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Curriculum Vitae

Nicholas H. Tollervey BMus MA MSc FRSA

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Profile

A principal software engineer / architect with 25+ years of broad professional full-stack development experience and deep Python expertise. I'm an award-winning open source contributor and technical leader, emeritus Fellow of the Python Software Foundation, and published O'Reilly author.

My work builds upon these foundations:

  • Human centric - a focus on the impact technology has on the lives of others.
  • Pragmatic - technical needs met with reflective research, clear crafted and capable code, and acumen to adapt.
  • Playful creativity - imaginative exploration cultivating code that engages and enables.
  • Embodied leadership - fostering clarity, personal responsibility, collaborative mentorship and mutual support.

Core Skills

  • Languages & Runtimes: Python, MicroPython, JavaScript, WebAssembly, C#, HTML, CSS.
  • Frameworks: Django, Flask, FastAPI, Starlette, Quart, Django REST Framework, asyncio, PyQt, Tkinter, IPython, Jupyter, REST API design.
  • Data & Storage: PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server, MongoDB, Elastic, SQLAlchemy, Django ORM.
  • Infrastructure & Delivery: TDD (PyTest, unittest, mock), CI/CD, GitHub Actions, Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, Azure, Linux, Claude, ChatGPT, Amazon Bedrock.
  • Leadership & Communication: principal engineer, OSS community leadership, mentorship and pedagogy, public speaking, technical writing, cat herding.

Experience

Principal Engineer - Anaconda Inc. (remote)

July 2022 - Present

Principal engineer on PyScript, a platform for Python in the browser via WebAssembly. Took the project from its initial stages to a production-ready foundation used worldwide, contributing core Python modules, upytest (a browser-based Python test runner), and documentation. Delivered conference talks and workshops, and partnered with non-technical colleagues on educational initiatives, including work with Lego Education. Recently created AI tooling: a Claude Skill and ChatGPT custom GPT for PyScript, and prompt pipelines using Amazon Bedrock to generate Python tutorials.

Python, MicroPython, JavaScript, WebAssembly, FastAPI, Django, browser APIs, cloud infrastructure, Claude, Amazon Bedrock.

Freelance Principal/Senior Engineer - Tollervey Ltd

October 2013 - July 2022

Independent consultant delivering technical solutions and leadership. Clients included the Ministry of Justice, NHS Digital, NHS England, The Freedom of the Press Foundation, Marks & Spencer, Moo, Adafruit, Raspberry Pi, MicroPython, WeGotPop, Leeds Data Mill and Stochastic Solutions. Work spanned backend services, ETL pipelines, desktop applications, web technology, embedded systems, training and mentoring. Ensured projects landed with impact and enduring value.

Python, Django, Flask, FastAPI, Django REST Framework, asyncio, SQLAlchemy, Jupyter, PyQt, MicroPython, ETL, PyTest, AWS, Azure, Docker, Kubernetes, PostgreSQL, MongoDB.

Freelance Lead Engineer - Guardian Media Group, London

September 2012 - September 2013

Agile team member maintaining the Guardian's Soulmates dating site. Worked across a Django front-end, MongoDB data layer and responsive client-side code, with exposure to a Scala API. Active in pair programming, presented on TDD to the wider digital team and contributed articles to the Guardian Developer Blog.

Python, Django, MongoDB, JavaScript, jQuery, HTML5, CSS, Scala, SOLR, REST.

Senior Engineer (Founding Team) - Fluidinfo, London / Barcelona / New York

April 2010 - August 2012

Third employee at a Betaworks, Tim O'Reilly and Esther Dyson-backed start-up building an openly writeable shared data store ("a database with the heart of a wiki"). Contributed across the stack: backend services, client libraries (Python, JavaScript, Java, .NET, Android), documentation, developer relations and technical liaison with press and prospective clients. Co-authored an O'Reilly book on the platform.

Python, Django, Twisted, JavaScript, jQuery, EmberJS, REST, PostgreSQL, Puppet.

Earlier Roles

  • Lead Developer - Fry-IT (2009 - 2010): Django web application for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health; delivered on time, under budget, exceeding specification.
  • Software Developer (Contractor) - Barclays Capital (2007 - 2008): Bespoke ASP.NET / C# / SQL Server tooling for the Development Tools team working with quants.
  • Lead Developer - Bis-Web Ltd (2005 - 2006): Recruitment platform for the Council of Europe and a financials package for Rockpools; introduced agile practices, source control and TDD.
  • AI Software Developer - Xmonic (2003 - 2005): Founding team member at a start-up using AI. Built an expert system and natural language agent for strategic account managers in multinational businesses.
  • Freelance Orchestral Musician & Head of Music (1997 - 2002): Professional freelance orchestral / brass musician in UK, Europe and Middle East. Classroom teaching, instrumental tuition, composing and arranging. Self-funded MA in Philosophy and MSc in Computing.

Recognition & Contributions

Education

  • MSc Computing, University of Wolverhampton (2002 - 2003)
  • MA Philosophy of Education, Institute of Education, University of London (1999 - 2002), with concurrent study at Birkbeck's School of Advanced Study (2000 - 2001)
  • PGCE Music Education, Institute of Education, University of London (1995 - 1996)
  • BMus (Hons) Music, Royal College of Music, University of London (1991 - 1994)

Outside Work

A classically trained musician, I still perform regularly, and occasionally as a concerto soloist. I also retain active interests and activities in philosophy, teaching and writing. Music and philosophy shape my engineering: an intuitive awareness of structure, interest in the ethical and political dimensions of technology, attention to craft and practice, and the discipline of analytical thought combined with aesthetic judgement.