Principal Software Engineer & Technical Lead

Hands‑on engineering leadership for complex digital transformation programmes. I help product and engineering teams turn fragile legacy web estates into faster, more maintainable platforms that are easier to scale, govern, and improve.

  1. Lotus
    Lotus

I'm John, an award‑winning software engineering specialist based in sunny Brighton, UK.

I am a friendly and enthusiastic principal software engineer and technical leader backed by over twenty‑three years of hands‑on experience.

I help teams and clients design, build and improve websites, applications and web platforms, pairing architecture, delivery judgement and hands‑on TypeScript, React, HTML, and CSS.

My portfolio is diverse; I work with global clients, solving real-world problems, including:

  • leading the headless replatforming of a much loved chain of restaurants, modernising its UK & Ireland web estate;
  • helping a major browser vendor explore AI‑driven tools for clearer, more useful browsing experiences;
  • engaging businesses, politicians, academics, and world leaders to shape global agendas;
  • ... and creating a digital home and web shop for a fledgling Sussex vineyard.
More about me

Featured Case Studies

  1. Featured case study

    HSBC Corporate
    Banking

    Lead UI development for a set of HSBC digital transformation projects, including a React, TypeScript, Node.js, and AEM rebuild of commercial banking applications.

    Screenshot of the HSBC Corporate Banking website; part of John Kavanagh's selected project work.
  2. Featured case study

    Virgin Atlantic
    & Holidays

    Lead engineer on this massive replatforming project, unifying twelve disparate applications under a new headless architecture with React and Next.js.

    Screenshot of the Virgin Atlantic & Holidays website; part of John Kavanagh's selected project work.
  3. Featured case study

    Polestar

    Senior developer working on this highly animated, interactive website and automotive configurators for Polestar, once Volvo's fledgling go‑faster brand, now turned EV company. Built with Gatsby, React, and TypeScript.

    Screenshot of the Polestar website; part of John Kavanagh's selected project work.

How I Usually Help

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Previous Clients

Availability

I am currently leading a new digital transformation engagement, with availability for selected consulting and engineering delivery from September 2026. Short diagnostics or urgent work may be possible sooner.

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Have a complex web platform issue?

Tell me what is blocked, what has changed, and what needs to be true after the fix. I'll come back with a practical next step.

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