User:Timowers

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TIM OWERS Address - upon request

+44 (0)1993 851 xxx (Home)  
+44 (0)1235 465 959 (Work References)  

Email [timowers@gmail.com]

I seek a challenging position that can effectively utilize my dedication, enthusiasm and one that can make use of my knowledge of the software installation creation and deployment process. The ideal situation would involve all stages of the software cycle; from consultation, planning, programming through to final implementation. An additional bonus would be to continue building upon my teaching skills. Passing on information gleaned from years of experience is always a rewarding experience.

Sophos Plc

Senior Software Engineer (03/05 – Present)

The description of my work at Sophos Plc

i2, Cambridge UK

Senior Installation Developer (06/04 – 03/05)

i2 Product installations had always been written using the Wise Installation System, a script based procedural technology that was recognized as needing to be replaced by MSI. I joined i2 in the summer of 2004 with the primary goal of authoring these MSI installations. Initially, many meetings were held with heads of all development departments with the intention of explaining and rationalizing the expansive topic that is MSI. Eventually the choice to use InstallShield 10 (and subsequently 10.5) was taken and I had hoped development would commence. To begin the Wise to MSI transition, several of i2’s existing ‘element’ installers were rewritten as merge modules and simple MSI installations. This also enabled me to begin the initial training phases for the Wise developer, to whom I was responsible for providing MSI tuition as development progressed. Documentation covering aspects of the conversion process and overviews of MSI technologies were written, distributed and discussed over many more meetings. Unfortunately this process became protracted and drawn out to the extent the MSI development diminished to a personally unacceptable level, whilst at the same time being expected to write more Wise installations. I had envisaged a far more hands on MSI development role, one where installations could be written fully utilizing my existing knowledge, in an arena that must require a thirst for knowledge acquisition and a desire for continual improvement. However, this situation never materialized and with no change in the foreseeable future, the need to find a position that can fulfill my potential had become self-evident. As such I am available for interview immediately.

Categoric Software , Cobham, Surrey UK Senior Installation Developer & Configuration Mgr. (10/96 – 01/04) I began at start-up Categoric as number two employee of the company. Eight years of product development lead to a broad and in-depth knowledge in the field of installation techniques and methodologies. I used the newest installation technologies combined with traditional programming to provide extremely complex, yet robust and easy to use solutions. My last project at Categoric was for a product called Xalerts. An enormous installation, necessitating a level of technical ingenuity that not only ensured integrity of the installed product, but one which was intelligent enough to make decisions for the user during installation and being capable of post installation zero maintenance. Being configuration manager, I controlled and managed all source code stored over several SourceSafe databases. When code was in a 'build ready state' the resultant build produced a product of some 6500 files over 400 folders. Those components were then packaged using InstallShield products into the Xalerts product suite and burnt to final gold CD before duplication. I designed and developed installers for the Windows Installer using InstallShield For Windows Installer. I had responsibility for ensuring the seamless execution of the company’s software in delivery environments that are always in flux.

Perot Systems / Siemens Nixdorf Information System , Munich Visual Basic Programmer / Systems Installation Tec (08/95 - 09/96) Siemens Nixdorf Information Systems in Munich and Perot Systems Ltd were in partnership to set up a Showcase department, primarily to promote Siemens outsourcing capabilities and to show how by utilizing their resources, a company could save time and money. My role within this contract was to install hardware and software to be used in the Showcase showroom, and co-ordinate Siemens personnel. Various hardware was being shown from standard to very high spec Pc’s, servers running NT and Novell, a Sun workstation, two oversize LCD projection units, a teaching network, a BS2000 mainframe, three different Video Conferencing systems, a high spec notebook with ISDN and radio LAN connections, several optical juke boxes, all used in conjunction with dozens of software packages ranging from Microsoft and Lotus products to image processing, programming, networked software distribution (SMS), remote access, fax packages etc...

Perot Systems / M&G Financial Services Ltd , Essex UK Visual Basic Programmer (07/95 - 08/95) As one half of a team brought in under contract by Perot Systems to M&G, I was responsible for replicating a package previously written in Fortè with Visual Basic. Change Of Address was a front-end program used by a department to manage the change of circumstance details of the entire customer base. Records were stored in legacy systems spanning fourteen mainframe databases, these were scanned every night into a central repository which was used by the front end, these updates were then written back to the appropriate legacy systems the following night. All code was written in Visual Basic utilizing an Access encrypted database for the user logins.

Erith College Of Technology 1984 GCSE 'O' LEVEL

English Language, English Literature, Metalwork.

Welling Secondary School 1983 C.S.E.

English Language, English Literature, Metalwork, Mathematics, Computer Studies, Physics, Chemistry, Technical Drawing.

Relevant Applications...

InstallShield 12 Premier
InstallShield InstallScript
InstallShield InstallFromTheWeb
Visual Basic 6
VBScript
Windows Installation Service
Orca
Visual Source Safe (+ Admin)
AccuRev
Perforce
InstallShield Express
Building custom Merge Modules
Inno Setup (pascal script)
InstallShield PackageForTheWeb
Building installation support files
MS Office 2003 (development & use)
 

After deciding to specialize in installation and configuration nine years ago I feel confident in being known as an MSI expert. My work has always been well regarded, and being compared favorably to similar work from organizations such as Microsoft is an affirmation and acknowledgment that the long hours of research, hard work and pure doggedness have achieved results of which I can be justifiably proud. An unfortunate decision to join a company with no real interest in MSI installations has unfortunately led to my being available for interview immediately. I therefore have the flexibility to start work as soon as possible.