JOHN COTTRELL

Lead architecture and engineering for an ERP platform used by thousands across Australia's construction industry. Balance roadmap ownership with hands-on delivery so the team sees strategy backed by working code.

• –Legacy refactor: Rebuilt core business logic as .NET-native services backed by an EF Core Provider, enabling staged migration without losing domain knowledge.
• –Platform modernisation: Defined the roadmap from ISAM/Synergy DBL to PostgreSQL, Next.js 16, and .NET 10 with 18-24 month execution milestones.
• –Proof of concept: Shipped a 100K+ line Next.js/PostgreSQL SaaS prototype covering 10+ business modules, row-level security, authentication/billing, and production-ready tooling.
• –Mobile platform: Led the Xamarin to .NET MAUI transition; refreshed apps are now live on iOS and Android.
• –Integration architecture: Built a .NET Core API layer that bridges PostgreSQL services with the Synergy.NET runtime so legacy and modern modules can run side by side.
• –Team leadership: Own roadmap, release cadence, and mentoring for the R&D group.

Owned technical direction, delivery workflow, and the tooling that keeps the engineering team productive.

• –BCBuild developer platform: Built a 40K+ line suite (code generation, scaffolding, IDE integrations, web/WPF tooling, CI orchestration) that underpins every release.
• –Pipeline performance: Rewrote the generator/data model, giving the team a 100x build-speed improvement and hours back each day.
• –Cross-platform extraction: Moved 200K+ lines into a dbl-common library that targets .NET Framework 4.8 and .NET 10, enabling module-by-module migration.
• –Desktop release: Led the V6 rollout, adopted by 90% of customers, modernising the WPF interface and interop layer without disrupting live operations.

Full-stack engineering across desktop, web, and mobile platforms.

• –ASP.NET web platform: Designed and built the web application covering construction management, purchase-order workflows, and supplier onboarding—used daily by all major customers and their supplier networks.
• –V5 desktop release: Introduced the WPF/MVVM client layered over the legacy DBL core using SynergyDE's .NET assembly interop.
• –Mobile development: Shipped the first Xamarin iOS application for field operations and service management.
• –Architecture: Defined the bridge patterns that allow modern .NET components to communicate with the Synergy runtime.

Led enterprise implementations and technical services for top-volume builders.

• –Enterprise clients: Account lead for Metricon, McDonald Jones, and Orbit Homes (10,000+ homes annually).
• –Implementations: Ran data conversions, migrations, go-live cutovers, and custom BI projects using Crystal Reports and SQL.
• –Government engagement: Sub-contractor for the Australian Government Cashless Debit Card activation service.

Built core product capabilities that are still in use.

• –Reporting engine: Designed the built-in reporting suite that remains in production 20 years later.
• –Desktop release: Introduced HTML-based UI components for the V4 update, modernising the client experience.
• –Web portal: Developed the Classic ASP customer portal that connected builders to the platform.
• –Brand system: Created the company's visual identity and later refresh.