Matthew Shaw

Principal Software Developer

HM Land Registry

Feb 2023 to present

Plymouth, UK

I am responsible for setting development standards, documenting best practices, providing guidance, mentoring, line management and technical leadership for over 120 developers. I represent and advocate on behalf of the software development community of practice, including promoting greater cross-practice collaboration, capability building, resource planning and recruitment activities. I engage with the community to define and clarify all roles and responsibilities, and turn ideas into practice.

Lead Software Engineer

HM Land Registry

Jan 2020 to Jan 2023

Plymouth, UK

Technical oversight and coaching on three large projects, including line management and mentoring of senior software engineers. Assessing and ensuring that appropriate standards and methodologies have been applied correctly. Development and maintenance of common development environments, including reference implementations and shared components for Python and Flask applications. I lead regular group learning and development sessions, to mentor and coach the community in modern software development practices, methods and techniques.

Senior Software Engineer

HM Land Registry

May 2016 to Dec 2019

Plymouth, UK

Produced software architecture designs, making use of microservice design patterns, open-source software and open standards to deliver value to users in the most time and cost-efficient way practical. Modelled software components at a conceptual, logical and physical level in UML, to aid understanding of the stack. Used logical decomposition and domain-driven design practices to break down designs for planning in complex and evolving environments. Assessed emerging technologies and created proof-of-concepts and reference implementations to make informed architecture and design decisions. Communicated technical designs to diverse stakeholders clearly and openly, highlighting the value they provide.

Founder

Mash Software

Nov 2014 to present

Remote

Side project to explore ideas for digital services, software development and web design. Projects centre around using public open data to produce digital services that enhance people's experience of interacting with the government, promote transparency and make their lives easier.

Senior Software Developer

HM Land Registry

Jun 2013 to Apr 2016

Plymouth, UK

Informed software design and decision making with practical advice and by prototyping solutions. Took a leading role in team planning and refinement of user stories in an agile delivery environment, to ensure we delivered the best value for our users, in an automated and continual way. Translated user needs into technical implementations, taking an iterative approach to deliver an MVP release early, gain feedback, research and continue to deliver the next highest value feature to the user.

Software Developer

HM Land Registry

Sep 2007 to May 2013

Plymouth, UK

Analysis, design and development following the Rational Unified Process to iteratively develop and maintain solutions to complex problems that fulfil stakeholders requirements. Including bespoke Windows desktop applications written in Delphi, geospatial data transformation and publication using FME and e-conveyancing web services for the Land Registry Portal and Business Gateway using enterprise Java and IBM WebSphere.

GOV.UK Frontend Python Packages

HM Land Registry

Jun 2020 to present

I am the owner and primary maintainer of the official GOV.UK Frontend packages for Python. Including a like-for-like port of the GOV.UK Design System components into Jinja templates, along with support for those within WTForms and a template/reference Flask app. These packages are used in major projects across six central government departments.

Mash Time Tracker

Mash Software

Apr 2019 to present

A simple, quick and easy to use time tracking service. Users can record time periods, tag them with activities and locations and track progress against a personal schedule.

Digital Street

HM Land Registry

Mar 2018 to Jul 2019

Assessed emerging blockchain and smart contract technologies by building an end-to-end property transaction prototype. Published recommendations on strategic technical direction and future opportunities.

Find Property Information

HM Land Registry

May 2016 to Mar 2018

GOV.UK service to provide simple and accessible land and property title information.

Property Alert

HM Land Registry

Aug 2013 to Mar 2014

Service to proactively alert citizens of activity on monitored land and property titles.

BSc (Hons) Computing - 2:1

University of Plymouth

Sep 2003 to June 2006

Plymouth, UK

Professional Member

BCS The Chartered Institute for IT

Sep 2007 to present

Future Sync conference

Apr 2019

Plymouth, UK

Exploring the future of property transactions using blockchain technology

Stack Maps conference

Jul 2014

London, UK

A page on GOV.UK for every property in the UK

Civil Service Award for Innovation

HM Land Registry

Nov 2014

Property Alert

Real IT Award for Innovation in Business

HM Land Registry

May 2014

Property Alert

I worked with Matt on the Land Registry digital exemplar. He is smart, enthusiastic and inquisitive, always keen to develop his skills and deliver the best solutions for his team. His knowledge and appetite for challenge made him a natural leader amongst peers in the organisation, whilst his humour and modest demeanour ensured he was well-liked throughout the group. It was a great pleasure working with Matt, and I hope to do so again in the future.

Matt is a great agile team member, thoughtful about new technology and has a sound knowledge of GIS tech.

I worked with Matt on a difficult project at the Land Registry, where we began a digital transformation of the department. He was able to very quickly pick up the new technology required, and was soon working with confidence on the project. He was an enthusiastic and skilled member of the team, keen to learn and excellent at sharing his knowledge with others. He's a great developer, and good to work with. I'd love to work with him again.

Matt is a great member to have as part of an agile, multidisciplinary digital team! We worked together on the Land Registry Alpha. Digital transformation is difficult, and we faced challenges at almost every step - cultural challenges, legal challenges, design challenges, not to mention the technical ones. Matt met these head on with an open and critical mind. Matt is the type of expert who is willing to engage and learn new things all the time. His desire to build the right things in the right way comes through day to day. I hope we get to work together again!

I worked with Matt during the GDS Land Registry digital exemplar and then again during Land Registry beta projects. Matt's an incredibly nice person to work with, a very very nice guy. Extremely smart. A great developer with real passion, enthusiasm and a real willingness to learn and step outside his comfort zone. I'd love to work with this guy again!

I worked with Matt for about a year at Land Registry, where he was a Technical Architect for the team I was on. I was continually impressed by his knowledge, insight, focus and good humour, and I really enjoyed working with him. I learnt a lot from Matt, particularly about system architecture and microservices, which isn't my core domain - but also about Python programming, which is. He's pretty handy in an escape room too!