Summary
Mark Gillott is a retired software engineer with roughly four decades of hands-on experience building embedded network systems and protocol implementations for companies including Cisco, AT&T, Brocade and Ciena. He specialised in low-level C development, embedded OS and UNIX socket programming, delivering features ranging from IP header compression and WAN optimisation to OSPF, VRRP/HSRP and VLAN/bridging technologies. A long-time remote worker, he champions test-driven development and embedding test capabilities early in the cycle, bringing practical rigor to complex networking code. His background spans legacy and modern systems—from DEC microservers and X.25 to contemporary router platforms—giving him a rare perspective on protocol evolution and interoperable systems. Based in Newcastle upon Tyne, he combines deep technical craftsmanship with clear communication and a strong bias for testable, maintainable designs.
8 years of coding experience
42 years of employment as a software developer
BSc in Computational Science, Algorithms, Computer Languages, Architecture, BSc in Computational Science, Algorithms, Computer Languages, Architecture at The University of Hull