Ahmad Farzan
Solutions Architect · Adobe Certified Master, Adobe Commerce Architect · Adobe Subject Matter Expert
Leeds, United Kingdom · linkedin.com/in/ahmadfarzan · farzanahmad.com
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
Oct 2021 - Present
Solutions Architect, Youwe (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.
Jun 2022 - Present
Founder, Evaluat (Leeds, United Kingdom)
- 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.
Dec 2020 - Oct 2021
Lead Architect, Youwe (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.
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.
Nov 2017 - Dec 2019
Lead Backend Developer, Al Tayer Group (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.
Jan 2016 - Oct 2017
Lead Backend Developer, Sun & Sand Sports (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.
Nov 2012 - Jan 2016
Lead Backend Developer, Xs4Arabia Linux Services (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
2008 - 2012
Bachelor's degree, Computer Science, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore campus
Certifications
Jul 2022
Adobe Subject Matter Expert — Adobe Commerce Architect Master, Adobe
Recognised for contributing to the design, development and review of the Adobe Commerce Architect Master exam.
Aug 2021
Adobe Certified Master — Adobe Commerce Architect, Adobe
The highest Adobe Commerce credential, for designing and implementing Adobe Commerce solutions at architect level.
Completed
GTM Training, Google
Google Tag Manager for tracking and analytics on web applications.
Volunteering
Jun 2023 - Present
Adobe DX Credential Program Advisor, Adobe
Advising on Adobe’s credentialing programmes, the certification process and its standards.
Jul 2022 - Present
Adobe Subject Matter Expert — Adobe Commerce Architect Master, Adobe
Contributing expert knowledge to Adobe Commerce architecture standards and the Architect Master exam.
Jan 2021 - Present
Volunteer Mentor, ADPList
93 sessions and 5,310 minutes of mentoring on back-end engineering, e-commerce and the tech industry.
Jan 2024 - Jun 2024
Computing Mentor, University of Roehampton
Guided computing students towards academic and professional goals.
Publications
June 2024
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
Xiao Zheng, Muhammad Tahir, Khursheed Aurangzeb, Muhammad Shahid Anwar, Muhammad Aamir, Ahmad Farzan, Rizwan Ullah
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13677-024-00680-2
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
Spoken languages English, Urdu