Hey, I'm Jacob Herper

Senior Software Engineer from the UK

As a passionate front-end developer, I create amazing websites and web apps to make the internet a better place. I am an advocate for web performance and accessibility as well as a JAMstack enthusiast with experience in serverless technologies.

I am √1,024 years old and have been a web developer for as long as I can think. The technologies I work with are JavaScript, HTML and CSS with a focus on the frameworks React.js, Gatsby, Next.js, Node and Express. I use code not only to do my day-to-day job, but also to solve everyday problems I come across.

When I am not writing code I love to spend time with my wife and 3 year old daughter at home in London or travelling around the world. We are quite a multi-cultural family with me having grown up in Germany 🇩🇪 and my wife being from Mexico 🇲🇽, which is why we raise our daughter trilingual. I myself speak five languages (some better than others). Furthermore I enjoy cooking fresh food when I come home after a long day at the office.

Podcasts I enjoy

Experience

Senior Software Engineer

Aug 2020 — present

Holland & Barrett

Technologies: TypeScript, React, Next.js, Redux, GraphQL, Rest APIs, Jest, Cypress

Joined Holland & Barrett as a senior software engineer, first with front-end expertise in the fulfilment squad (alongside six back-end engineers)
Led hiring process of several further UI engineers across multiple squads
Tech lead developing a custom-built customer services portal based on React and Next.js using TypeScript and Redux, retiring a third-party solution, saving a 6-digit sum in licence fees
Increased non-existent test coverage to 90+%
Introduced e2e tests using Cypress

Senior Front-End Engineer

Oct 2019 — Aug 2020

Dennis Publishing

Technologies: JavaScript, ES6, React, GraphQL, Sass, Node.js, Express, Webpack, Apollo

Developed web applications using React, JavaScript (ES6), GraphQL and Sass
Tech lead for the rebuild of site applications, liaising between engineering and product teams
Optimised performance and accessibility of React applications
Contributed to advanced error and bug tracking strategy to increase application reliability
Improved test coverage by writing unit and integration tests with Jest and Enzyme
Implemented platform-wide ad injection logic to work within the SSR React application and AMP pages
Mentored more junior engineers through pair programming, code reviews and 1-on-1s

Front-End Web Developer

Jan 2019 — Oct 2019

Raconteur

Technologies: TypeScript, React, Gatsby, Next.js, GraphQL, Rest APIs, Styled-Components

Joined as first JavaScript developer to lead the move away from WordPress-based monolithic architectures to more robust and modern React-based systems
Developed React web applications using TypeScript, Next.js, Gatsby, GraphQL and Styled-Components with global state management through Context API
Worked with WordPress as a headless CMS using GraphQL and REST APIs
Developed B2B web applications for several Fortune 500 clients using vanilla JavaScript (ES6) and React
Worked on legacy projects using ES5 JavaScript syntax with Gulp as a task runner

Founder & Director of Engineering

May 2018 — Dec 2019

Creativ Agency

Technologies: JavaScript, PHP, Sass, React, Angular, Gatsby, WordPress, Drupal

Development of web applications for small and medium-sized businesses using JavaScript, React, PHP, Sass, HTML5, WordPress, Drupal and different e-commerce solutions
Specialised in bespoke client solutions for London-based startups
Design of digital assets and print products
Management of freelance and contract engineers for international projects
Search engine optimisation and search engine marketing

Front-End Developer

Dec 2017 — Jan 2019

The Specialist Works

Technologies: JavaScript, PHP, React, WordPress, jQuery, Rest APIs, Sass

Tech lead in design and development of new website following brand guidelines based on WordPress, PHP, HTML5, CSS and JavaScript
Orchestrating web development work between London and Atlanta offices
Collaborating with teams in Beijing, Dublin, New York and Bonn offices to develop custom experiences for clients across the world
Development of a web application for a contender energy provider in collaboration with TSW Creative for critical campaign launch under time pressure
DevOps tasks monitoring and maintaining Apache server infrastructure and DNS
Development of PWA (React) for an event with 250+ attendees
Collaborated with internal creative agency to deliver assets for pitches

Co-Founder & CTO

Apr 2014 — Oct 2021

Immovato

Technologies: React, TypeScript, Next.js, Node.js, Express, Sass, Angular, MongoDB

Built a web app to revolutionise the real estate sector in Germany
Developed Immovato from the first concept to release of MVP
Managed two developers (front-end and back-end) in the development of our application, initially based on Angular (JavaScript) and Laravel (PHP)
Moved tech stack to MERN (MongoDB, Express.js, React, Node.js) for an improved performance and DX

Group Creative Director

Jun 2008 — Oct 2014

ASA Europe

Technologies: PHP, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, MySQL, Sass

Started working for ASA as a web designer and developer during final years of college, building and maintaining e-commerce websites and product landing pages
First insights into day-to-day operations of e-commerce business (B2B and B2C)
Design and conception of new products, packaging, brochures, advertising material
Design and execution of international trade shows and B2B events
Launch of UK branch of ASA Europe in Chelmsford, Essex
Market research and legal compliance analysis for the trade of tobacco products in the United Kingdom, meetings with UK Trade & Investment and HMRC to explore importing of restricted goods
Built retail business to become highest-grossing of its kind in the UK within 12 months

Education

I am mostly self-taught, but here are some of the most relevant certifications I have achieved:

Full-Stack Open

Sep 2019

University of Helsinki

Course Contents: React, JavaScript, Node.js, Express, GraphQL, Cypress, Jest

CS50x

Jun 2020

Harvard University

Course Contents: C, Python, SQL, Algorithms, Data Structures

Download my CV