2025
2025 to present
Senior Full Stack Web Developer
Locale
Leading frontend decisions and contributing across the product, from interface behaviour to application architecture.
React · Node.js · PHP · Laravel · MySQL · Docker · AWS
About me
I'm Rob. I design and build software, and I prefer working close to the problem instead of waiting for a finished specification.
That has taken me through design, WordPress, full-stack applications, team leadership and product engineering. The job title changed. The useful part stayed the same: working out what to build and making it hold up.
How I work
I work across product decisions, interface design and full-stack development. React, TypeScript, Node and PHP are regular tools, but the framework is rarely the difficult part. The difficult part is choosing the right behaviour and leaving the code understandable for whoever works on it next.
At Locale, I work as a senior full-stack developer with a strong frontend and product focus. For independent client work, I run Lancio Studio.
How I got here
I started in game art and design, studying concept art, scriptwriting, 3D modelling and level design. I eventually realised I was more interested in making interactive things than building a career in games.
I moved to Graphic Design and E-media at Leicester College and De Montfort University. A small JavaScript accordion in one coursework project was enough to pull me towards web development. I completed a further year in Professional Studies for the Creative Industries and graduated with First Class Honours.
My first industry role involved building custom WordPress themes for small businesses. Since then I have worked on marketing sites, booking platforms, internal tools and full-stack products, both as an individual contributor and as a team lead.
2023
June 2023 to 2025
Web Developer
Locale
Joined the product team to improve and extend a mix of established and new React and Laravel features.
React · Node.js · PHP · Laravel · MySQL · Docker
2019
September 2019 to June 2023
Head of Web
Reach Marketing Communications
Led website delivery, mentored developers and moved the team towards version control, AWS hosting and component-led frontend work.
React · Next.js · Astro · Node.js · TypeScript · AWS · WordPress
2017
November 2017 to July 2019
Web Designer and Developer
Success Local Limited
Designed and built custom WordPress websites for small businesses, taking projects from wireframe to launch.
PHP · MySQL · WordPress · SCSS · JavaScript
2015
2015 to 2017
Freelance Web Designer
Rob Cipolla Design
Built WordPress themes and portfolio websites, including referred projects for university students.
PHP · MySQL · WordPress · CSS · JavaScript
Have something to talk about?
Work, product engineering, or the unusually hard parts of seemingly simple interfaces.