API consultant · Wales, UK

Steve McDougall

I fix slow, unreliable APIs for SaaS and product teams. I find the real failure points, stabilise the riskiest one first, and leave the team with patterns they can run without me. No rewrite.

Email steve@juststeveking.com if you already know you want to talk, or read the full work history first.

How I work with teams

Consulting

Fixing slow, unreliable APIs without rewriting everything. API quality, architecture, and the delivery decisions that determine whether a team ships with confidence or firefights. Diagnose the real failure points, stabilise the riskiest bottleneck first, then leave behind patterns the team can own.

Fractional CTO · technical due diligence · API reviews

Education & training

Team workshops and structured programmes on Laravel, API design, and testing, plus a public archive that stays free to read. PHP-FIG Core Committee member, so the standards work feeds directly back into what gets taught.

211 articles · guides · learning series

Speaking

Conference talks and workshops on API architecture, domain partitioning, and how engineering teams actually work. Available for keynotes, sessions, and internal engineering days.

13 talks across 12 events

I fix slow, unreliable APIs without rewriting everything. The work sits where API quality, architecture and delivery meet, which is where the decisions get made that determine whether a team ships with confidence or spends half its week firefighting.

Most of the last several years has been PHP, Laravel and API systems at scale, as a technical director, as a consultant, and on the PHP-FIG Core Committee, where the standards work feeds straight back into what I teach.

Before software I served in the Royal Tank Regiment, from 2007 to 2011. That shows up in how I work more than I expected it to: systematic diagnosis, calm while something is actively on fire, and a strong preference for the durable fix over the quick one.

Consulting runs in three stages. Diagnose the actual failure points rather than the reported ones, stabilise the riskiest bottleneck first, then scale by leaving behind patterns and habits the team can own without me in the room.

The library

Everything here is free, and counted.

Current

Technical DirectorNow

Lila Fuches Limited

Oct 2024Present2y

Architected and launched a scalable Laravel SaaS platform using an API-first approach, supporting rapid user growth and seamless feature expansion. Led technical strategy, modernised infrastructure, and optimised CI/CD pipelines. As fractional CTO, guided hiring, roadmap planning, and product direction, while mentoring developers to improve code quality and team collaboration.

Designed and delivered a Laravel 11 SaaS platform serving thousands of users
Established API-first development practices to reduce technical debt
Improved deployment workflows with modern CI/CD automation
Mentored a development team, introducing code review and best practices

Laravel 11PHP 8.xAPI DesignCI/CDAWS

Core Committee MemberNow

PHP FIG (Framework Interoperability Group)

Feb 2024Present2y 8mo

Contributed to PHP language standards by drafting and reviewing proposals focused on framework interoperability. Participated in open discussions and formal voting processes. Shared practical developer insights to help guide the direction of new PSR standards adopted by the PHP community.

Drafted and reviewed PSR standards for PHP framework interoperability
Participated in proposal discussions and formal voting on new standards
Provided practical developer feedback to guide standardisation decisions

PHPAPI StandardsOpen Source Governance

Technical ColumnistNow

php[architect]

Aug 2023Present3y 2mo

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.

Writing a monthly deep-dive column on advanced PHP and architecture since August 2023
Covered advanced PHP 8.x features, Laravel patterns, and architectural best practices
Simplifies complex concepts for a broad developer audience through storytelling and clear examples

PHPLaravelSoftware ArchitectureTechnical Writing

Selected experience

Full CV: roles and skills →

Laravel Content Owner · certificates.devMar 2026 to Jul 2026

Responsible for creating the Laravel certification curriculum, designing code challenges, running bootcamps, and representing certificates.dev at industry events and conferences as a speaker.

Developer Advocate · TreblleMar 2023 to Oct 2024

Led comprehensive developer education initiatives, creating extensive technical content library that significantly increased API adoption and community engagement. Represented Treblle at major international conferences, gathering critical community feedback that directly influenced product roadmap. Built practical demo projects and sample code that dramatically simplified product onboarding and accelerated developer success.

Senior Engineering Manager · GeomiqJul 2022 to Feb 2023

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.

Technical Writer · Laravel NewsJun 2022 to May 2024

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 optimisation. Actively highlighted innovative open-source projects and community contributions to foster ecosystem growth.

Lead Software Engineer · MumsnetApr 2022 to Jul 2022

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.

Software Engineering Manager · Car & ClassicFeb 2022 to Apr 2022

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.

Recent speaking

All talks →

Stop Building CRUD APIs (do this instead)Laravel Serbia · online · May 2026

Reliable API Calls Without the StressPHP Sussex · Brighton, UK · Jun 2025

Artisanal API Platforms: Crafting Developer-First ExperiencesAPI Platform Conference 2024 · Lille, France · Sept 2024

Publications

Building your first MCP server with LaravelSevalla Blog · Oct 2025

Building an API Starter Kit for LaravelPHP Architect · Dec 2024

How Steve Writes Laravel CodePHP Architect · Sep 2024

API Essentials: A Developer's Guide to Authentication, Validation, and DTOsPHP Architect · Feb 2024

Hooked On Functionality: The Whimsical World Of Webhooks In PHPPHP Architect · Jan 2024

Recognition

Outstanding Technical Writingphp[architect] Magazine · Dec 2023

Recognised for exceptional technical writing contributions and ability to make complex PHP concepts accessible to developers worldwide.

Laravel Certified DeveloperCertification for Laravel · Sep 2025

Recommendations

What people say about working with me.

All 16 recommendations →

Elsewhere

GitHub@juststeveking YouTube@JustSteveKing X / Twitter@juststeveking LinkedInsteve-mcdougall Blueskyjuststeveking.com Mastodon@juststeveking RSS/rss.xml

Contact

Tell me what is breaking.

Consulting, fractional technical leadership, team training, or a conference session. Email is the fastest route, and I reply to everything that is not a template.

steve@juststeveking.com LinkedIn

Full work history Open source Recommendations Uses Career framework