About

Hey there — I’m Subhan Ahmed 👋

I’m a Software Engineer who has spent the past decade exploring the full spectrum of front-end and application engineering — from crafting e-commerce sites and real-time dashboards to building collaborative whiteboards and high-performance OTT streaming apps. Over the years, I’ve evolved from a web developer into a true engineer — one who dives deep into how things work under the hood, finds answers to problems you can’t just Google, and designs systems that last. Today, I combine that technical curiosity with leadership — mentoring teams, shaping architectures, and helping deliver software that reaches millions of users across the web and smart TV platforms.

This is my little corner of the internet — a place where I share my journey, ideas, and lessons learned from the world of software development.

How It All Began

My story started back in my Bachelor of Software Engineering at COMSATS University, Lahore. I was first introduced to programming through C and Java, and I still remember trying to make sense of that first #include <stdio.h> statement.

Soon I was writing small programs that actually did things — accessing memory with pointers, experimenting with data structures — and before long, I found myself building full-fledged Java desktop applications for local businesses. Watching those apps come to life on real machines was what truly hooked me.

But around that same time, I discovered something that would shape my creative side — graphic design. I fell in love with vector graphics and spent countless nights learning CorelDRAW and Adobe Illustrator. I designed posters, banners, and logos, and even won an intra-university poster design competition. That period taught me the value of visual storytelling, composition, and detail — lessons that still influence how I approach user interfaces today.

Eventually, my love for visuals met my love for code, and that intersection pulled me into the world of web development. I started with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and WordPress, and began building websites for local businesses. Before long, I had built a good reputation at university as a web developer.

That reputation carried over to the global stage when I started freelancing on Fiverr, offering web development and design services to clients all around the world. My gig soon climbed to the first page, and I became a Level 2 Seller — the highest level on the platform at that time. Managing multiple projects simultaneously, I learned how to balance deadlines, communicate with clients, and deliver real value to real businesses.

As client requests grew more complex, I realized I needed more than just front-end skills — I needed to understand how things worked behind the scenes. That’s when I began learning PHP, editing themes and plugins, and eventually building custom WordPress and standalone web applications from scratch.

For my final-year project, I developed a CakePHP-based e-commerce engine that could generate a fully customizable online store with just a few clicks. That project not only showcased my technical ability but also combined my understanding of design, business logic, and usability. It directly helped me land my first professional role at a Pakistan-based software company called Flatlands Creative, led by an ex-Microsoft engineer.

At Flatlands Creative, I spent six months working on the launch of a major e-commerce brand — one that’s still well-known in Pakistan today. It was my first true experience working in a professional software environment, where my academic learning, freelance experience, and design instincts finally came together to build something impactful.

Moving to Sydney — A Lesson in Independence

After graduating, I moved to Sydney to pursue my Master’s in Information and Communications Technology at Western Sydney University. I was twice on the Dean’s Merit List, but what I’m most proud of from that time isn’t the grades — it’s the independence I built.

Coming from a well-off family, I made a deliberate choice not to take financial help from home. I worked at Pizza Hut, 7-Eleven, and Big W to support myself while studying. Those experiences taught me humility, patience, and how to stay grounded — traits that continue to guide me today.

While studying, I also landed my second professional job — a part-time web developer at a local Sydney digital agency. There, I worked with AngularJS, TypeScript, and Firebase to build internal tools and real-time dashboards. That role bridged the gap between academic learning and professional engineering, and it’s where I learned to build systems that scale and perform reliably in the real world.

The Real Engineering Journey

Right after graduation, I joined Inkerz (later rebranded as Jibb.ai) as a Software Engineer. The company was building a real-time collaboration app that could detect handwriting from a camera and render it live as vector graphics on a digital whiteboard.

I worked with React, Redux, and TypeScript, turning data from a Python backend into live SVGs on the screen. I also built a WebRTC-based video calling feature, which was my first taste of real-time communication systems and front-end performance optimization. It was challenging, exciting, and immensely rewarding — the kind of project that changes how you think about software.

From React to Media Streaming

After that, I joined Seven West Media, one of Australia’s leading media companies. Here, I took my frontend skills into the world of media streaming, working on Apple TV and web applications used by millions.

I helped modernize the Apple TV app from vanilla JavaScript to TypeScript + TVML, built JWT-based authentication, and implemented HLS interstitial ad playback — including ad timers, skip restrictions, and playback rules. I also optimized content carousels and interaction for LG WebOS, ensuring a smooth experience even on older devices.

During my time at Seven, I had the opportunity to work on some of the biggest streaming events in Australia — including the Tokyo Olympics and the Melbourne Cup — ensuring stable, smooth playback for massive audiences.

Deep into Streaming — at Stan

Today, I work as a Senior Software Engineer at Stan (Nine Entertainment Co.), one of Australia’s largest streaming platforms.

I helped lead the effort to build a unified, web-based video player using Google’s Shaka Player, replacing multiple native players across Smart TVs and streaming devices. I’m also a regular contributor to the Google’s open-source Shaka Player project — adding features, fixing bugs, improving performance, and expanding device support.

I’ve worked across every layer of the playback stack — from MSE/EME, DRM, and HLS/MPEG-DASH, to Dynamic Ad Insertion (DAI) with AWS MediaTailor and Google Ad Manager. I also helped architect a declarative React, Typescript and Redux based framework that provides building blocks for creating truely content-driven UIs, and designed a custom spatial navigation system for D-pad navigation on hundreds of TV models.

Along the way, I’ve built internal remote debugging tools, automated testing systems (Suitest), and performance profiling setups to ensure consistent, high-quality playback across every device — from the latest 4K smart TV to decade-old browsers.

Some of the most exciting moments of my career have been during major events like the Paris Olympics and the UEFA Cup, knowing that millions of people were relying on the systems my team and I built.

What Drives Me

I’ve always been drawn to tough, technical challenges — the ones that most people think are impossible. Whether it’s debugging playback on a legacy device, reducing memory usage on low-end TVs, or improving playback resilience under load, I love digging deep until I find the real answer.

I also care deeply about mentorship and leadership — helping others grow, sharing what I know, and guiding architectural decisions that make systems more robust and maintainable.

Let’s Connect

If you’re interested in media streaming, web engineering, or cross-platform playback systems, I’d love to connect.
You can reach me at subhanahmed047@gmail.com or find me on LinkedIn.

When I’m not building or debugging software, you’ll probably find me gaming, folding origami, playing chess or reading — balancing the creative and logical sides of life.