Hey, I'm Jacob Herper
Lead 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 five-year-old daughter at home in England 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
![Holland & Barrett](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fyq5nnpfd%2Fproduction%2F220cf610ee8a9bc6f821a5a3285ca7c224536cb8-128x128.jpg&w=128&q=75)
Lead Software Engineer
Holland & Barrett
Aug 2020 — present
Technologies: TypeScript, React, Next.js, XState, Redux, GraphQL, Rest APIs, React Query, Jest, Cypress, Playwright, Turborepo
Technologies: TypeScript, React, Next.js, XState, Redux, GraphQL, Rest APIs, React Query, Jest, Cypress, Playwright, Turborepo
- Joined Holland & Barrett as a senior front-end software engineer during a digital transformation journey in the cross-functional order management squad
- Single-handedly developed several front-end applications to manage customer orders and product subscriptions for customer service teams and customers self-serve capability
- Integrated front-end applications with back-end microservices (mostly RESTful APIs, but also GraphQL)
- Transitioned to a new squad to focus on contact centre solutions, growing the team from scratch by hiring and onboarding six engineers, and a product manager
- Successfully implemented a one-stop solution tool, reducing AHT by 60%, cutting costs up to 70%, and significantly enhancing efficiency for customer service agents
- Demised multiple third-party enterprise solutions, saving the company £1m+ p.a.
- Promoted to Lead Engineer to spearhead the development of innovative solutions, including a meeting booking solution and custom video conferencing tool
![Dennis Publishing](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fyq5nnpfd%2Fproduction%2F39ad167476da9665cf2c25144fe59acf86a7a2db-200x200.png&w=128&q=75)
Senior Front-End Engineer
Dennis Publishing
Oct 2019 — Aug 2020
Technologies: JavaScript, ES6, React, GraphQL, Sass, Node.js, Express, Webpack, Apollo
Technologies: JavaScript, ES6, React, GraphQL, Sass, Node.js, Express, Webpack, Apollo
- Joined as a Senior Front-End Engineer during the re-platforming of their online publishing platform from a Drupal monolith to microservices and React-based front-end applications
- Conducted a comprehensive code audit of an external agency's work, addressing issues such as N+1 problem in GraphQL by implementing the dataloader pattern
- Prioritised and resolved major accessibility issues, collaborating with the product lead to enhance the overall code quality and establish best practices
- Implemented Google AMP across the application framework, resulting in a 38% improvement in pagespeed insights score and the elimination of layout shifts for enhanced SERP rankings
- Developed in-house advertising platform, leading to an 8% increase in advertising revenue across all websites
- Responded to a staff redundancy announcement by offering resignation to safeguard team members on visa sponsorships and ensure their positions
![Raconteur](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fyq5nnpfd%2Fproduction%2F522c287550e9880fd8560e6094f64f2cd482c257-512x512.png&w=128&q=75)
Front-End Web Developer
Raconteur
Jan 2019 — Oct 2019
Technologies: TypeScript, React, Gatsby, Next.js, GraphQL, Rest APIs, Styled-Components
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
![Creativ Agency](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fyq5nnpfd%2Fproduction%2Ff06512354a4459df8b15b234309203b8e668cd01-128x128.jpg&w=128&q=75)
Founder & Director of Engineering
Creativ Agency
May 2018 — Dec 2019
Technologies: JavaScript, PHP, Sass, React, Angular, Gatsby, WordPress, Drupal
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
![The Specialist Works](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fyq5nnpfd%2Fproduction%2Fea8d24387cb6010b539e5818f38058507de684be-128x128.jpg&w=128&q=75)
Front-End Developer
The Specialist Works
Dec 2017 — Jan 2019
Technologies: JavaScript, PHP, React, WordPress, jQuery, Rest APIs, Sass
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
![Immovato](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fyq5nnpfd%2Fproduction%2F3259f96ea67a3a08c226113b2f145cfde314dee7-128x128.jpg&w=128&q=75)
Co-Founder & CTO
Immovato
Apr 2014 — Oct 2021
Technologies: React, TypeScript, Next.js, Node.js, Express, Sass, Angular, MongoDB
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
![ASA Europe](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fyq5nnpfd%2Fproduction%2F2855aaadf1dce6f5b0cde93ea6788bda04140375-128x128.jpg&w=128&q=75)
Group Creative Director
ASA Europe
Jun 2008 — Oct 2014
Technologies: PHP, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, MySQL, Sass
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 2019University of Helsinki
Course Contents: React, JavaScript, Node.js, Express, GraphQL, Cypress, Jest
![Harvard University](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fyq5nnpfd%2Fproduction%2F253540fc443875e23a774605818a791ca723d8b4-128x126.jpg&w=128&q=75)
Interested in what I have to offer?
I am happy to have a chat about relevant projects to work on. Below you find a download link for my up-to-date CV. Are you a recruiter? Have a read through my recruiters page, where I explain what I am looking for in a job. This page is designed to save both of us time.
If you are interested in working with me, please contact me via the contact form. I do not appreciate cold calls and will not answer calls from numbers I do not recognise.