Full Stack Developer with many years of experience
Jon Williams
I'm a Full Stack Developer working at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems.
When I'm not working, playing with my children or travelling in my van, I can be found
When I'm not working, playing with my children or travelling in my van, I can be found in my garage making things.
Professional Profile
A full stack developer with a strong background in both front-end and back-end engineering. Detail-oriented with an instinct for good design, I focus on building applications that are clean, performant, and maintainable.
My career began in front-end development before expanding into full stack work, driven by an interest in the overlap between design and engineering.
I design, build, test and deploy across the full application lifecycle — from architecture through to production.
Current Work
Currently serving as Web Lead at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, responsible for multiple projects and a small web team. I remain hands-on as a developer, actively contributing to several applications alongside my leadership responsibilities.
Back End
Front End
DevOps & Tools
My most recent (ongoing) project is the "Scientific Web Engine", a Custom Content Management System (CMS) which I have developed to support Institute websites for groups, projects, collaborations and general scientific and research requirements. The CMS is under continuous development already running many websites, including Cyber Valley, European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS), International Max Planck Research School for Intelligent Systems (IMPRS-IS), Center for Learning Systems (CLS), AI Incubator, The Max Planck Artificial Intelligence Network (MP-AIX), The Robotics Institute Germany (RIGI), and Science & Innovation Days (sidays).
Previous Work
Between 2024 and 2025 I worked as a freelance Rails developer at Kickdown, a marketplace for classic and vintage cars — a one year engagement alongside my main role. It was a startup environment with a small, committed and enthusiastic team. Working on a topic I genuinely love made it a particularly enjoyable experience. I learned a great deal during this time, especially around Hotwire, Turbo Streams and modern Rails patterns, knowledge I have since carried into my own projects.
Prior to my current position, I worked at Intergral GmbH as a Software Engineer within a small yet advanced and experienced team developing complex software products and Internet Applications. I was mainly responsible for product based front end work (user interfaces and components) developed using the Adobe Flex/Flash (ActionScript 3, MXML) technology, later moving to Javascript Solutions (Angular) along with other supporting technologies (Java, JSP, GSP, JS, BlazeDS, MS/MySQL etc). Some of the products I worked on include: FusionReactor, FusionAnalytics and ShareDox.
Eight years at Intergral provided a strong foundation in software engineering. Working within a talented and experienced team, I grew considerably as a developer — gaining broad technical knowledge and a solid understanding of what it takes to build and ship complex software products.
Previous to Intergral, I worked at Hewlett Packard as a Data Retrieval Expert / Web / App Developer working on internal business process related projects and applications.
Side Projects
Moto90 — a marketplace for late 80s, 90s and early 2000s motorcycles. Built out of a personal interest in the era, it's a Rails project I work on in my own time alongside my day job.
Always open to interesting side projects and collaborations — feel free to get in touch.
Professional Journey (Work & Study)
2013 - Present
Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (11 years)
2022 - Present
Web Lead (2 years)
Managing multiple projects and guiding a small web team to efficiently achieve project and development goals. In addition, I'm hands-on as a developer, actively contributing to several projects and applications simultaneously.
2013 - 2022
Full-stack Developer (9 years)
Developing internal and public website and application solutions, specializing in custom (in-house) CMS development. Seamlessly integrating front-end and back-end tech to meet organizational needs and user expectations.
2026 - Present
Moto90 (Founder)
A marketplace for late 80s, 90s and early 2000s motorcycles — a personal project built with Ruby on Rails.
2024 - 2025
Kickdown (1 year)
Rails Developer
Rails developer within a small, enthusiastic team building a marketplace for classic and vintage cars. A startup environment with a lot of energy — I learned a great deal, particularly around Hotwire, Turbo and modern Rails patterns.
2006 - 2012
Intergral Information Solutions (8 years)
Software Engineer
Software Engineer working within a small yet advanced and experienced team developing complex software products and Internet Applications.
2007 - 2010
Foxford Services (Freelance: ca 3 years)
Designer / Developer
Designining and implmenting diverse, small-scale websites tailored for local businesses.
2005 - 2008
Staffordshire University (3 years)
Master of Science - MSc, Computer Science
Grade: 1st Class (Distinction)
2001 - 2005
Staffordshire University (4 years)
Bachelor of Science - BSc, Computer Science
Grade: 1st Class
2003 - 2004
Hewlett Packard, Germany (Work experience: 1 year 4 months)
Data Retrieval Expert / Web / App Developer
Working on internal business process related projects and applications.
2000 - 2003
Promotional Marketing Solutions
Graphic Design / Web Developer
For more information about my additional work experience and qualifications unrelated to development, please feel free to contact me.
Personal Profile
"... when I'm not working, playing with my children or travelling in my van, I can be found in the forest running, riding motorbikes or in my garage making things ..."
I am British being born in Liverpool and spending my childhood growing up in the English countryside. I am currently located in South East Germany.
From a young age I developed an interest in tech with a focus on the Web. I decided to explore more deeply which continued onto higher education where I confirmed my calling for Web development.
I have many other interests, hobbies and activities. Much of my leisure time is taken up raising three children together with my partner.
I love running. I'm not the fastest or fittest, but have a few marathons under my belt of which I am quite proud. I love to run in the local forest — it clears my head and helps to keep me fit.
From a very young age I have had a fascination for motorcycles. I remember fixing up old broken motor bikes to the best of my abilities using whatever tools I could find in my parents garage. I was then able to ride them over local fields being too young to hold a license.
As I get older my passion for motorcycles has not diminished. I love learning about, riding and working on them. In recent years I have become particularly interested in 90s motorbikes, now modern classics (the bikes that I dreamt about when I was a lad) although I'm interested in anything on (two) wheels and always tend to have a few bikes in the garage. My current project is a Honda CB750 cafe racer build. I of course, also like older cars with my daily driver being a 30 year old Saab 900.
At the end of 2020 we bought a house from the 50s which has become a large and ongoing renovation project. Although a lot of work, it's enjoyable work which we are doing in our own time and without (too much) stress. The advantage (and hope) being that we will one day have a nice family home which we can enjoy for many years, and the disadvantage (realism) is having to live on a constant building site.
I love travelling, having visited many countries and continents. Since becoming a father, a camper van seemed like a good and fun way to travel. I did some research and bought an empty builders van which I have since converted (still converting) into a camper. As a family, we have used the van for many successful and enjoyable trips in and around Europe and plan many more in the future.
To unwind, I enjoy family adventures, catching up with friends and having a beer, and simply relaxing with music or a good film.