so users can edit their area of the website with ease.
Utilised Material UI for quick prototyping.
Utilised DND Kit library for drag and drop interaction.
I created this project using React (Next.js 13 App Router) and Spring for GraphQL running on the back-end with MySQL. I also used Stripe API for payment integration.
HotelPit - University First-Class Grade Dissertation
My dissertation had to bring benefit to IBM – so I created a website in React with a Java (Spring Boot REST API) back-end that implemented toggle-able bugs. This allowed testers to assess their testing capability whether that be in manual, automation, or performance testing.
The website was a mock of a hotel booking website to simulate real-life scenarios testers might experience when working for a client of IBM.
Utilised the Material UI library for quick design implementation.
Achieved a First-Class grade.
And some honerable mentions...
Booking System Platform
Created a booking system using a React front-end and a Java (Spring Boot REST API) back-end.
Venue owners could sign up for an account, and subscribe to the platform to create their own customisable venue.
This was integrated with Stripe to handle payment processing.
Users could purchase bookable services from the venues (E.G. a hair cut) – eliminating the need for pen and paper booking systems.
Custom-coded Minecraft Server
Began my programming journey at age 12 by custom-coding plugins for my Minecraft server using Java and a MySQL database.
Implemented monetisation strategies for the custom features created within the Minecraft server.
Generated substantial income from the monetised features, marking an early success in my programming career.