steve@dev:~$

Steve McDougall - Backend Engineer & Developer Advocate

whoami --verbose

From self-taught developer to backend engineering expert

I'm Steve McDougall, a 🚀 senior laravel & api consultant | devrel engineer | php core committee | cto-for-hire passionate about building systems that scale and tools that developers love. Senior Laravel & API Consultant with 15+ years building scalable web applications and leading engineering teams. Currently Technical Director at Lila Fuches and Core Committee member of PHP-FIG, shaping industry standards. Recognized technical writer (php[architect], Laravel News) and international speaker who's helped dozens of teams architect better APIs and scale development practices. Specializing in Laravel 10/11, API design, developer experience, and fractional CTO services for high-growth startups.

Quick Stats

10+

Years Experience

Backend development

25+

Conference Talks

International events

50K+

Open Source

Downloads/month

100+

Articles Written

Technical content

My Story

The Beginning

My programming journey started in 2012 when I decided to build a simple online MP3 player, to help me listen to my personal music library between home and the office.
What began as a curiosity about 'how websites work' quickly turned into a deep fascination with backend systems.
PHP was my first language, and Laravel became my framework of choice—a relationship that continues to this day.

Finding My Focus

As I gained experience, I gravitated towards backend development and API design. There's something deeply satisfying about architecting systems that can handle massic scale while remaining elegant and maintainable. I've always been drawn to the invisible infrastructure that makes great software possible.
Over the years, I've had the privilege of working on everything from small business websites to enterprise-scale distributed systems. Each project taught me something new about performance, scalability, and most importantly, how to build software that other developers can understand and extend.

Developer Advocacy

My transition into developer advocacy was a natural evolution. After years of building systems, I became passionate about helping other developers build better ones. Whether through writing technical content, speaking at conferences, or building open-source tools, I love sharing knowledge and contributing to the developer community.
Today, I split my time between hands-on engineering work and developer relations. This combination keeps me grounded in real-world technical challenges while allowing me to help shape the tools and practices that make developers more productive and happy.

Career Timeline

2024

Founder and CTO

Lila Fuches

1 year

Architected a scalable Laravel SaaS platform with API-first design, enhancing maintainability and flexibility for a rapidly growing user base. Led comprehensive technical strategy including infrastructure modernization and CI/CD pipeline optimization. As fractional CTO, provided strategic guidance on hiring, roadmap planning, and product vision while directly mentoring developers to elevate code quality and team productivity.

Key achievements:

▶ Architected scalable Laravel 11 SaaS platform serving 10,000+ users
▶ Implemented API-first design reducing technical debt by 60%
▶ Led CI/CD improvements boosting deployment speed by 40%
▶ Mentored 5-person development team, improving code quality scores by 35%
▶ Lead and managed go to market technical strategy

2024

Core Committee Member

PHP FIG (Framework Interoperability Group)

1 year, 8 months

Shape PHP language standards by contributing to proposals and RFCs focused on framework interoperability. Engage directly with the global PHP community to drive adoption of PSR standards and best practices. Provide crucial real-world developer insights to guide standardization efforts that impact the entire PHP ecosystem.

Key achievements:

▶ Contributing to PSR standards affecting millions of PHP developers worldwide
▶ Reviewing and voting on critical PHP interoperability proposals
▶ Representing real-world developer perspectives in standardization processes

2023

Technical Columnist

php[architect]

1 year, 5 months

Authored monthly technical deep-dives on advanced PHP topics and architectural best practices for one of the industry's most respected publications. Simplified complex concepts for a broad developer audience using storytelling techniques and clear, practical examples. Collaborated closely with editorial teams to ensure technical accuracy and maximum reader value.

Key achievements:

▶ Published 12+ monthly deep-dive articles reaching 50,000+ developers
▶ Covered advanced PHP 8.x features, Laravel patterns, and architectural best practices
▶ Maintained 95%+ reader satisfaction scores through engaging technical storytelling

2022

Senior Engineering Manager

Geomiq

7 months

Managed cross-functional engineering teams delivering high-performance Laravel applications for major manufacturing clients. Implemented comprehensive process improvements including enhanced code review workflows and automated testing, resulting in significant bug reduction. Mentored engineers through structured career development programs and technical coaching sessions.

Key achievements:

▶ Managed cross-functional teams of 12+ engineers across 3 products
▶ Implemented process improvements reducing production bugs by 30%
▶ Delivered Laravel applications serving 100,000+ manufacturing clients
▶ Achieved 99.8% system uptime through robust CI/CD practices

2022

Technical Writer

Laravel News

1 year, 11 months

Published comprehensive articles on Laravel internals, package development, and architectural best practices for the Laravel community's primary news source. Produced educational content specifically targeting intermediate-to-advanced Laravel developers, focusing on real-world application and performance optimization. Actively highlighted innovative open-source projects and community contributions to foster ecosystem growth.

Key achievements:

▶ Published 25+ in-depth Laravel tutorials and best practice guides
▶ Articles averaged 10,000+ views with 85%+ completion rates
▶ Highlighted 50+ open-source projects, contributing to community growth

2022

Lead Software Engineer

Mumsnet

3 months

Led backend engineering for one of the UK's highest-traffic community platforms, architecting Laravel solutions for millions of users. Designed and maintained critical APIs that improved system reliability and dramatically reduced response times. Collaborated closely with product and design teams to ship engagement-driving features while mentoring junior engineers and establishing improved development workflows.

