Sam Ayres

Summary

A technology executive and full-stack developer who creates scalable solutions and leads teams. I help drive web development lifecycle optimization, DevOps automation, and provide cross-functional team leadership. I have experience with React, Node.js, and AWS with a proven track record in streamlining processes and leading projects from start to finish.

Experience

Previously: Director of Technology (2022–2024), Associate Director of Technology (2021–2022)

• Oversee 10+ brands, coordinating with international teams and managing their development initiatives to ensure consistent quality and delivery.
• Built and maintained CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions, speeding up deployments across AWS to make releases more reliable.
• Enhanced DevOps practices to reduce production issues and accelerate development.
• Introduced Kanban workflows and Git branching strategies, improving team collaboration.
• Created internal automation tooling for email marketing, banner generation, and website deployment using Gulp, MJML, and APIs to streamline team efficiency.
• Led hiring, onboarding, and mentorship programs while establishing engineering standards and code review processes to strengthen team performance.

Previously: Freelance Senior Web Developer (February–March 2020)

• Developed modular, accessible React single-page applications with optimized state management and improved performance for better user experience.
• Modernized legacy Drupal codebases by transitioning to Symfony microservices, improving maintainability and overall system performance.
• Built and maintained RESTful APIs, GraphQL endpoints, and reusable UI components to enable scalable and maintainable frontend architecture.

• Managed Git workflows, branching strategies, and CI/CD pipelines across multiple client projects, standardizing deployments and improving code quality.
• Developed React-based rental platforms with REST APIs, responsive design, and modern UI/UX practices for seamless cross-platform experiences.
• Mentored junior developers in responsive design, accessibility, and modern JavaScript best practices.