About Me

Software Engineer and Technical Leader.

Nick Rawe is a software engineer, engineering manager, and technical leader based out of Warwickshire, UK. In 2002, his love of computers and programming was instilled in him through the book The Blue Nowhere by Jeffery Deaver, inspiring him to try (and fail) to learn C, try (and succeed) in learning VBA, and try (and succeed) in building his first computer at age 15. These experiences ignited a life-long passion for technology and building elegant solutions to real-world problems.

What I Do

I align business and technology strategy. Lots of businesses fail to realise the outcomes they need on time and on budget because the technology strategy doesn't match their needs. I seek to understand the real needs of a business and its customers and tailor strategies to get the best outcomes possible, largely by "right-sizing" the technology approach ( e.g. lots of organisations do not need SPAs and Microservices).

I start with a Jobs-to-be-Done mindset. End-users rarely want to use software for the fun of it: there is a job they are trying to complete. I work hard to build an understanding of the jobs that users' are performing to maximise the value being delivered. For example, one feature I led the design of saved a customer services team approximately 46 business hours per-week by reducing friction in a key workflow.

I build high-performing engineering teams. My key focus is on ensuring that there is a clear mission and key competencies in place to achieve the outcomes needed by organisations. Experienced in all aspects of the SDLC, this means I ensure that all of the skills needed -- from design to delivery and acceptance -- are in place and aligned.

I break down barriers between stakeholders. Most issues that prevent effective working are communication-based. I've trained exclusively for many years in getting everyone around the table and drawing out the assumptions and important facts that lie at the heart of those issues, enabling organisations to move forward with clarity.

I focus on sustainable, valuable development. I'm a passionate believer in the values, principles, and practices of Extreme Programming and Continuous Delivery having seen the success of them first-hand: they enable sustainable delivery of value to businesses and their customers.

What Others Say

This is a selection of testimonials I've received. Please see the Recommendations section on my LinkedIn for more details.

“Nick has been an integral part of the development community at X2X over the last few years, leading the charge away from our ageing legacy applications by introducing new methods and technologies that put us in a great place to succeed.”
> – VP, Application Development

“Nick has emerged as a technical leader in the engineering organisation. He is respected by peers and the executive team as a definitive source for correct answers on any variety of topics, not just technical. He has a very even-handed demeanour that is appreciated by all.”
> – VP, Engineering

“Nick is a gate opener, not a gatekeeper, who understands the importance of change and people management and empowers his team accordingly.”
> – CTO

"Nick continually brings innovative suggestions and solutions that improve output efficiency and quality. All delivered through a highly emotionally intelligent and mature message."
> – Staff Engineer

"Nick, thank you for joining us in the trenches this week and bringing order to the chaos. Your guidance and support were invaluable to me. One of your most admirable skills is being able to enter a room and identify a path forward through rationale and encouragement."
> – Project Manager

"Despite his busy schedule, Nick was always able to find the time to help me with work over the last quarter. His patient and level-headed approach gave me the confidence and the push to tackle some really tricky subjects, and his expertise was always available to me."
> – Frontend Engineer

Key Skills