Mark Lewin

Technical Writer/Trainer

Brackley, Northants, UK

About Me

I am an experienced technical writer and trainer with a background in developing and delivering training for software developers.

Experience

Senior Technical Writer

May 2021 - Present · Ably

I work as a technical writer in the Product team, documenting APIs and SDKs for the company’s realtime communications platform.

Creating, maintaining and updating developer documentation for the company’s realtime SDKs and REST APIs.
Writing conceptual guides and tutorials to educate developers.
Developing code samples and demonstration applications in Node.js/JavaScript.

Senior Technical Writer/Trainer

Sep 2018 - May 2021 · Vonage

Vonage provides communication APIs (including SMS, Voice, Video and social messaging channels). I worked as part of the Developer Relations team. My responsibilities included creating/maintaining API reference documentation and writing courseware, tutorials, blog posts and other educational content.

Compiled API reference documentation using OpenAPI/Swagger 3 and tools like Git, Speccy and Postman
Created and documented demo applications and code samples using Node.js, Python, PHP, Ruby and Java
Designed and helped implement a new feedback mechanism for our developer documentation, which greatly increased the quantity and quality of feedback
Developed and delivered an accredited training program on using Vonage APIs for partner developers
Created an introductory course on OpenAPI to increase awareness and adoption internally

MySQL Curriculum Developer

Jan 2013 - Sep 2018 · Oracle

Designing and developing the MySQL training curriculum for Oracle University.

Researched new product features, often complex and undocumented
Created courseware for in-person and virtual delivery
Built hands-on labs and practical exercises in Linux virtual environments
Led “train the trainer” sessions to familiarise instructors with new material
Developed complementary learning resources including blog posts and video training

Freelance Consultant/Trainer

Nov 2012 Sep 2016 · Apps With Maps Ltd

Worked as a freelance consultant and trainer, with a focus on web mapping/GIS.

Used a mixture of ESRI and Open source web mapping technologies as part of training development/delivery and consultancy projects
Delivered classroom-based and instructor-led virtual training courses for ArcGIS Server developers
Wrote and recorded the Pluralsight Google Maps API: Get Started course (taken by over 10,000 students and rated 4.5/5.0 stars by 250+ users)
Wrote the books Leaflet.js Succinctly, Go Succinctly, and Go Web Development Succinctly in SyncFusion’s Succinctly series.

Trainer/Course Author

Apr 2007 - Oct 2012 · Esri UK Ltd

Developing and delivering training for GIS developers.

Created a curriculum suitable for both classroom and instructor-led virtual training of developers
Built programming exercises using JavaScript, Flex, Silverlight, Python, Java and C#
Led workshops and seminars to highlight specific capabilities of ESRI’s geospatial SDKs and APIs