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CV · Solutions Architect · 13+ years in web and commerce engineering · 2012 — today

Ahmad Farzan

Solutions architect. Leeds, United Kingdom.

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Ahmad Farzan

Solutions Architect · Adobe Certified Master, Adobe Commerce Architect · Adobe Subject Matter Expert

Leeds, United Kingdom · farzanahmad.com · linkedin.com/in/ahmadfarzan

Profile

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.

Experience

Founder, Evaluat

Jun 2022 — Present · Leeds, United Kingdom

  • Founded Evaluat in June 2022 and own the product and its architecture. 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.
  • Own the product and its architecture. Shipped Evaluat Pulse (a free real-browser speed test), an MCP server and OpenAPI surface for AI agents, and plain-language executive summaries for the people who own revenue.
  • Author of the Evaluat blog (30+ articles on performance testing); Hyvä technology partner.

Solutions Architect, Youwe

Oct 2021 — Present · Leeds, United Kingdom

  • 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.

Lead Architect, Youwe

Dec 2020 — Oct 2021 · Rotterdam, Netherlands

  • 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.

Senior Technical Architect, McGraw Hill

Dec 2019 — Dec 2020

  • 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.

Lead Backend Developer, Al Tayer Group

Nov 2017 — Dec 2019 · Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  • 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.

Lead Backend Developer, Sun & Sand Sports

Jan 2016 — Oct 2017 · Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  • 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.

Lead Backend Developer, Xs4Arabia Linux Services

Nov 2012 — Jan 2016 · Bahrain

  • 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.

Education

Bachelor's degree, Computer Science

COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore campus · 2008 — 2012

Certifications

GTM Training

Google · Completed

Google Tag Manager for tracking and analytics on web applications.

Volunteering and programmes

Adobe DX Credential Program Advisor

Adobe · Jun 2023 — Present

Advising on Adobe’s credentialing programmes, the certification process and its standards.

Adobe Subject Matter Expert — Adobe Commerce Architect Master

Adobe · Jul 2022 — Present

Contributing expert knowledge to Adobe Commerce architecture standards and the Architect Master exam.

Volunteer Mentor

ADPList · Jan 2021 — Present

93 sessions and 5,310 minutes of mentoring on back-end engineering, e-commerce and the tech industry.

Computing Mentor

University of Roehampton · Jan 2024 — Jun 2024

Guided computing students towards academic and professional goals.

Publications

Non-orthogonal multiple access-based MEC for energy-efficient task offloading in e-commerce systems

Journal of Cloud Computing (Springer Nature), vol. 13, article 117 · June 2024 · DOI 10.1186/s13677-024-00680-2

Xiao Zheng, Muhammad Tahir, Khursheed Aurangzeb, Muhammad Shahid Anwar, Muhammad Aamir, Ahmad Farzan, Rizwan Ullah

Co-authored. Proposes GSM-RUA, a group-switching matching algorithm based on resource-unit allocation, using Lyapunov optimisation to allocate radio and compute resources for energy-efficient task offloading at the mobile edge in e-commerce systems.

Skills

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

Languages

English · Urdu

Engagement Archive

Every engagement and project, 2009 to today
Year Engagement Sector Scale Stack Outcome
2022 — Evaluat (founder) Performance testing SaaS Real browsers, one per virtual user; UK and EU regions Chromium · Firefox · WebKit · MCP · OpenAPI Product, architecture and company; Evaluat Pulse and an MCP server shipped 2026
2021 — Youwe, Leeds — Solutions Architect Retail and B2B manufacturing, UK Several Adobe Commerce estates; clients under agreement Adobe Commerce · SAP · PIM · AWS Architecture, proposals and a backend team led and mentored
2020 – 2021 Youwe, Rotterdam — Lead Architect Retail and B2B, Netherlands Architecture team across client platforms Adobe Commerce · ERP integration Led the software architecture team; integrated ERP and other systems
2019 – 2020 McGraw Hill — Senior Technical Architect Education publishing Direct storefront, several regions Adobe Commerce · microservices · AWS Led Adobe Commerce development, performance, scalability and services
2017 – 2019 Al Tayer Insignia — OUNASS, Nisnass, Mamas & Papas, GAP UAE Luxury and fashion retail, Gulf 5 markets · 8 storefronts · Arabic and English Magento Commerce · microservices · AWS Backend lead; services around the monolith; backend team mentored
2016 – 2017 Sun & Sand Sports — sssports.com Sports retail, Gulf Group of 500+ stores; launch build Magento · PHP · MySQL Platform from planning to launch
2016 – 2017 Sun & Sand Sports — touch-screen buying guides In-store retail 4 stores in The Dubai Mall, Mirdif, Me’aisem and Taif Kiosk web app · PHP · JavaScript Prototyped, built and rolled out
2012 – 2016 Xs4Arabia Linux Services — Lead Backend Developer Web agency, Bahrain Team of 5; clients across the Gulf PHP · Laravel · Magento · Benefit and Credimax gateways Led and hired the backend team; shipped web applications and stores
2009 – 2010 The Piano Encyclopedia Online learning Piano-learning portal PHP · web Built the portal