About Edward Burton

Edward Burton is a full-stack developer and technology leader with 15+ years of experience building web applications, leading teams, and implementing AI systems. He's the author of tyingshoelaces.com, where he explores the practical realities of building with AI.

Work History

Shopify [Engineering Manager] — 2021-2024

  • Onboarded European developers into Shopify Messaging Team: Teams first experience in big tech. Delivered projects and value independently immediately. Formally recognized as an exceptionally efficient adaptation process.
  • Redeployed into Checkout: Redeployed into mission critical checkout org with same team that was acquired into Shopify. Proposed, championed and executed performance enhancement project in first 3 months. Delivered value to checkout estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars in additional revenue.
  • Grew Team: Grew direct reports from 2 to 8 in core role. Managed world-class talent, recognized for exceptional rapport and functionality within the team. 0 voluntary turnover from direct reports in 3 years.
  • High profile projects: Team was chosen to deliver executive projects. Planned, scoped, and delivered on time the Mobile Checkout SDK.

Yownit [Founder] — 2021

  • Created and programmed real-time messaging software for commerce: Built product, brand and software for messaging platform for commerce store owners.
  • Featured in WebRTC Hacks: Largest online community of video-streaming developers. Wrote article on scaling WebRTC negotiation.
  • Accepted into Shopify App Store: Met all requirements for App Store publication. Headhunted by Shopify Messaging team.
  • Acquired by Shopify: Team was hired to seed the European Messaging team. Read the WebRTC Hacks article.

GFT Group [Engineering Lead] — 2020-2021

  • Leading multifunctional teams: Managed teams of 5-15 engineers.
  • Enterprise outsourced development: Led software development teams for Volkswagen Financial Services and Trumpf Group.

Beamery [Consultant] — 2018-2020

  • Reported directly to CTO: Hired into Beamery (now a UK unicorn) at ~50 engineers.
  • Site migration and rebrand: Owned migration from Angular 2 → Gatsby JS. Project was a success and site lives on to this day.
  • Technical leadership: Responsible for technical delivery of major platform migration.

Chainfrog [1st Engineer, VP Engineering] — 2017-2018

  • Blockchain prototypes: Architected and developed blockchain-based systems for startup.
  • IP-focused exit: Successfully exited startup, selling IP and patents. Named inventor on a Blockchain patent.

Zoocha [Developer → Engineering Lead → Director] — 2013-2017

  • Founded Spanish office: Trained and managed team of 15 cross-functional professionals.
  • ISO compliance: Implemented ISO-compliant processes and business operations.
  • Tier-one projects: Delivered mission-critical projects for UK government and high-profile private businesses.
  • Growth trajectory: Grew from contractor → certified Drupal Developer → large client projects → Director of Spanish office.

Expertise

Technologies & Platforms:

  • Full-stack web development: JavaScript, TypeScript, PHP, Python
  • Frameworks: NextJS, React, Drupal, Express
  • AI/ML: OpenAI GPT-4o, Claude, Llama3, Gemini, Groq, Deepgram
  • Infrastructure: AWS, WebRTC, Vector databases, Streaming APIs
  • Specializations: RAG systems, LLM integration, Browser APIs, Voice AI

Core Competencies:

  • Full-stack architecture and system design
  • Leading technical teams and mentoring engineers
  • AI/ML implementation and optimization
  • Prompt engineering and LLM fine-tuning
  • Building for scale (enterprise and startup)
  • Bridging technical and business domains

Philosophy

Edward believes:

  • Expertise cannot be shortcut: Success requires years of hands-on struggle and failure. There are no frameworks for learning.
  • AI is a tool, not magic: Intelligence ≠ expertise. AGI is generations away. Practical AI works when wielded by competent hands.
  • Quality > Quantity: In an era of AI-generated mediocrity, handcrafted expertise will stand out.
  • Connect the dots: Disparate experiences and skills combine to create unique value.
  • Trust the process: Consistent work, learning from failures, and patience compound into mastery.
  • Simplicity over complexity: The best solutions often emerge from understanding the root problem deeply.

Current Focus

Edward is currently exploring practical applications of AI while building SystemPrompt, an open-source agent orchestration platform. He remains deeply skeptical of AI hype while optimistic about what AI can do when built by people who understand the fundamentals.

He regularly shares his learning journey, technical insights, and contrarian takes on AI and software development at tyingshoelaces.com.

Want to work together? Contact Edward for consulting, technical leadership, or AI implementation projects.