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Ben Empson

TECHNICAL_CAPABILITY_MATRIX

This matrix maps the intersection of deep technical implementation - from cloud-native architecture, to AI orchestration with high-level strategic governance, budget optimization, and stakeholder communication. It represents a dual-track expertise in building resilient systems and leading the high-performance teams that sustain them. Skills, knowledge, behaviour and techniques developed over decades of high-level work.

SKILL_CATEGORIES: 9

TOTAL_COMPETENCIES: 54

MATRIX_STATUS: ONLINE

COVERAGE: FULL_STACK

CATEGORY::ARTIFICAL_INTELLIGENCE

AI

  • AI_WORKFLOW_ORCHESTRATION

    Directing multi-model AI workflows to automate complex creative and analytical processes.

  • AI_AGENT_GOVERNANCE

    Developing proprietary governance models to ensure the quality, speed, and safety of AI builder agents.

  • MULTI_MODAL_SYNTHESIS

    Integrating text, image, and speech synthesis into unified, multi-model production pipelines.

  • ASYNCHRONOUS_AI_PIPELINES

    Designing multi-step asynchronous generation pipelines to handle high-volume AI tasks efficiently.

  • LLM_SYSTEM_INTEGRATION

    Seamlessly incorporating advanced models like Gemini and Vertex AI into production-ready business applications.

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CATEGORY::LEADERSHIP

Leadership

  • DIRECTOR_LEVEL_GOVERNANCE

    Providing strategic oversight and governance at the Director and CTO levels for 20+ years.

  • TECHNICAL_ROADMAP_STRATEGY

    Defining technical roadmaps that align innovation with long-term business growth.

  • STAKEHOLDER_COMMUNICATION

    Facilitating clear and effective communication between technical teams and executive stakeholders.

  • AGILE_TEAM_ORCHESTRATION

    Leading multi-disciplinary teams through Agile methodologies to deliver complex projects on time.

  • TECHNICAL_OPEX_OPTIMIZATION

    Optimizing technical spend and operational expenses to maximize ROI.

  • RISK_MANAGEMENT

    Identifying and mitigating technical and operational risks to protect business continuity.

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CATEGORY::CONSULTANCY

Consultancy

  • TECHNICAL_DUE_DILIGENCE

    Assessing technical infrastructure, code quality, and system scalability for startups and SMEs.

  • BLUE_CHIP_ADVISORY

    Providing strategic technical direction for global brands including Microsoft, Sky, and Nestle.

  • OUTSOURCING_STRATEGY

    Designing and managing hybrid development models using both in-house and international outsourced teams.

  • BUSINESS_RISK_MITIGATION

    Identifying and managing technical and business risks to protect continuity and project delivery.

  • PROCESS_RE_ENGINEERING

    Streamlining operational efficiency through optimisation of business processes.

  • TECHNICAL_CONTRACT_NEGOTIATION

    Drafting and negotiating technical contracts and service level agreements for enterprise-level projects.

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CATEGORY::SECURITY

Security

  • ANTI_SPAM_ECOSYSTEMS

    Developing custom anti-spam systems and monitoring tools to protect communication integrity.

  • ENCRYPTED_COMMUNICATION

    Implementing multi-layered encryption to secure sensitive business and user data.

  • GDPR_PCI_COMPLIANCE

    Ensuring technical systems adhere to PCI DSS, GDPR, and other critical regulatory frameworks.

  • THREAT_MODELING_STRATEGY

    Systematically identifying potential security vulnerabilities to build more resilient applications.

  • ZERO_TRUST_ARCHITECTURE

    Architecting security models where trust is never assumed and verification is required at every level.

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CATEGORY::AUTOMATION

Automation

  • PROCESS_AUTOMATION

    Engineering sophisticated automation flows that eliminate manual tasks and significantly reduce human overhead.

  • AUTOMATED_BOT_ENGINEERING

    Designing automated 'email robots' to handle mission-critical data processing and staff time optimization.

  • CI_CD_PIPELINE_AUTOMATION

    Automating deployment cycles to ensure rapid, reliable, and frequent software releases with zero downtime.

