AI-native software architect with 14+ years of experience designing, building and evolving scalable, user-centred web applications. Creator and architect of the Adapt Authoring Tool (AAT), the course authoring platform used by Mindtools Kineo's delivery teams across APAC, LATAM and EMEA, and by its clients.

I specialise in translating complex product and business requirements into clear, robust architectures, balancing technical excellence with pragmatism. I lead hands-on or at a strategic level, working with product, design, customer success and clients from user research through to release and support.

I value strong, respectful working relationships, and believe the best outcomes come from empowered teams, clear communication and a shared sense of ownership.

I work AI-first. My development runs through fully agentic workflows: AI agents build from standards and architecture I have documented, every change is checked by automated tests, linting and visual testing, and I set the direction, specify the work and review everything that ships. In 2026 this let me rebuild a complete product UI with no hand-written code, introduce 6,000+ automated tests where there were none, and more than triple my average annual output before AI.

AI: Claude Code, Claude Design, agentic development workflows, AI-driven design systems, LLM-powered product features.

Programming languages: JavaScript (ES6+), Node.js, Python, React (MUI), HTML, CSS/LESS.

Tools: MongoDB, Git, Docker, AWS, Linux, Vite, Playwright, CI/CD (GitHub Actions).

Misc: Software architecture, product ownership, user research, testing infrastructure, technical leadership.

Mindtools Kineo

• [Jun 2019 - Present] Open-source Senior Technical Architect
• [Oct 2014 - Jun 2019] Open-source Learning Technologies Developer
• [Jul 2013 - Oct 2014] Technical Consultant
• [Jun 2012 - Jul 2013] Junior Technical Consultant
• [Jul 2010 - Aug 2011] Placement Student

Creator, architect and product owner of the Adapt authoring tool (AAT), a Node.js/React course authoring platform. AAT began as the open-source Adapt project's authoring tool; I rewrote it from the ground up, and in 2026 it became a Mindtools Kineo product. I lead its architecture, roadmap and delivery, and work directly with delivery teams, customer success and clients.

# Responsibilities

• Owning the AAT roadmap and backlog, informed by user research (interviews and questionnaires) with authoring teams across three regions.
• Architecture, development, code review, releases and security maintenance across AAT's 46 modules.
• Designing the AI-first development workflow: agent standards, guardrails, and 170,000 words of documentation used by AI agents and developers alike.
• Scoping and delivering client platform migrations with customer success managers, including client meetings and product demos.
• Training and supporting authoring teams, and working with DevOps to run the platform's test and development environments.
• Previously: technical leadership of the open-source Adapt authoring community, including mentoring contributors, chairing project meetings and presenting at community events.

# Key achievements

• Re-architected and rewrote AAT from the ground up (client and server), authoring around 97% of its code across 9,000+ commits since 2018.
• Rebuilt the entire AAT user interface AI-first: designed a full design system in Claude Design, with every line of the new UI produced by AI agents under my direction and review.
• Introduced automated testing from zero to 6,000+ unit, integration and Playwright end-to-end tests, run on every change.
• Delivered new product capabilities including in-tool client review, AI-powered course translation (replacing third-party translation vendors) and AI-assisted theming for art directors.
• Built an AI-led migration toolkit moving 18 client sites and around 2,000 courses onto the current platform with automated verification and visual QA, and made the process self-service, removing a DevOps bottleneck.
• Formalised Adapt's development workflow (based on elements of Agile and git flow), with documented rules enforced by CI tools where appropriate.

I'm motivated by building products that people rely on every day while keeping a direct, ongoing relationship with their users. My roots in the open-source Adapt community shaped how I work: openly, with strong documentation, and with real-world value beyond purely commercial outcomes.

Prior to my open-source leadership roles, I held end-to-end technical responsibility for multiple client projects, covering requirements analysis, solution architecture, development and production support. These roles required delivery under tight deadlines and rapidly changing requirements, developing a calm, adaptable approach to problem-solving in high-pressure environments.

Bachelor of Science (Hons) University of Brighton, 2008–2012

Computer Science (Games), first class.

Dissertation focused on applying machine learning techniques within a game environment, including an iOS prototype developed using Objective-C and Cocos2D. Source at github/taylortom/cogito.

A-levels and GCSEs Wreake Valley Community College, 2005–2008

A-levels: Graphics (A), English Literature (B), Biology (C).
GCSEs: 13 subjects at A*–C, including English (A) and Mathematics (A).

Hobbies: User experience, digital learning, ethical software practices, clean code (no guarantees made).

Interests: Black coffee, photography, Japan, Leicester City F.C., fitness, PEZ, The Rebel Alliance.

I'm always looking for new opportunities, so feel free to contact me using the below.

Email: hello@tomtaylor.name
GitHub: @taylortom
LinkedIn: tomtaylor-uk