Rakesh Roy, WordPress and React Engineering Leader, Speed and Performance Obsessed
I build and lead engineering teams that ship fast, scalable WordPress and React platforms for global brands — from Bluehost to BigRock to Network Solutions.
With 10+ years of hands-on engineering and team leadership, I specialise in the intersection of WordPress block development, React, and Core Web Vitals performance. I’ve taken production sites from PageSpeed scores below 40 to over 90, shipped CI/CD pipelines for high-traffic platforms, and led cross-functional engineering teams across multiple global brands at Newfold Digital.
What I Work With
My stack is built around WordPress, React, and performance engineering — with a focus on things that ship and scale.
Core Stack
PHP · WordPress · React · TypeScript · JavaScript · Laravel
Block Development
Gutenberg · block.json · Full Site Editing · Block Patterns
Performance
Google Lighthouse · Core Web Vitals · Image Optimisation · Server-Side Caching · Asset Optimisation
DevOps & Tooling
CI/CD · Jenkins · OKD · Oracle Cloud Infrastructure · SonarQube · Git
Leadership
Engineering Management · Technical Architecture · Mentorship · Cross-functional Collaboration
Learning
I am still learnign new skils and improving my existing one.
A Different Kind of Engineering Leader
Most engineering managers either stay deep in code or step back from it entirely. I do both.
I currently lead engineering for customer-facing platforms at Newfold Digital — including blogs and front-end sites for BigRock, HostGator, Bluehost, and Network Solutions. That means I’m setting technical direction, reviewing architecture decisions, and still writing code alongside my team.
My niche is the overlap between WordPress and React. The Gutenberg block editor is React-based, which means building modern WordPress experiences today requires fluency in both — and the performance instincts to make them fast. That combination is rarer than most hiring managers expect.
Outside of Newfold, I’m the author of the Bitly URL Shortener WordPress plugin (11,000+ downloads), an active open source contributor, and a writer on web performance and block development at royrakesh.dev.
The toughest decisions aren’t between right and wrong — they’re between two right paths, and choosing the one that serves the greater vision.
Technical Articles
I write about the things I actually work on — WordPress block development, performance engineering, and leading technical teams. No fluff.
As WordPress evolves, the rise of block themes represents a significant shift in web design…
In today’s fast-paced digital world, automating workflows is essential for efficiency. n8n is an innovative…
WordPress block development is an essential skill for modern WordPress developers. With the Gutenberg editor…
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rakesh Roy?
Rakesh Roy is an Engineering Manager and WordPress & React Performance Expert based in India. With 10+ years of hands-on engineering experience, he specializes in WordPress block development, React, and Core Web Vitals optimization. He currently leads engineering for customer-facing platforms at Newfold Digital, including sites for Bluehost, HostGator, BigRock, and Network Solutions.
What does Rakesh Roy specialize in?
Rakesh Roy specializes in WordPress performance engineering, Gutenberg block development, and React-based web applications. He has a proven track record of improving PageSpeed scores from below 40 to over 90, building CI/CD pipelines for high-traffic platforms, and leading cross-functional engineering teams across global brands.
What has Rakesh Roy built or contributed to in open source?
Rakesh Roy is the author of the Bitly URL Shortener WordPress plugin, which has over 14,000 downloads. He is an active open source contributor and maintains a public WordPress profile at profiles.wordpress.org/royrakesh. He also writes technical articles on WordPress block development and web performance at royrakesh.dev.
Where does Rakesh Roy work and what is his role?
Rakesh Roy works at Newfold Digital as an Engineering Manager, where he leads the development of front-end platforms and blogs for major web hosting brands including Bluehost, BigRock, HostGator, and Network Solutions. He is responsible for technical architecture, team mentorship, and hands-on engineering delivery.
How can I hire or contact Rakesh Roy for WordPress or React development?
You can reach Rakesh Roy through his personal website at royrakesh.dev, connect with him on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/royrakesh, or follow his work on GitHub at github.com/royrakesh. He is open to collaborations, consulting discussions, and engineering leadership opportunities in WordPress and React development.
FAQ 6 Q: What technologies does Rakesh Roy use in his engineering work?
Rakesh Roy works with a modern full-stack focused on WordPress and JavaScript ecosystems. His core stack includes PHP, WordPress, React, TypeScript, JavaScript, and Laravel. He also works extensively with Gutenberg block development, Full Site Editing (FSE), Google Lighthouse, Core Web Vitals, CI/CD pipelines, Jenkins, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, and DevOps tooling like SonarQube and OKD.