Ian Waters
Backend EngineerCavalry CTO @ Canva
Canva
AI is analyzing your overall score…
Identifying your key strengths…
Evaluating your skill match against the job requirements…
Assessing your cultural and operational fit
Cavalry CTO @ Canva
AI is analyzing your overall score…
Identifying your key strengths…
Evaluating your skill match against the job requirements…
Assessing your cultural and operational fit
I specialise in the design and development of digital content creation (DCC) software, with a strong focus on interaction design and 2D/3D animation tools. I didn't win an Oscar once.
University of Lincoln
BA (hons), Interaction Design
January 1, 2002 – January 1, 2005
Canva
Chief Technology Officer (Cavalry)
February 1, 2026 – Present
Sheffield · Remote
Scene Group Ltd (acquired by Canva)
Chief Technology Officer
September 1, 2019 – February 1, 2026
Sheffield
Autodesk
Contractor
July 1, 2018 – November 1, 2018
Autodesk
Contractor
February 1, 2015 – January 1, 2018
Mainframe
Lead Developer / Software Designer
November 1, 2014 – September 1, 2019
Mainframe
Technical Director
April 1, 2012 – November 1, 2014
Mainframe
Animator
November 1, 2008 – April 1, 2012
Watson Associates
Animator
September 1, 2005 – November 1, 2008
Manchester
Human-Computer Interaction - HCI
IxDF - The Interaction Design Foundation
June 23, 2026 – Present
Membership Certificate
IxDF - The Interaction Design Foundation
June 23, 2026 – Present
Cultural Fit Analysis
The candidate's background is heavily skewed towards UI/UX, animation, and motion graphics software development, which might not directly align with a typical 'Backend Engineer' role without further clarification of their backend contributions in previous roles. While their leadership experience and product development skills are valuable, the specific technical domain (graphics/animation tools) may require a significant pivot for a pure backend role. The lack of diverse project types outside of this domain limits the assessment of broader cultural fit for a general backend engineering team.
Soft Skills & Operational Fit
The candidate's career progression from Animator to Technical Director, Lead Developer, and ultimately CTO, suggests strong leadership, problem-solving, and strategic thinking abilities. Their involvement in product invention and acquisition highlights entrepreneurial drive and a deep understanding of product lifecycle. The long tenure at Mainframe and subsequent leadership roles indicate loyalty and commitment. However, the resume lacks explicit descriptions of collaboration, mentorship, or specific operational methodologies, making a detailed assessment of operational fit challenging.