SK

Sarah K.

Vetted Crafter

Staff Software Engineer – New Features & MVP

🇬🇧United Kingdom·9 years experience
Available NowFull-timePart-time

From concept to first users in weeks — I build MVPs that become real products.

About

I am a product-minded engineer who loves turning ideas into working software fast. I have built 6 MVPs from scratch in the last 4 years — from a B2B scheduling tool to a community platform — and Cursor has been a game-changer for rapid prototyping. I use it to scaffold Next.js apps, generate API routes, and iterate on UI without getting stuck on boilerplate.

My approach is pragmatic: ship something usable in 4–6 weeks, then iterate based on real user feedback. I favour Next.js, Supabase, and Vercel for speed, and I am comfortable with the full stack: React components, API design, database schema, and deployment. I have also integrated AI features into products — chatbots, summarisation, search — using OpenAI and Claude APIs where they add value.

I care about code quality even when moving fast. I write tests for critical paths, use TypeScript strictly, and document decisions. The goal is always a codebase the next developer can extend without fear.

AI Expertise

New FeaturesMvp
TypeScriptReactNext.jsNode.jsPostgreSQLCursorVercel

Notable Projects

B2B Scheduling MVP

Built a scheduling SaaS from zero in 5 weeks: calendar sync, availability rules, booking flow, and Stripe payments. Used Cursor to generate React forms and API handlers. Deployed on Vercel with Supabase.

Next.jsSupabaseStripeVercelCursorTypeScript

Launched with 12 paying customers in first month; now 200+ active users. Zero critical bugs in first 3 months.

Community Platform MVP

Shipped a community platform with forums, user profiles, and moderation tools in 6 weeks. Built with Next.js App Router, PostgreSQL, and real-time updates. Used Copilot for repetitive CRUD patterns.

Next.jsPostgreSQLReactNode.jsVercel

1,200 registered users in 2 months; community engagement 3x higher than previous solution.

AI-Powered Search Feature

Added semantic search to an existing product using OpenAI embeddings and a vector store. Built the API layer, UI, and fallback to keyword search. Cursor helped with integration patterns.

OpenAI APINext.jsPostgreSQLTypeScript

Search relevance improved 34% in user testing; feature adopted by 60% of active users within 4 weeks.

Work Experience

Staff Software Engineer

Luminance Technologies

2021 – Present

Lead product feature development for a legal tech platform. Own the MVP roadmap and use AI tools to ship features 2x faster. Built the scheduling and collaboration features from scratch.

Senior Software Engineer

Alan Turing Institute

2018 – 2021

Built internal tools and data products for research teams. Shipped 3 MVPs that became production systems. Introduced modern React and TypeScript practices.

Education & Certifications

🎓

Ph.D. Computer Science

University of Edinburgh · 2017

🏆 Vercel Frontend Masters Certificate🏆 AWS Certified Developer

Interested in working with Sarah?

Tell us about your project and we'll facilitate an introduction.