Paul Reed

Systems engineer and Fractional CTO with 25+ years specializing in high-throughput infrastructure. Built real-time databases for Reuters and scaled network throughput from 12k to 100k+ messages/sec in C++. Now applying that low-level optimization background to AI — engineering high-performance LLM and vision model deployments.

Freelance at Freelance (2026-05 – Present)

• Conducted computer vision research tailored for an innovative construction startup.
• Selected for the Antler Japan workshop to investigate and develop a deep tech initiative.
• Fractional Tech Lead at Escape Velocity Labs

Founder & CTO at Escape Velocity Labs Limited (2025-09 – 2026-03)

• Designed and implemented a platform for model evaluation, fine tuning and deployment using Python and Golang.
• Researched the optimization of large language models (LLMs) for deployment on low-end hardware.

Developer at GRVT (2024-05 – 2024-12)

• Refined and scaled core application logic for a high-volume crypto exchange ($30M funded).
• Designed and implemented a Redis synchronized rate limiter from scratch in Golang.
• Solved data and race conditions between core services using Clickhouse data and Grafana.

Technical Lead at Brite Advisors (2017-01 – 2024-02)

• Drove the technical design, architecture and implementation required to fully automate the business.
• Built the ETL process to connect settlement systems to the client portal.
• Designed and implemented backend systems for Brite Advisors’ first mobile app

Development Lead at WOW App Inc. (2016-03 – 2016-12)

• Rescued the development of Wow’s first product, releasing their first product within three months of joining.

Head of Technology at 21Skillz (2015-02 – 2016-03)

• Developed PoC for analysing students soft skills using games data.

Head of Software Development at Kaertech Software Ltd. (2014-01 – 2014-10)

full-time

• Led a cross-functional engineering team to recover and deliver three mission-critical software products, successfully driving them from stalled development to first release.

Technical Team Leader at Thomson Reuters (formerly Reuters) (2009-01 – 2014-01)

full-time

• Served as the key technical liaison in Hong Kong for global development teams as Thomson Reuters transitioned to a new network infrastructure.
• Designed and implemented diagnostic and data analysis tools to accelerate root-cause identification and resolution of recurring network and data anomalies.
• Led a cross-regional development initiative to extend the company’s data platform for global internal developer use, improving scalability and collaboration.
• Spearheaded a network optimization project for long line TCP connections

Senior Software Developer at Reuters (2001-06 – 2009-01)

full-time

• Collaborated with Hong Kong–based development teams to integrate proprietary software platforms with the company’s real-time data servers.
• Built a high-performance real-time database and associated control systems to support mission-critical market data operations.
• Built automated test framework and real-time diagnostic tools
• Engineered performance optimizations that increased message throughput from 12,000 to over 100,000 messages per second.

Software Developer at Motorola (1997-12 – 2001-06)

full-time

• Designed and implemented enhancements to internal software tools.

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry – Sheffield University, United Kingdom