Andy Mantell

Mobile: 07880 808160  | andymantell@hotmail.com | linkedin.com/in/andymantell | Plymouth, Devon, UK

Senior full stack software engineer with 18 years of experience delivering and modernising national-scale government services (Cabinet Office, NHS, HM Land Registry). Proven in leading Agile teams, designing scalable architectures, migrating legacy platforms to modern cloud-native stacks, and raising engineering quality through testing, DevOps, and accessibility. Hands-on across .NET, Python, PHP, React, AWS, Docker, CI/CD. Strong communicator with a track record of mentoring engineers and influencing technical direction.

Technical skills

Core Stack

• Python (Flask), C# / .NET (Core, ASP.NET),  PHP, NodeJS
• JavaScript, TypeScript, React
• AWS, Docker, Docker Compose
• PostgreSQL, MySQL
• OpenSearch / Elasticsearch

Architecture & Delivery

• Microservices, RESTful APIs
• Legacy modernisation
• Cloud-native design
• CI/CD (GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, Jenkins)
• Automated testing (xUnit, Pytest, Jest, Playwright, Selenium)

Frontend & UX

• GOV.UK / NHS.UK Design Systems
• Accessibility (WCAG)
• Responsive design
• Component libraries

DevOps & Infra

• Bash / Python scripting
• Terragrunt, CloudFormation, AWS CDK
• Linux

Employment history

Goaco - Contract Engineering Team Lead
(Aug 2024 - Present)

• Lead engineer for Cabinet Office Find a Tender Service, managing and mentoring ~15 engineers.
• Designed and delivered migration from legacy VM hosting to Docker-based AWS infrastructure.
• Rebuilt deployment pipeline using Docker Compose & Github Actions; reduced releases from manual hour-long processes to automated, frequent deployments.
• Delivered major features: role-based access control, form engine extensions, Welsh localisation.
• Led in-situ refactoring of a legacy PHP platform toward a modern .NET and OpenSearch-based architecture.
• Hands-on contributor across PHP and .NET codebases; performance profiling and optimisation.

NHS Digital - Contract Software Engineer
(Nov 2020 - Aug 2024)

• Developed and refactored .NET services for NHS 111 Online, a national critical service.
• Led migration from legacy .NET to modern .NET Core with zero downtime/regression constraints.
• Expanded automated test coverage (unit & Selenium E2E).
• Led frontend modernisation using NHS.UK Design System; reduced jQuery reliance.
• Acted as accessibility SME; embedded WCAG practices into daily delivery.

Surevine - Senior Software Engineer
(Nov 2019 - Nov 2020)

• Worked as part of a small agile team delivering services ranging from mission-critical government systems to fast-turnaround projects.
• Owned the frontend technology stack; contributed to backend development and AWS infrastructure using CloudFormation.
• Built a large-scale React application implementing a complex multi-stage form using React, XState, Redux, Redux Saga, and Formik.
• Developed a Java command-line tool to support a client’s internal development teams.
• Delivered React applications for resource management and global distribution, including a built-in XMPP-based chat client.

HM Land Registry - Lead Software Engineer
(Aug 2018 - Oct 2019)

• Led improvements to Python/Flask boilerplate applications to increase development speed, maintainability, and security.
• Supported a large number of teams in developing multiple GOV.UK and internal services using Python/Flask.
• Introduced React for internal applications; developed common libraries for GOV.UK-style React apps; supported teams through adoption.
• Acted as Subject Matter Expert for frontend development across HM Land Registry.
• Set frontend standards; built and maintained shared component libraries; mentored and supported multiple teams.
• Championed accessibility across the organisation.
• Established an organisation-wide library for design patterns and production UI components.
• Provided hands-on support to teams tackling complex frontend problems.
• Led a monthly frontend community; ran skills challenges; co-organised a two-day internal hackathon.
• Delivered frontend training courses and presented at an internal conference for non-technical audiences.

HM Land Registry - Contract Senior Frontend Developer
(Jan 2016 - Apr 2018)

• Built and maintained Python/Flask frontend applications and backend microservices in a complex stack spanning AWS and DB2.
• Worked within a multi-disciplinary agile team delivering a GOV.UK service for citizens to access property information.
• Contributed beyond the core team to improve code quality and engineering practices across HM Land Registry.
• Supported and upskilled developers across teams, leading to appointment as Lead Software Engineer.

Freelance
(Dec 2009 – August 2018)

• Delivered full-stack solutions for digital agencies and end clients including Aardman Animations, Future Publishing, and the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.
• Built bespoke design systems, content platforms, and e-commerce solutions.
• Owned full backend and frontend lifecycle for multiple client projects.

Formoda Ltd - Senior developer (Dec 2009 - March 2010)

Nameless Media Group - Junior developer (Nov 2007 - Nov 2009)

Ewan Group plc - Data scientist placement (Aug 2003 - Aug 2004)

Education

University of Exeter
(2004 - 2007)  

BSc Cognitive Science – 2:1

Exeter College
(2001 - 2003)

A Levels: Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics.