Jake Fulton
Full Stack Developer
Career Summary
8 years of experience working in web development and design, using programming languages such as JavaScript, TypeScript and Python.
Key strengths include building elegant user interfaces, solving complex problems, designing maintainable and efficient software.
Always looking to learn and improve in web development and software engineering.
Have delivered projects for international clients across the United States, Australasia and other regions, partnering with organisations in biotechnology, technology, higher education, financial services and other sectors.
Key Strengths
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Building Elegant UIs
Built a responsive chart for Bounce Insurance’s homepage illustrating their tiered payment system based on earthquake intensity. On mobile, restructured the chart to present the tiers in rows instead of columns using CSS Grid. -
Proactive Problem Solver
At Victoria University, worked on solutions for large projects, including the front-end for their new staff directory. At ArtNow, developed an OpenResty/Lua solution to validate incoming requests to legacy PHP API endpoints without modifying the original code, enabling them to be efficiently cached by Cloudflare. -
Maintainable and Efficient Software
Worked on a range of large websites including Keith Andrews, implementing component-based UI systems that combine data from multiple sources such as DatoCMS and a custom Redis layer, ensuring the codebase remains flexible and performant.
Technologies
Professional Experience
Responsibilities
- Consult with clients on solving problems that will help grow their business.
- Actively keep updated with a fast-paced industry to provide cutting edge websites and web apps.
- Optimise websites to improve user experience and SEO.
Key Achievements
- Delivered web app D2Odb for client Monash University.
- Built websites for Bonjoro, Bounce Insurance, Tidal Ventures, and PTNG Consulting.
- Founded and ran a coworking space in Wellington, New Zealand.
- Hosted a Wellington Marketing Meetup and presented on how coworking enhances productivity and fosters collaboration.
- Led the design and creation of the coworking space, collaborating with artists and contractors to create a welcoming and inspiring environment.
Responsibilities
- Supported scientists and managed the IT infrastructure.
- Assisted with managing software updates and deployments across employee laptops.
- Maintained software running on lab instruments and computers, ensuring reliable operation.
- Managed on-premises servers to orchestrate bioinformatics workflows for scientists.
Key Achievements
- Streamlined the procurement and renewal of both general productivity and specialised bioinformatics software.
- Developed custom bioinformatics code to assist an internal R&D program.
Responsibilities
- Assisted with delivering client projects by implementing final tweaks and bug fixes necessary to ensure timely project delivery.
- Contributed to back-end Django/Wagtail development.
- Utilised back-end Python and front-end JavaScript and React code to visualise a dataset using Chart.js.
- Engaged in front-end React and CSS code development.
- Collaborated with Octave’s client, The Co-operative Bank, to develop new React components for their website, conduct code reviews, and implement new features.
Key Achievements
- Built a chart for visualising a new dataset for Te Whata.
- Assisted with building the refreshed Queen Margaret College website.
- Assisted with building a custom application form for Police Credit Union.
- Helped integrate a loan application form into The Co-operative Bank’s mobile app.
Responsibilities
- Maintained the design system for the University’s customer-facing and internal websites, using the ITCSS methodology to structure the CSS.
- Implemented reusable components in the content management system (Squiz) and developed REST APIs.
- Worked with content editors to deliver new websites for various organizations at the University.
- Developed web apps using JavaScript, React, Redux, Vue.js, Squiz Matrix, and CSS.
Key Achievements
- Delivered the updated website for international students.
- Built an internal web app that enables staff to easily update their own contact details. This was part of a project to create a new, more efficient and accessible system for staff contact information.
Responsibilities
- Conceptualised and implemented a user-friendly web app for a bioinformatics database, facilitating seamless access to data for the research community.
- Utilised front-end JavaScript, React, Redux, HTML, and CSS code.
- Employed back-end Node.js and MongoDB for development.
Key Achievements
- Collaborated with the client to create a wireframe that simplifies the user interface for filtering the data.
- Developed the first version which was sent out to the research community for feedback. Made adjustments using the feedback to improve the user experience.
Responsibilities
- Provided senior artists with render support including troubleshooting, scheduling work on the render wall, ensuring deadlines are met, and managing expectations.
- Worked as part of a larger team to manage client material and data, ensuring all items are delivered and complete.
- Coded in Python, Bash scripting, and awk.
Key Achievements
- Successfully worked with clients such as Disney and Marvel, delivering material to deadline and client satisfaction.
- Built experience with the Linux environment, managing large amounts of data, and maintaining high-performance computing hardware.
- Contributed to wrangler tools to assist in automating processes, saving the team time and improving efficiency.
Responsibilities
- Designed, tested, and delivered email marketing templates.
- Animated banner ads for marketing campaigns.
Key Achievements
- Animated banner ad for Powershop, which served as a key part of their marketing campaign.
- Built email marketing template for New Zealand Rugby and EightyOne’s Christmas party invitation.
- Tested the compatibility of email templates with email clients using Litmus to ensure a beautiful and consistent experience on every device.
Projects
Keith Andrews
2025
Developed key parts of a Next.js and DatoCMS website for Keith Andrews, a leading New Zealand commercial truck dealer, including a Redis-based caching layer to optimise vehicle stock API performance.
Technologies:
Bounce Insurance
2021 - 2025
Refreshed the website for Bounce, a New Zealand earthquake insurance company, implementing updated branding and improving design and usability.
Technologies:
ArtNow
2025
Optimized ArtNow's legacy PHP/Craft CMS site to handle high traffic and AI bot activity by implementing API route caching using Cloudflare and OpenResty, significantly improving performance and scalability.
Technologies:
Tidal Ventures
2021 (refreshed in 2022)
Developed and refined the website for Tidal, a Sydney-based venture capital firm, fine-tuning all design elements to create a cohesive and recognisable brand identity.
Technologies:
PTNG Scientific
2020 (refreshed in 2022 and 2023)
PTNG Scientific provides high-level protein engineering and computational biology advice to biotech, pharma, and universities.
Technologies:
Bonjoro
2020
Rebuilt Bonjoro's website with a slick new design to match their playful identity, increasing visitor sign-ups.
Technologies:
Monash University - D2Odb
2019
Created D2Odb, a user interface for a bioinformatics database linking protein mutations to diseases.
Technologies:
Qualifications and Courses
- Venture Up (4 week startup programme run by Creative HQ) (2019)
- SBINZ Level 2 Snowboard Instructor Qualification (2017)
- Nelson College NCEA (Level 3) (2015)
Voluntary Experience
- Green Party (2018)
Voluntary presentation design. - Temple Basin (2014)
Voluntary work teaching beginners how to snowboard.
Interests
- Snowboarding and skateboarding
- Listening to music, DJing and producing music
- Motorcycling