Full-stack developer with front-end focus

Welcome

Hi! đŸ‘‹

I'm Brett, a full-stack software developer with a front-end focus. I've worked on systems large and small, legacy and green field, solo and as a team lead. I've been writing software professionally for 10 years, 7 of those fully remote.

I always leave a codebase tidier than I found it. I've worked in legacy systems long enough to know that today's short-term workaround is tomorrow's permanent solution, and I do my best to help my team avoid the kinds of mistakes I've seen and made.

I love code reuse, but I've seen its overuse freeze a codebase in amber, making minor edits nearly impossible. I love unit testing, but I've seen how it can slow iteration and refactoring. Engineering is all about tradeoffs, and I'm familiar with most of them.

I'm a supportive teammate and a thoughtful mentor. I've been lucky to work with some wonderful mentors over the years, and I'm passionate about mentoring others. I don't believe in Rock Stars or Ninjas or 10x Developers. I believe the best software is crafted collaboratively by teams of humble, curious professionals.

Career

July 2019 - Lead Frontend Engineer @ Rune Labs
  • Led frontend development of data visualization platform for neurological data
  • Created modular architecture with separation of concerns using React contexts
  • Maintained high unit and integration test coverage monitored by CircleCI
2013 - May 2019 JavaScript Engineer @ Help Scout
  • Developed critical features, including live chat, knowledge base, reporting, and shared inbox
  • Scaled front-end team from single person to nine engineers
  • Migrated flagship product from legacy server-rendered architecture to realtime SPA
  • Directed seamless, gradual migration path from Backbone to React/Redux using Brigade
  • Drove evolution of best practices including testing, code reviews
2012 - 2013 Software Developer @ Keyhole Software
  • Prototyped Single Page Applications for enterprise clients
  • Migrated session replication to backup site for financial services client
2010 - 2012 Software Developer @ ABC Financial
  • Full stack J2EE development of industry-leading health club management software
  • Front-end specialization with jQuery, JavaScriptMVC
  • Built features including reporting dashboard, credit card reader, configurable online membership signup

Skills

Technologies

React, Redux, GraphQL, ES6, Backbone, Pusher, Node, Websockets, Webpack, Storybook, Cypress, Jest, Php, Java, RDBMS

Education

2006 - 2010 Harding University
  • B.S. Computer Science, B.A. Mathematics
  • 4.0 GPA
  • National Merit, Summa Cum Laude, President’s List