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. BBC Future Media
    BBC Future Media

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 develop the online identity of Volvo's emerging premium EV brand;
  • helping a major browser vendor explore AI‑driven tools for clearer, more useful browsing experiences;
  • ... 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

    Lotus
    Cars

    Long‑running legacy platform engineering for Lotus Cars across vehicle configurators, model pages, pre‑owned sales, dealership tools, and launch marketing.

    Screenshot of the Lotus website; part of John Kavanagh's selected project work.
  3. 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.

How I Usually Help

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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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Need a senior engineer involved?

I can work directly in the codebase, review the architecture, or support the team through delivery when the work needs more than extra hands.

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