  • AUTOMATED_VISUAL_TESTING

    Architecting automated visual regression testing systems to eliminate manual UI QA for digital agencies.

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CATEGORY::ARCHITECTURE

Architecture

  • SYSTEM_ARCHITECTURE

    Designing resilient, high-performance system topologies that align technical execution with long-term business objectives.

  • DOMAIN_DRIVEN_DESIGN

    Applying Domain-Driven Design (DDD) to manage complexity and ensure software models align with business domains.

  • BESPOKE_PLATFORM_DESIGN

    Developing unique, purpose-built platforms tailored to specific industry requirements and mission-critical operations.

  • SAAS_PRODUCT_ARCHITECTURE

    Architecting multi-tenant SaaS platforms with focus on scalability, security, and automated delivery pipelines.

  • TDD_TESTING_PROTOCOLS

    Utilizing Test-Driven Development and modern testing protocols like Vitest to ensure high-fidelity and bug-resistant codebases.

  • SCHEMA_VALIDATION_STRATEGY

    Implementing rigorous runtime schema validation to prevent data corruption and improve system stability.

  • DISTRIBUTED_SYSTEM_DESIGN

    Orchestrating background tasks across distributed systems to optimize resource usage and responsiveness.

  • LEGACY_MODERNIZATION

    Systematically modernizing aging infrastructure while maintaining business continuity and improving performance.

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CATEGORY::BACKEND

Backend

  • FASTAPI_ASYNC_DEVELOPMENT

    Building high-performance, asynchronous APIs in Python designed for modern, high-concurrency environments.

  • ENTERPRISE_DOT_NET_C_SHARP

    Drawing on over two decades of experience to build robust, type-safe enterprise services on the .NET framework.

  • HIGH_TRAFFIC_SQL_OPTIMIZATION

    Fine-tuning high-traffic database environments to ensure maximum throughput and stability for mission-critical data.

  • RECURSIVE_DATA_AUDITING

    Implementing automated, recursive data auditing to maintain 100% integrity across millions of rows of data.

  • DISTRIBUTED_JOB_QUEUES

    Leveraging Redis-based job processing to handle heavy asynchronous workloads with high reliability.

  • DYNAMICS_365_BACKBONE

    Expert customization of Microsoft Dynamics 365 to serve as a high-capacity business backbone.

  • MODERN_BAAS_INTEGRATION

    Utilizing modern Backend-as-a-Service platforms to accelerate development and scaling.

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CATEGORY::FRONTEND

Frontend

  • NEXT_JS_16_APP_ROUTING

    Leveraging Next.js 16 and modern App Router patterns for high-performance, SEO-optimized web apps.

  • TYPESCRIPT_REFACTORING

    Leading the refactoring of legacy JavaScript into highly-tested, type-safe TypeScript codebases.

  • VIBE_ENGINEERED_UI

    Executing rapid frontend development that balances technical precision with high-velocity iteration.

  • REACT_STATE_MANAGEMENT

    Implementing efficient client-side state management for complex, interactive user interfaces.

  • WIZARD_PATTERN_WORKFLOWS

    Designing multi-stage user workflows that simplify complex processes into intuitive, atomic steps.

  • UTILITY_FIRST_STYLING

    Utilizing utility-first CSS to build responsive, modern interfaces with consistent design systems.

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CATEGORY::INFRASTRUCTURE

Infrastructure & Ops

  • SERVER_ADMINISTRATION

    Comprehensive administration of diverse server environments across Linux and Windows platforms.

  • INFRASTRUCTURE_HARDENING

    Applying rigorous security protocols to protect server infrastructure from evolving threats.

  • LINUX_SECURITY

    Orchestrating security layers within Linux environments to ensure enterprise-grade data protection.

  • WINDOWS_SERVER_ENTERPRISE

    Managing enterprise Windows Server deployments to support mission-critical business applications.

  • VIRTUALIZATION_STACKS

    Implementing virtualization technologies to optimize hardware utilization and system flexibility.

  • BARE_METAL_PROVISIONING

    Provisioning and managing physical server hardware for high-performance computing needs.

  • HIGH_AVAILABILITY_SLA

    Engineering systems for high availability to meet and exceed demanding Service Level Agreements.