Key achievements:

▶ Led backend engineering for platform serving 1.5M+ monthly active users
▶ Optimized API performance reducing average response times by 45%
▶ Mentored 4 junior engineers, with 100% promotion rate within 12 months

2022

Software Engineering Manager

Car & Classic

2 months

Oversaw talented engineering team building Laravel-powered systems for the UK and Europe's largest classic car marketplace. Introduced structured agile planning processes that improved team velocity and delivery consistency. Led infrastructure initiatives ensuring exceptional uptime while fostering high-trust, high-impact team culture through regular coaching and mentorship.

Key achievements:

▶ Led team building Laravel systems for UK's largest classic car marketplace
▶ Implemented agile processes improving team velocity by 25%
▶ Maintained 99.9% uptime for platform processing £50M+ in transactions

2022

Developer Advocate

Treblle

2 years, 9 months

Leading developer advocacy initiatives, creating educational content, and building community around API observability tools.

Key achievements:

▶ Created comprehensive documentation and tutorials
▶ Spoke at international conferences and meetups
▶ Built developer tools and integrations
▶ Managed open source initiatives

2021

Engineering Manager

Jump Twenty Four

4 months

Led engineering initiatives across multiple client projects at a Laravel-focused digital agency, from discovery through technical delivery. Implemented comprehensive CI/CD automation that dramatically reduced release times while establishing rigorous testing and code quality standards. Played key role in hiring and onboarding while shaping a culture of technical craftsmanship and accountability.

Key achievements:

▶ Led engineering across 8+ concurrent client projects
▶ Implemented CI/CD automation reducing release times by 60%
▶ Established testing standards achieving 85%+ code coverage
▶ Successfully hired and onboarded 5 senior developers

2021

Technical Lead

Squarefoot Capital

6 months

Owned architecture and delivery of mission-critical Laravel-based financial products, including complex real-time data pipelines and third-party integrations. Worked closely with stakeholders to align ambitious business objectives with technical execution while enforcing high engineering standards to ensure code quality and long-term maintainability.

Key achievements:

▶ Architected Laravel-based financial products handling £10M+ transactions
▶ Built real-time data pipelines processing 100,000+ daily events
▶ Integrated with 12+ third-party financial APIs maintaining 99.5% uptime

2019

Chief Technology Officer

Lila Fuches Limited

2 years, 2 months

Established technical foundation and product architecture for innovative SaaS platform. Led development from initial MVP through market-ready product launch, establishing development practices and technical standards that supported sustainable growth.

Key achievements:

▶ Built initial product architecture serving 1,000+ early customers
▶ Established development practices and technical foundations
▶ Led product from MVP to market-ready SaaS platform

2018

Founder & Organizer

PHP South Wales

4 years, 1 month

Created PHP South Wales to bring developers together regardless of background or experience level. Hosted monthly events featuring diverse speakers and topics, fostering continuous learning and professional growth. Built a welcoming community that became a launching pad for many developers' careers and established lasting connections across the Welsh tech scene.

Key achievements:

▶ Founded and grew community from 0 to 200+ active members
▶ Organized 40+ monthly meetups featuring international speakers
▶ Mentored 50+ developers through workshops and networking events
▶ Established Wales as a recognized hub in the PHP community

2007

Combat Engineer

HM Forces

3 years, 11 months

Served as Combat Engineer with frontline deployment to Afghanistan, specializing in route clearance and IED detection operations. Gained comprehensive training in mechanical and electrical engineering while developing exceptional problem-solving skills under pressure. Experience included operating complex military equipment and working effectively in high-stakes team environments.

Key achievements:

▶ Served frontline tour in Afghanistan as Royal Engineer
▶ Specialized in IED detection and route clearance operations
▶ Trained in mechanical and electrical engineering fundamentals
▶ Operated and maintained Challenger 2 main battle tanks

Core Values

👨‍💻

Developer-First Thinking

Every system I build prioritizes the developer experience. Clear APIs, comprehensive documentation, and intuitive tooling aren't nice-to-haves—they're essential.

⚡

Quality Over Speed

While I deliver quickly, I never compromise on code quality. Technical debt is expensive, and doing things right the first time saves everyone time and money.

📚

Continuous Learning

Technology evolves rapidly, and so do I. I'm constantly exploring new patterns, tools, and techniques to stay at the forefront of backend development.

🌍

Open Source Contribution

I believe in giving back to the community that has given me so much. Contributing to open source projects and sharing knowledge helps everyone grow.

Beyond the Code

When I'm not architecting backend systems or writing technical content, you'll find me spending time with my family, or diving into the latest developments in tech.

I'm also passionate about mentoring junior developers and helping them to navigate the complexities of backend development. There's nothing quite like seeing someone have that 'aha!' moment when a complex concept finally clicks.

I believe that the best software comes from diverse teams with different perspectives, and I'm committed to making the tech industry more inclusive and welcoming for everyone.

Let's Build Something Together

Whether you want to discuss a project, explore a speaking opportunity, or just chat about backend development over coffee, I'd love to hear from you.

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