Ahmad Farzan

Solutions architect with more than thirteen years in web and e-commerce engineering, specialising in Adobe Commerce. At Youwe I lead the design and delivery of complex Adobe Commerce systems and manage the backend team. Before that I was Senior Technical Architect at McGraw Hill and lead backend developer for the Gulf’s largest luxury and sports retailers. In 2022 I founded Evaluat, a real-browser performance testing company. Adobe Certified Master and Adobe Subject Matter Expert who helped design the Adobe Commerce Architect Master exam; adviser to Adobe’s DX credential programme; mentor on ADPList (93 sessions) and at the University of Roehampton; co-author of a paper in the Journal of Cloud Computing.

1. Oct 2021 — Present · Leeds, United Kingdom

   Solutions Architect · Youwe

   • Lead a team of senior backend developers; interview and screen the technical team; run 1-to-1s that turn career goals into plans.
   • Sparring partner for management and customers on complex, field-specific problems; built long-term customer relationships.
   • Identify issues and define strategy where a policy decision is needed; contribute proposals for structural solutions.
   • Combine techniques and methods from different domains into new approaches; keep an insight into external developments as the team’s expert in the field.

2. Jun 2022 — Present · Leeds, United Kingdom

   Founder · Evaluat

   • Founded Evaluat in June 2022. It is a real-browser performance testing platform with one isolated browser per virtual user, Core Web Vitals and Navigation Timing under load, and session video, network and console logs.

3. Dec 2020 — Oct 2021 · Rotterdam, Netherlands

   Lead Architect · Youwe

   • Led the software architecture team designing and delivering complex e-commerce solutions.
   • Integrated ERP and other systems to keep platforms scalable and robust.
   • Provided technical guidance and strategic direction to the development team.

4. Dec 2019 — Dec 2020

   Senior Technical Architect · McGraw Hill

   • Led Adobe Commerce development, improving performance, scalability and user experience.
   • Mentored a team of developers, fostering a culture of continuous learning.
   • Collaborated with stakeholders to define technical requirements and deliver on time and within budget.
   • Implemented a microservices architecture to improve flexibility and maintenance; optimised development processes and ran technical brainstorming sessions.

5. Nov 2017 — Dec 2019 · Dubai, United Arab Emirates

   Lead Backend Developer · Al Tayer Group

   • Created and managed the e-commerce platforms behind OUNASS, Nisnass, Mamas & Papas (five markets) and GAP UAE on Magento Commerce.
   • Implemented a microservices architecture around the platform; optimised development processes.
   • Mentored backend developers and took part in hiring.

6. Jan 2016 — Oct 2017 · Dubai, United Arab Emirates

   Lead Backend Developer · Sun & Sand Sports

   • Built the e-commerce platform from planning to launch, covering architecture, site structure, navigation and page optimisation.
   • Prototyped, developed and deployed touch-screen digital buying guides (kiosks) in stores across the GCC.
   • Brainstormed technical and workflow solutions with developers; optimised development processes.

7. Nov 2012 — Jan 2016 · Bahrain

   Lead Backend Developer · Xs4Arabia Linux Services

   • Led and mentored a team of five backend developers.
   • Created and managed websites and web applications from planning through architecture, interface design, site structure and page optimisation.
   • Interviewed, screened and hired the technical team.

Platforms

Adobe Commerce (Cloud and on-premise) · Magento 2 Open Source · Magento 1 · Headless and composable commerce

Architecture

Solutions architecture · Microservices · API design and integration · ERP integration (SAP, Sage, custom) · PIM and OMS integration · Caching strategy · Capacity and performance under load

Languages

PHP · JavaScript / TypeScript · Python · Bash · SQL

Data and infrastructure

MySQL / Amazon RDS · Redis · OpenSearch / Elasticsearch · RabbitMQ · AWS · Docker · Nginx · Git and Composer

Payments

Adyen · Stripe · Cybersource · PayPal · Paddle · 2Checkout · Benefit (Bahrain) · Credimax

Front end and frameworks

React · Vue · Laravel · CodeIgniter · CakePHP · jQuery · Bootstrap

Testing and performance

Real-browser load testing · Core Web Vitals · Playwright · Test automation design patterns

Leadership

Team building and hiring · Coaching and 1-to-1s · Stakeholder management · Strategic planning and execution · Process improvement · Pre-sales and proposals

Spoken languages

English · Urdu