Paul Upson
I'm a Designer
About
As a passionate and results-driven software engineer, I believe in leading by example while maintaining a pragmatic approach to complex challenges. My task-oriented mindset, combined with being deeply invested in every project I undertake, drives me to be an effective problem solver who delivers meaningful solutions.
Principal Software Engineer & Architect.
With over two decades of experience in software development, I bring a unique blend of technical expertise and leadership to every project. My commitment to excellence drives me to stay at the forefront of technology trends while maintaining a pragmatic focus on delivering real business value.
I believe in fostering collaborative environments where innovation flourishes while maintaining the focus necessary to meet deadlines and exceed expectations. Whether architecting scalable systems or mentoring development teams, my problem-solving mindset drives continuous improvement and lasting impact.
Husband and Father.
Family is at the heart of everything I do. As a husband and father, I strive to balance my professional and personal life, ensuring that I am present for my loved ones while pursuing my career ambitions. This dual focus enriches my perspective and fuels my passion for creating a better future through technology.
Philosophy
Over the years I have developed some guiding principles that shape my approach to software development:
There are no bugs in code you don't write
Keeping code simple and straightforward minimizes the chances of introducing bugs.
Automate all the things
Automation is key to efficiency. By automating repetitive tasks, we can focus on more important aspects of development.
Shift left where possible
By addressing potential issues early in the development process, we can reduce costs and improve quality.
Security is everyone's responsibility
Security is a shared responsibility. Everyone must be vigilant and proactive in identifying and mitigating risks.
Deploy little and often
Frequent, smaller deployments reduce risk and make it easier to identify issues early.
Beware the fallacies of Distributed Systems
When designing distributed systems, it's crucial to be aware of common pitfalls such as network latency, partial failures, and data consistency challenges.
Skills
The world of software development is vast and ever-evolving, with numerous technologies and methodologies to master. Some of the technologies I am most proficient in include:
Profile
Paul Upson
Results-driven Software Architect with over 20 years of experience designing, developing, and delivering secure, scalable software systems. Proven ability to lead teams, implement cloud-native architectures on Microsoft Azure, and optimize performance for mission-critical applications. Adept at balancing innovation with pragmatic execution to deliver measurable business value. Passionate mentor and advocate of best practices in software engineering, security, and performance.
- 132 Missenden Acres, Hedge End, Southampton, S030 2AQ
- info@paulupson.uk
Education
BSc (Hons) Computing
2002 - 2006
Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK
Modules included Networking, Databases, and Software Engineering.
Professional Experience
Principal Software Architect
2015 - Present
NiCE Ltd, Hedge End, UK
- Lead architecture and design of Azure-based Digital Evidence Management Systems for the Public Safety sector.
- Established and maintained a Software Security Policy, ensuring compliance and secure software practices across the organisation.
- Spearheaded a Performance Task Force, defining metrics and implementing optimisations that achieved 10× performance improvement.
- Drove adoption of cloud-native architecture principles, enhancing scalability and maintainability of enterprise products.
Software Engineering Consultant
2009 - 2016
Big Tree Systems, Hedge End, UK
- Delivered software consultancy services to clients in Defence, Healthcare, and Facilities Management sectors.
- Designed and implemented robust, maintainable codebases aligned with client specifications and industry standards.
- Supported teams with architectural decisions, refactoring, and integration strategies.
Senior Web Developer
Sept - Dec 2009
Nickleby & Co, Basingstoke, UK
- Developed and maintained web applications using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Collaborated with designers to implement user-friendly interfaces.
- Optimised applications for maximum speed and scalability.
Graduate -> Senior Web Developer
2004 - 2009
System C Healthcare, Poole, UK
- Responsible for specification, development and maintenance of a message-based middleware application used to send key healthcare-related messages between our Patient Administration System and other third-party healthcare applications.
Achievements
Some of my notable achievements include:
Multi Tenancy
Converted a single tenant application to a multi-tenant architecture, using custom headers and a shared message context.
Performance Improvements
Through the monitoring and capture of key performance metrics, we were able to identify bottlenecks and optimize application performance.
Security Policy
Implemented a comprehensive security policy, to act as a guide for secure coding practices that meet industry standards.
Centralised Application Configuration
Implemented a centralized application configuration system, allowing for easier management and deployment of application settings across multiple environments.
Access Control Policy Engine
Designed and developed an ABAC (Attribute-Based Access Control) policy engine to manage user permissions and access rights dynamically.
Custom Deployment Application
Developed a custom deployment application to streamline the deployment process across multiple environments, ensuring consistency and reducing manual effort.
Testimonials
Some nice words that ex-colleagues have said about me.
Paul is a first class .NET developer with a solid understanding of OO techniques and web application development at the enterprise level.
He's also a good communicator with a clear passion and enthusiasm for what he does.
If I was asked to build a .NET development team from scratch, Paul's name would be at the top of my list.
Ian Dayman
Senior Developer
I was fortunate to be mentored by Paul, while on placement. Paul showed outstanding technical expertise and applied elegant software solutions to what is a tough business domain.
He was an excellent mentor and instilled the practices of professional software development in me.
Tom Dudfield
Strategic Technology Leader
He brought innovations to the company, and probably most importantly had an excellent relationship with his close working partner, which helped bring out the best in them.
His opinions were always well considered, well argued and backed up by personal experience and a keen interest in the direction of modern software development.
Chris Kemp
Contract Software Team Leader
I had the pleasure of working alongside Paul at IQ Systems on several releases of our flagship product, IQ Utopia.
I found Paul to be a confident and intelligent individual, who has an eye for detail. His enthusiasm, coupled with his meticulous nature meant that he was an inspiration to work with.
