About & CV
I'm Carl Hobden — Brighton, UK. For 16 years I've run a guest house's entire operation solo: no IT department, no maintenance team, no one to hand a problem to but myself. That's given me a habit I can't shake — when something breaks, I want to understand it, fix it properly, and build something better next time. Lately that habit has been aimed almost entirely at networks, servers, and home-built tech. I'm looking to make that the job, not just the evening hobby.
What I'm looking for
A structured role in tech — something with regular hours rather than being permanently on call. I'm open-minded about the exact title: IT/network support, junior systems administration, smart-home or IoT-leaning technical roles, or development work that uses the AI-assisted build workflow I've been teaching myself. I'd never turn down a genuinely good opportunity outside that list either — I'm a fast, self-taught learner by necessity.
What I'm good at
- Owning problems end-to-end. Sixteen years with no one to escalate to means I diagnose, fix, and follow through — not just flag issues.
- Networking & infrastructure. VLAN configuration, subnetting, DHCP/router setup, WiFi diagnostics, and running an always-on Windows Server for household and personal services.
- Smart home / IoT systems. Homey Pro hub, device integration, MQTT, and automation flows tying it all together.
- Custom hardware. ESP32-based device builds, sensor integration, 3D-printed enclosures — from design through to a finished, working product.
- AI-assisted development. Building iOS/tvOS/watchOS prototypes and this site itself using modern AI coding workflows.
- Calm, plain-language communication. Years of explaining technical problems to guests and stakeholders who don't want the technical version — just the fix.
- Independent working. Prioritising, troubleshooting, and delivering with full ownership and no hand-holding.
Where I've been
Manager (Operations & Systems) — Brighton House Guest House
Sole operator of a 16-room guest house — every technical, administrative, and guest-facing system was mine to run, with no support staff or IT department to fall back on.
- Managed and troubleshot the property's networking and booking/PMS systems, resolving issues independently.
- Migrated the property to an eero mesh network, including PPPoE VLAN tagging, subnet configuration, and resolving a Homey Pro dual WiFi/Ethernet conflict via developer-level diagnostics.
- Ran a Windows Server for always-on personal and household services, with a focus on uptime.
- Designed and deployed custom ESP32-based hardware controllers, integrating sensors and automation with a Homey smart home hub.
- Coordinated suppliers, contractors, and maintenance schedules — translating technical issues into plain-language updates for non-technical stakeholders.
- Handled all guest communications and complaint resolution, staying calm and solution-focused under pressure.
- Managed pricing, availability, and digital listings, and maintained the property's WordPress website.
Graphic Designer — 3Sixty Magazine
- Produced print-ready artwork and digital design assets to strict publication deadlines.
- Maintained website content and provided basic IT and network support within the organisation.
Earlier experience
- Bar Manager, Legends Bar, Brighton (2003–2005) — staff supervision, stock control, cash reconciliation.
- Manager, Snax Pax Sandwich Shop, Hove (2002–2003) — daily operations and staff supervision.
- Assistant Manager, The Lamb Inn, Eastbourne (1996–2002) — progressed from entry-level to assistant manager across front and back of house.
What I build for fun
Most of my personal projects live under my own brand, Grumpy Duck — smart-home tools, ESP32 hardware, and a slightly moody AI desk assistant called Marvin. The full list is on my projects page.
Education
- 3 A Levels: Mathematics, Photography, Graphic Design
- 10 GCSEs (grades A–C)