Harvard University Extension School

Brandeis University

"Full stack" web application engineer, architect, occasional team lead

Northampton, Massachusetts, United States

- Architect & principal developer of scratchbuilt SSO authentication system
-  Rebuilt user/account Node services, with transactions, monitoring, observability
-  Led web app development for critical new mobile product; delivered ahead of schedule
-  migrated SaaS product from Backbone to React
-  led software development lifecycle, from planning & scoping through development, release, and monitoring
-  Mentored early-career developers

Appcues

Sr Software Engineer

- Led new team of 4 while contributing code
-  Reduced team’s new bug count by 50%, increased speed with which bugs are fixed by a factor of 3
-  Established team’s agile processes and standards, resulting in fewer quality issues/rework and more successful sprints
-  Led architectural design, domain modeling, and planning/implementation of React/Redux app to replace benefits enrollment application, balanced maintenance of legacy application with new work
-  Assessed impact of security consultant's findings on team's applications (web and mobile), prioritized findings and determined approach for remediation
-  Established end-to-end automated regression test suite (testcafe, Sauce Labs)
-  Participated in four-day immersive Domain-Driven Design training by Eric Evans
-  Participated in week-long management & leadership training

Maxwell Health

Senior Software Engineer

Placester, Inc.

Lead Software Engineer

- Taught introductory courses on web development and digital publishing for Masters students in the WLP program
-  Curriculum covers basic HTML, CSS, and JS development, digital tools and platforms for creating and publishing digital media, project management, and professional concerns for the digital/publishing landscape

Emerson College

Associate Faculty

- Led 14-person cross-functional agile team and two teams of off-shore constractors
-  Led localization of Placester's Sites product, facilitating a high-revenue enterprise relationship and Placester's first international business presence
-  Conceived, led architectural design and development for new full stack, isomorphic React/Flux/Node/Webpack Sites product to replace existing stack, while continuing to release features on legacy product to facilitate major enterprise deals
-  built developer tools and automated processes to ensure devs spent time solving meaningful problems
-  defined and scheduled the units of work, worked w/devs to identify best implementations, identified issues with project progress in advance and proactively looped in other stakeholders to ensure business goals were not put at risk
-  Onboarded engineers from acquired company, worked closely with them to ensure comfort with culture and processes
-  Modeled best practices and healthy behaviors for a startup culture in significant flux, consulted with senior management to represent and advocate for web team.

Senior Software Engineer/Team Lead

Provided one-on-one instruction and tutoring to adult students learning computer science fundamentals and JavaScript/web development. Developed curriculum and weekly assignments, evaluated student work, adjusted pace of instruction to match students' pace and provide appropriate level of challenge.

Self-Employed

Freelance Computer Science Instructor

- Project lead/principal developer for enterprise real estate search/advertising application used by Hearst Media and other major media companies; worked closely with senior leaders and other teams to identify, build, and ship features that delivered major revenue
-  Conceived and developed company's first javascript application, a 'Google Instant' style natural language search experience, that was instrumental in landing first enterprise contract
-  Developed suite of modern, performant, maintainable javascript experiences while integrating with legacy Wordpress-powered platform
-  Conceived and developed a range of javascript widgets for enterprise customers to embed in their sites to drive traffic to our product. Created runtime and delivery mechanism to allow widgets to be embedded directly in sites, safely and without the constraints of iframes
-  Led project and shipped mission-critical product while entirely remote on three-hour time difference; periodically traveled to Boston office for 'face time'

Software Engineer

- Technical lead on revamp of high-profile IS&T website: developed custom, reusable jQuery and WordPress plugins to meet project's needs, conducted technical analysis and established solutions approach
-  Developed and maintained PHP- and Python-based (Django) web applications
-  Developed custom WordPress plugins and themes to meet the needs of Boston University’s 3000+ WordPress sites
-  Departmental expert on Google Analytics; conceived and developed University-wide Analytics implementation, conducted workshops for IT partners, authored public-facing documentation
-  Participated in full software lifecycle development process, from requirements gathering and technical analysis to release management
-  Provided top-tier support for WordPress issues

Boston University

Web Developer

- Developed WordPress plugins for the academic community, both to extend existing Wordpress functionality and to create new tools for web editors.
-  Customized WordPress themes to meet the business needs of Harvard law journals.
-  Researched and developed workflows for distributing ebook versions of HLS law journals.
-  Rapidly designed and launched WordPress-based sites for student organizations.
-  Consulted with Communications Manager, Director of Student Affairs, and Dean of Students on technology solutions and best practices.
-  Designed and produced web, mobile and print material for student organizations and the Dean of Students office.

Harvard Law School

Web Assistant

- Conceived, designed and coded billing website used by students and parents at thirteen distinct schools using Harvard’s in-house CMS
-  Reviewed and edited copy for website and summer communications to students and parents
-  First line of communication for students, parents, Harvard offices and the public, fielding hundreds of emails, phone calls and walk-ins.

Harvard University

Accounting Assistant/Sr. Customer Service

- Conceived and developed artisanal chocolate business
-  Developed and tested wide range of product based on unmet market demand
-  Designed packaging, labels and marketing materials
-  Installed, designed, and customized online store using OsCommerce
-  Cultivated relationships with local retailers
-  Produced world-class chocolates by hand to meet clients’ deadlines
-  Established menu and ran kitchen for client’s weekly promotional event

Brendan Gannon

Brendan Gannon