Hello, I'm
Douglas McKechie
Lead Software Engineer & Dev Team Leader 
Hello, I'm
Lead Software Engineer & Dev Team LeaderAbout
Hello world :)
I'm a Lead Software Engineer and Dev Team Leader within the IT industry. I have over 20 years experience using web, database, and mobile technologies to deliver solutions for a variety of clients.
I have worked for companies both large and small with my most recent role in dynamic company who operated in the electricity and internet sales industries.
My hobbies and interests include computer gaming, Lego, model making, electronics, photography, chess, music, playing the bass guitar, modular synthesis, stamps and coins, plus many more.
For many years I have lived and worked in the Wellington region of New Zealand.
I am currently looking for a new role as a senior developer, lead developer, or dev team lead. Preferably in Wellington New Zealand, or remotely for NZ or AU companies. I am available to begin immediately in 2026.
Thank you for visiting.
Skills
Software Development skills
Client-facing developer with strong CMS, CRM and web application development skills. Focused on back-end PHP, database, and API development, though I have recent Vue.js experience.
PHP development
17+ years
HTML
20+ years
Database development
20+ years
JavaScript, jQuery, Vue.js
Many, many years
Team Leadership
6+ years
Mobile Development
2 years
Specialities
- Coding the functionality and business logic of websites / web applications
- CMS development, with SilverStripe and Wordpress in particular. Interested in Laravel.
- Object Orientated PHP programming
- Relational Database design and development
- RESTful API design and development
- JavaScript, jQuery, Vue.js, HTML canvas
Experience
Over 20 Years Experience!
Hardworking, logical-thinking, and creative Software Engineer with over 20 years of experience delivering web, database, and API solutions. Skilled at solving problems and leading teams to deliver projects successfully, with strong communication skills honed through Toastmasters.
Experienced in building and maintaining both new and legacy in-house web applications, as well as client-facing websites. Originally full-stack, now primarily back-end focused.
Over the past 6½ years as Lead Developer and Dev Team Leader, I have led a team of four, both on-site and remotely, to deliver high-visibility projects that increased customer sales and improved internal staff tools.
Scroll down for an overview of my work history.
Monster Group
Lead Software Engineer
Apr 2019 - Nov 2025
In this role I was both Lead Software Engineer and Development Team Leader. As such I did a mixture of tasks including PHP and Database development, setting of team standards, peer reviews, mentoring, project planning, system design, recruitment, PDPs, and working very closely with other team leads, senior management, and external partners.
Chrometoaster
Senior Developer
Jun 2018 - Apr 2019
Backend SilverStripe 3 and 4 developer for an award winning design agency. I worked very closely with clients, our designers, frontend developers and project managers. Most of my time here was working on the Smart Investor & Vaping Facts websites.
Catalyst IT
SilverStripe Developer
Dec 2015 - Jun 2018
Primarily a backend developer creating websites for various clients in SilverStripe 3.x using the Common Web Platform (CWP) and Catalyst Cloud, for example the Taranaki Regional Council website. I did quite a bit of JavaScript and jQuery, HTML, CSS, and API integrations. I worked very closely with colleagues and clients, including going on a number of site visits which I enjoyed.
Trade Me
Developer
Oct 2014 - Nov 2015
Trade Me purchased the previous company I worked for. Most of my time here was working on some large web-app projects for the public sector involving microservices, REST, OAuth2, MVC, reporting, and complex data migrations. More cross-platform mobile app development using Xamarin for a well known NZ brand.
Senior Developer
Face Ltd
Feb 2012 - Oct 2014
Completed a native smartphone application for a well known NZ brand and loyalty scheme using Xamarin studio and C#. I built a large project from scratch using the Codeigniter MVC framework including all the database design and development, PHP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript programming, and a significant data migration.
P.E.I.
IT Developer
May 2010 - Jan 2012
For the Practical Education Institute in Taranaki, I mainly created web applications using PHP, MySQL, HTML, CSS, JavaScript. I did some web-app-for-mobile development using jQueryMobile and started getting into HTML5 and CSS3 doing some interesting things with canvas.
Contact Energy
Business Intelligence
Aug 2007 - Jun 2009
In this role I used Oracle Warehouse Builder to extract, transform and load (ETL) data from various source systems into the data warehouse and then on to the end user layer. Also did a lot of reporting using BI Publisher and web app development using Oracle APEX.
NZ Racing Board
Software Developer
May 2004 - Jul 2007
Development and maintenance of a large corporate web-app intranet using Perl, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript running on Oracle databases. Experience with after-hours oncall support.
Education
Constantly learning
As well as my formal qualifications, I have kept learning all these years about many aspects of web development and IT either by attending formal training, or by reading tutorials and completing online courses mostly via Udemy, and some years back with Tuts+.
After completing a number of leadership focused courses in the last few years, my current learning goals are more technical focused. Currently I have Vue.js and Laravel development Udemy courses purchased and ready to go.
I also believe that communication and interpersonal skills are important so I have been a Toastmaster for more than 5 years. I have served on the committee as VP of Public Relations, VP of Membership, VP Education and Club President.
Formal Qualifications
I completed 2 diplomas making for a total of 4 years of study. After completing high school I knew I wanted to work with computers but was not sure in what areas, so the first course I did covered a broad spectrum of topics with the second being focused specifically on software development.
Wellington Institute of Technology
Diploma in Software Engineering
2002 - 2003
This course was web, database, programming and electronics focused. I created a tile map game engine and game for my second year project. I was the top student (or there abouts) and appeared in the prospectus for the following year.
Waiariki Institute of Technologyy
Diploma in Business Computing
2000 - 2001
A broad IT course with a taste of everything in the first year. In my second year I focused on web development, multimedia, programming, and databases. I graduated with distinction.
Contact
Let's Keep In Touch
I am currently looking for a new role. If you would like to get in touch then please do so via one of the following channels. LinkedIn is my preferred method of contact.
Douglas McKechie
PO Box 25613
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
PO Box 25613
Wellington 6140
New Zealand