Have just completed my relocation to Seattle, WA.

I re-joined Microsoft after my graduation to work as an engineer for Xbox Game Localization. My role is split up between development, automation and localization engineering.Software Development: • Support team/vendors with tools and scripts • Investigate/spec long-term solutions • Drive development initiatives amongst team • Problem solve with fresh/new perspective • Introduce automated solutions to current processes • Champion dev best practices such as design patterns, agile, scrum etc. • Web Server deployment/managementExamples: • Automated Xbox build deployment system • Xbox speech recognition tools • Platform for subsidiary reviews of syndicated content • Automated gathering of localization word statistics • Web content deployment system • Various localization efficiency tools (machine translations, spell checking and duplicate handling) • Saved a game $6-figures by creating some automated scripts to fix severe last minute issues with voice over scripts before they were due to go for recording in 8 languages.Technologies:C#, WPF, WinForms, SQL, Entity Framework, Windows Services, Batch Scripts, PowerShell, Windows Workflow, .NET v4.5, C++, XAML, Silverlight, XML, Office COM, HTML, APSX, JavaScript, JSON, Visual Studio, Perforce, SubVersion, TFS.Xbox Game Localization • Upstream engagement with developers • Localization best practices and advice • Developing scripts and tools to parse source files • Process improvements (internally and on vendor side) • Enabling of scale and complexity • Voice over script recording • Software Quality • Work with project managers, test team and vendors.Lead engineer on: Forza Horizon, Flight, Forza 4, Fruit Ninja Kinect, Crimson AllianceContributed to: Gears of War 3, Dance Central 3, Kinect Fun LabsOther Localization:Projects ranging from desktop applications and websites to syndication and CSS content. Work closely with localization vendor companies, supporting languages in the EMEA region.

After my internship was finished at Microsoft, I went back to university to complete my final year. During this year I continued as a freelance developer working for Microsoft from home alongside my studies.Bing Instant Answers: • Designed and developed an application to facilitate our vendors with creating complex grammar files for the Bing Instant Answers feature in international markets. • What would have been a complicated task to be performed by an engineer with advanced knowledge in grammar structures and XML could be performed via the UI by a translator. • Substantial cost savings for 3rd party spend. • Enabled delivery of a better end product for international users.Technologies:C#, WinForms, WPF, WCF, Web APIs, ASPX, HTML, JavaScript, Unit tests.Other Responsibilities:Identifying areas that could be improved, problem solving, writing specifications, developing and testing applications. Also streamlining processes, providing technical assistance to the team, training up and mentoring replacement intern.

As an intern at Microsoft, I worked for the Bing International team and was largely responsible for tools development.The tools I was in charge of developing were required for easy analysis of millions of search queries and included: • Multi-threading • Data caching • Web APIs • SQL Back-end • WPF front-end • Advanced search/filtering logicSome these tools were used directly by our localization vendors, helping us to save on costs and increase productivity.Other responsibilities included: • Project Management, owning the localization of features of search for international markets. • Vendor Management, working directly with vendors to get content localized. • Introducing automation to enable scale and reduce costs. • Charity Committee member.

As a supervisor I dealt directly with the store manager and assistant managers and during a normal shift I was in charge of a total of 6 customer advisors. It was my job to ensure the smooth running of the store and stock replenishment during each shift.