06/18/2026 updated

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AI-Native Full-Stack Engineer | TypeScript & Node.js | LLM Systems | FinTech & Distributed Systems

Birmingham, United Kingdom
Only remote
BSc Computer Science, University of Worcester, UK
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Only remote
BSc Computer Science, University of Worcester, UK

Profile attachments

Luke_Taaffe_Resume.docx

About me

AI-native Full-Stack Engineer with 11+ years of experience building scalable backend systems, LLM applications, and real-time data platforms. Ex-Tech Lead at Bitvavo with expertise in TypeScript, Node.js, Python, Go, GenAI, RAG, LangChain, Kafka, Kubernetes, and cloud-native architecture.

RustRAGOpenAIAzure DevOpsLangChainJavaScriptLAMP StackGitHubPython (Programming Language)PostgreSQLMongoDBNode.jsNext.jsTypeScriptReact.jsAWS AppSyncGitKotlinKubernetesFull Stack DevelopmentApache KafkaGraphQLNestJSFintechTerraformArtificial Intelligence Markup Language (AIML)Golang
Generative AI & LLM Engineering
Expertise in building LLM-powered applications using LangChain, LangGraph, RAG pipelines, vector databases, OpenAI, Claude, CrewAI, MCP, LangSmith, N8N, and prompt engineering with AI Evals. Delivery of agentic workflows and multi-agent systems for FinTech and enterprise clients.

Backend Development & API Engineering
Strong command of Node.js, TypeScript, Python, Go, NestJS, Express, FastAPI, Prisma, REST, GraphQL, and WebSocket for building scalable, production-grade backend services and microservices architectures.

DevOps, Cloud & Infrastructure
Hands-on experience with Kubernetes, EKS, AWS, GCP, Docker, Terraform, Helm, ArgoCD, Prometheus, Sentry, and CI/CD pipelines. Deployment of containerised, observable, and secure production services across cloud environments.

FinTech & Crypto Systems
Deep domain knowledge in exchange infrastructure, DeFi integration, real-time trading infrastructure, event pipelines, and automated trading systems at regulated scale.

Data & Streaming
Proficiency in Kafka ETL, Google BigQuery, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MySQL, and ELK Stack for building real-time data pipelines and BI reporting layers across distributed microservices.

Frontend Development
Delivery of frontend solutions using React, Next.js, Vue.js, and TypeScript UI, supporting full-stack product development in SaaS and enterprise environments.

Microservices & System Architecture
Design and implementation of microservices, event-driven systems, platform engineering, system design, and observability patterns with Agile delivery practices.

Technical Leadership & Agile Delivery
Experience leading engineering teams, establishing coding standards, mentoring engineers, and driving Agile delivery through sprint velocity improvements and cross-team collaboration.

Experience

Professional experience10+ years
Freelancer since2015

Languages

EnglishNative speaker

Project history

Founder & Principal AI/Full-Stack Contractor

Karmic
Delivers AI-powered full-stack systems for FinTech, DeFi, and enterprise clients via B2B contracting. Engineered full-stack AI solutions for Reya DEX using LLMs, LangChain, and prompt engineering on Node.js and TypeScript backends. Contracted for ZiffDavis (NYSE), delivering production backend services and LLM-integrated workflows. Designed agentic systems using OpenAI API, LangChain, N8N, Supabase, and Cursor. Deployed containerised services with Kubernetes, Terraform, and CI/CD. Integrated RAG pipelines and vector retrieval patterns into backend services.

Project

Project: AI Agent (FinTech)
Built a multi-agent FinTech trading analysis system using a LangGraph state machine, tool-use patterns, and LangSmith observability. Applied structured agent orchestration and evaluation workflows suited to automated analysis and decision-support use cases.

Project

Project: Kafka / BigQuery ETL Pipeline
Engineered a Kafka to BigQuery ETL pipeline feeding a BI reporting layer for real-time trading and platform data across distributed microservices. Implemented validation and monitoring patterns that improved confidence in downstream analytics consumption.

Project

Project: Signalier
Developed an automated trading signal bot in Node.js, TypeScript, and WebSocket with real-time data ingestion and alerting. Applied event-driven processing patterns suited to time-sensitive market-style signal delivery and operational review.

Project

Project: Wallet Watch
Built a real-time blockchain wallet scanner sending configurable wallet alerts from high-volume on-chain event streams. Structured ingestion and notification paths with validation rules and monitoring for dependable downstream consumption.

Project

Project: Prop Trading Automation
Operated funded trader strategies across TopStep, FundedNext, and APEX with live automated execution and verification workflows. Applied disciplined lifecycle handling and monitoring suited to controlled rollout of trading-adjacent automation.

Technical Lead, Growth Engineering

Bitvavo
Led the full Growth engineering domain at the Netherlands largest crypto exchange, a Deloitte Fast 50 winner. Architected a real-time notification campaign system delivering 5 million messages at 100% delivery rate, generating 7-figure annual revenue. Scaled the team from 0 to 13 engineers. Led codebase transformation releasing 7+ TypeScript and Node.js microservices and migrating from AWS Lambda to Kubernetes. Deployed Bitvavo's first 3 production microservices on Kubernetes with OPA authentication and a full monitoring stack using Prometheus and ELK. Built event-driven integrations with Kafka and PostgreSQL.

Senior Software Engineer

Passionate People / Jumbo
Built multiple GraphQL API microservices for behaviour-driven recipe categories in TypeScript and NestJS on Kubernetes with Grafana and ELK on AWS. Designed and delivered a back-office automation application eliminating five customer service roles. Developed an in-house Kafka microservice in Node.js, introducing distributed system architecture and Kubernetes practices to the engineering department.

Senior Software Engineer

Urban Sports Club
Built a scalable event scheduling system using REST and GraphQL APIs with Node.js, NestJS, and PHP backed by full observability via Grafana and Sentry. Delivered full stack product features supporting subscription workflows in a scaling European SaaS environment. Collaborated with cross-functional Agile teams on backend integration, testing discipline, and incremental platform improvements.

Full-Stack Engineer

McCann
Delivered high-profile digital projects for Bentley, Vauxhall, Opel, and Sunseeker Yachts at a global creative agency operating across 80+ countries. Built client-facing applications with Node.js, TypeScript, React.js, Vue.js, and Laravel.

Full-Stack Engineer

DRPG
Delivered production web applications for 8+ EU and global clients using Node.js, React.js, and PHP across contract-style Agile engagements. Supported full product delivery from requirements through deployment with version control discipline and iterative quality improvements.

Co-Founder

Greenbet
Co-founded and built a horse-racing data and betting platform with PHP and React.js from concept through launch including UI and UX design. Owned end-to-end product delivery covering backend logic, frontend experience, and early platform architecture.

Certificates

LangChain-Agentic AI Engineering

Udemy

2026

Prompt Engineering for LLMs

Udemy

2025

Leadership & Innovation

MIT

2023

Advanced TypeScript Masterclass

Educative

2022

Grokking Modern System Design

Educative

2022

BSc Computer Science

University of Worcester

2015

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