I'm a Software Engineer who also enjoys the Engineering Manager role serving a software team. I started as part of a team building audio and video systems for Windows NT in 1994. Along the way I've worked on software DVD Video; ring tones for mobile phones; managed a team delivering part of a smartphone's audio system, and founded my own company. I then worked on the launch devices for ARM's Mali T600 GPUs, followed by the launch of Ubuntu mobile phones. I joined the teams shipping the SwiftKey keyboard after they were aquired by Microsoft. My most recent salaried role was running engineering teams for Spotify in London.
I am currently exporing Microontroller firmware, and what that could look like if that was developed in a purpose built language: Yarg.
Favourite editor: Emacs
Social: LinkedIn profile
September 2025–present
I'm exploring language development for Microcontrollers, and hoping to start a project sponsoring Yarg.
March 2020–January 2024
Learning how to run engineering teams that deliver new things at Spotify. Notably included Spotify Kids.
January 2017–March 2020
Learning how to build software keyboards for mobile phones.
May 2013–January 2017
I led one of the teams who delivered the first Ubuntu handsets, and then looked after some early IoT engineering.
April 2010–May 2013
Delivering driver software to accompany ARM's graphics products.
Job Titles: Customer Engineering Manager, Principal Engineer
June 2008–March 2010
I started my own software company. Eventually a team of three, we created software to enhance the experience of using uPnP HiFi. I also created a simple bittorrent server: My Own TV Channel.
January 2008–June 2008
After twelve years as a software engineer, working on various audio and video systems, I decided to take a sabbatical. There were three updates on my blog: 1, 2 and 3. I also built a model railway.
May 2000–January 2008
As the Multimedia Porting Group Manager, I worked
with customers and partners to bring products based on Symbian OS to
market.
Job Titles: Multimedia Porting Group Manager, Senior Technical Consultant, Technical Consultant Team Lead, Technical Consultant
September 1996–May 2000
I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area
for just over 3 years. While I was there I worked for Mediamatics (who became part of
National Semiconductor
) as a developer on the DVDExpress
team.
Job Titles: Member of Technical Staff
October 1992–June 1996
I studied
at Imperial
College, where I graduated from
the Department
of Computing with a masters degree. I can formally
claim to be
John McAleely, MEng (Hons), ACGI.
Summer 1994, Summer 1995
As part
of my degree I spent nine months working
for Microsoft,
as part of the ActiveMovie team. The product went on
to
become DirectShow,
and was a core part of Microsoft's multimedia architecture,
from Windows 95 (OSR2)–Windows 7.