Javascript Engineer & Software Architect

Barry Hood
Hi, I'm Barry Hood,

Creating reliable Node.js backends, for low-friction platforms.

Backend Frontend Deployment
Barry Hood

Work Timeline

2022 - 2025 LifeMD
Frontend Engineer
Tools

Vue, Storybook, GH Actions

A direct-to-patient telehealth platform providing virtual medical consultations, prescription services and diagnostic testing.

Responsibilities:

  • Owned development of new applications.
  • Upgraded legacy software to modern practices and tooling.

Key Work:

  • Segmentation Portal - GUI for database queries and creating reports.
  • Implemented PWA offline support for Apple App store acceptance.
  • Revived the abandoned E2E test suite in Playwright.
  • Migrated legacy jQuery flows to Vue.js.
  • Built a centralized question bank system, reducing quiz creation time and duplicated updates.
2020 - 2022 Cleared
Lead Backend Engineer / Full Stack
Tools

Node.js, Vue, GH Actions, Sentry

Cleared is an online allergy clinic, providing personalized treatment and physician consultations after completing a dynamic online quiz.

Responsibilities:

  • Lead backend architecture and feature development as the sole backend engineer within a fast-moving 3-4 person dev team, from initial build through to its acquisition.
  • Collaborated on the frontend, wiring up data and creating new user flows.
  • A time period of continuous adaptation and creativity.

Developed:

Accomplishments:

  • Implemented idempotent case processing for critical workflows, ensuring failure was always recoverable.
  • Built a custom cron job system to emulate webhook behaviour, preventing data loss from missed events.
  • Identified failure points using Sentry, improving reliability.
  • Extensive error tracking via Sentry context capturing and logging.
  • Designed using Clean Architecture principles, isolating business logic for long-term maintainability.
2018 - 2019 Rachio
Full Stack Engineer
Tools

Maply, Node, React, Redux, Postgresql

Rachio is a smart home technology company known for it’s WiFi enabled smart sprinkler controllers designed to optimize water usage.

Responsibilities:

  • End-to-end ownership over the architecture and development of production applications, as the sole engineer.
  • Create applications for the purpose of increasing outreach, customer satisfaction, and sharing program statistics with stakeholders.

Developed:

  • Rachio Pro - Eliminated almost all support requests from consumers wanting to find a local Rachio Pro.
  • Rachio Go - Achieved a 21% conversion rate for all website traffic and a 41% conversion rate for eligible home owners.
  • Rachio Portal - B2B portal for admins to manage programs, and for stakeholders to view metrics.
  • Optimized the data store and reduced the number of API requests by normalizing data.
2017 - 2020 Freelance
Full Stack Engineer
Tools

Node.js, Express.js, Keystone.js, Postgresql, Nuxt, Next.js, Vue, React, Harp, SCSS

Delivered 10+ web applications for clients across Australia & New Zealand.

Built and maintained backend systems in Node.js, collaborating on frontend React.js and Vue.js development. Worked alongside Patternworks to create a mixture of dynamic applications, and blazing fast statically generated branding sites.

Check out my designer Callum Flack.

Sometimes I write

From Queue to Call Stack: Understanding the Node.js Event Loop
Javascript
Node.js
Event Loop
Fundamentals