Skills & Tech

Being a Software Engineer means to me more than just a programmer or developer. It is the engineer who works with users, develops the specifications, defines architecture, tests and deploys the application, and debugs issues in other people’s code. It is the engineer who understands at a higher level why others choose which language and technology to use, which algorithms to fix problems, and how to maintain efficient systems that stand the test of time.

Exploring New Technologies

Technology is always evolving, and staying ahead means continuously learning and experimenting. Lately, I’ve been diving into Python, Django, React, and AWS (LightSail, EC2). These tools allow me to build scalable applications, improve deployment processes, and create better user experiences.

  • Python & Django – Developing scalable back-end systems and APIs.
  • React – Creating modern, dynamic front-end experiences.
  • AWS (LightSail, EC2) – Deploying and managing applications in the cloud.
  • Ruby on Rails – Building efficient, structured web applications with powerful frameworks.
  • WordPress – Exploring custom themes and plugins.
  • ChatGPT – Exploring AI-assisted development for automation and problem-solving.
  • GitHub – Managing version control, collaboration, and project tracking.

Recent Projects & Experiments

Learning is best done hands-on, and these are some of the recent ways I’ve applied these technologies:

These projects help me gain hands-on experience with scalability, performance tuning, and full-stack development. As I continue refining them, I focus on improving efficiency, automation, and user experience.

Tools and Tech in My Career

I often say my “native language” is C++, a language I learned at CalPoly. Ironically, I’ve never really used C++ in a job setting, but the programming fundamentals I learned are universal across languages.

  • On my first summer job, I taught myself ANSI-C to write data readers.
  • In my last summer job, I learned Perl on the job to maintain the operations of simulation pools.
  • At Intel, I learned MS Excel Visual Basic on the job to write scripts used to calculate lengths for motherboard routing and for building reports used by middle management to monitor product readiness.
  • At HP, I learned Tcl-Tk on the job to enhance scripts used to automate the testing of devices.
  • At CalPERS, I learned PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, jQuery, HTML, and CSS on the job of building website applications.
  • At NameHero, I used my PHP skills while mastering the Laravel framework.

These diverse tools and languages have shaped my approach to problem-solving, and I continue to adapt quickly to new roles and technologies.