About Xander Gottlieb

Xander is a senior front-end software engineer with expertise in developer experience and technical leadership. Recently, he's helped React teams implement design systems to boost productivity and UX, as well as interview and train new hires.

Clients appreciate his ability to listen and build consensus among developers, designers, business leaders, and users alike. As a mentor, writer, and workshop leader Xander inspires colleagues, students, and thousands of Stack Overflow/blog readers.

Xander stands at the front of a classroom and answers a question while leading a workshop on digital encoding.

Xander's smiling while holding a grumpy baby.

Experience

Software Engineering Consultant

WisdomAI 2024

Led the development of a component-driven design system in React. This accelerated new features, reduced regressions, and resulted in a simpler and more cohesive user experience.
Built ergonomic new data table components to support advanced filtering and customization, enabling the design team's vision while boosting developer velocity.
Created animations and microinteractions with meticulous attention to detail, each with a focus on performance and frictionless user experience.
Worked with stakeholders across the engineering, product, and design teams to estimate schedules, prioritise new features, and save time with open source code where possible.

This is a demo from @xander - looks quite simple and elegant, and that's the beauty. The code for this is equally elegant

Software Engineering Consultant

Kavedon Kapital 2023-24

Bootstrapped a new team of React developers, establishing best practices like continuous integration, code reviews, and a component-driven design system.
Improved cross-team communication by leading weekly meetings and setting up a 'single source of truth' issue tracker.
Led interviews and vetted candidates through self-devised coding challenges.

Founder

Blastoff Design 2018+

Invented and co-invented a suite of cross-platform mobile/web apps built with Flutter/React, showcased by Google, and commended by King Charles.
Collaborated with NHS healthcare providers in the UK to build Help at Hand. Worked iteratively to solve problems for both doctors and patients, all while keeping sensitive health data secure — as verified by independent pen testing.
Created the first version of Number Line over a weekend — in time for a maths lesson on Monday. It's now used by over 100,000+ students globally.
Merged natural language processing with Tinder's card-swiping interface to create Grammapp.
Mentored two beginner coders from zero experience to full-time jobs in software engineering and ran coding workshops for children aged 8-11.

Front-end Software Engineer

Toptal 2018+

Joined the prestigious "top 3% of freelance talent", collaborating remotely as a full-time team member with companies big and small and in time zones from India to California.
Was promoted to a small team of React experts as part of a 2-year full-time contract with a leading data security company in silicon valley. Trusted to review code, conduct developer surveys, and encourage maintainable coding patterns.
Pulled off massive refactors reliably using codemods, making monolithic components more composable while minimising regressions.
Pushed the limits of React rendering to enable cutting-edge designs without compromising performance.

You've been a huge help and the team has had nothing but great things to say. Everyone's been very impressed with both your speed and quality of work.

Head of Web Development

Think Digitally 2015-18

Built and maintained websites for 30+ small businesses, as well as larger clients including CBRE and Ogilvy.

Web Developer

Freelance 2012-15

Pioneered the use of emerging technologies like React and JavaScript physics engines to delight clients from Towergate Insurance to Typhoo Tea.

Education

BSc Computer Science with Philosophy

Durham University 2018

Built a dissertation project on natural language processing which applied UX principles, efficient algorithms for drawing trees, and the 1933 London Underground map.
Elected as Head Representative to run exceptionally well-received open days for prospective students. Organized the entire 5-day event including: interviewing and managing a team of 20, planning fun activities, welcoming guests front of house, and maintaining morale among volunteers working 18-hour days.