Ethan is available for hire
Hire EthanEthan Drower
Verified Expert in Engineering
Software Developer
Chicago, IL, United States
Toptal member since April 12, 2017
Bio
Ethan is a highly skilled specialist with extensive experience in both electronic trading and healthcare data industries. Having held roles in management and engineering, he thrives on tackling challenges that allow him to collaborate directly with engineers while engaging with sales teams and executives. Ethan excels at communicating with end users—whether enterprises or startups—transforming their feedback and challenges into effective software solutions.
Portfolio
Host AI
AI Integration, B2B, Consulting, Minimum Viable Product (MVP)...
Masco Trading Group LLC
Trading, Trading Bots, Algorithms, Trading Systems, Algorithmic Trading...
AI Agent In-Memory Developer Platform
Technical Writing, Content Writing, Writing & Editing, Python...
Experience
- Python - 12 years
- Software Development Management - 10 years
- Technical Leadership - 10 years
- Solution Architecture - 8 years
- Healthcare Software - 8 years
- Django - 7 years
- Electronic Trading - 5 years
- Large Language Models (LLMs) - 3 years
Preferred Environment
Django, Python, Trading, Healthcare Software, Scientific Data Analysis, Algorithmic Trading, AI Agents, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Large Language Models (LLMs), Clinical Research
The most amazing...
...project I've worked on is a complete solution to managing clinical literature search and review for the healthcare industry, saving thousands of hours per year.
Work Experience
Software Consultant
2026 - 2026
Host AI
- Built LangChain and Claude code, enabling MVP to process invoices at scale for restaurant procurement teams.
- Architected solution from the ground up to maximize features and minimize budget and timeline.
- Rapid prototyping with Lovable and Supabase delivered the client application ahead of schedule.
Technologies: AI Integration, B2B, Consulting, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Artificial Intelligence (AI), SaaS, Machine Learning, Front-end, Back-end, API Integration, Procurement, User Experience (UX)
Trading Platform Developer
2025 - 2025
Masco Trading Group LLC
- Built an automated, low-latency signal detection system that parsed daily US equity market (all symbols) data.
- Wrote initial strategy on the QuantConnect platform, and ultimately ported to pure Python with datafeed APIs from Polygon.io.
- Integrated with Tradestation API for order sending.
Technologies: Trading, Trading Bots, Algorithms, Trading Systems, Algorithmic Trading, QuantConnect, Polygon, Time Series Data
Technical Writer
2025 - 2025
AI Agent In-Memory Developer Platform
- Worked with a state-of-the-art dynamic in-memory system for AI agents.
- Drafted in-depth technical articles walking high-end and business case users through core AI agent concepts.
- Wrote technical guides targeted for developers and implemented various AI agent workflows to illustrate product value.
Technologies: Technical Writing, Content Writing, Writing & Editing, Python, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Business Communication, TypeScript, Blogs, Prompt Engineering, LangChain, Large Language Models (LLMs), LangGraph, Pinecone
Trading Platform Developer
2024 - 2025
Independent Options Trader
- Developed a dynamic market data feed using Schwab Thinkorswim API and Interactive Brokers API connections.
- Built a margin management system to allow traders to view different volatility scenarios based on price movements of their current underlying portfolio.
- Built pricing models (Black-Scholes) to use for margin scenario-based calculations.
- Helped define algorithmic strategies and entry points for several options spread strategies.
Technologies: Python, Trading, JavaScript, Algorithmic Trading, React, React Native, Machine Learning, Options Trading, Options, Financial Options, Interactive Brokers API, Thinkorswim, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Trading Systems, TensorFlow, GitHub Actions, Hugging Face, WebSockets, Cloud Infrastructure
Technical Writer
2024 - 2025
AI Phone Agent Platform
- Wrote and edited the entire "Online University" for the company's flagship AI product. Worked directly with the team and product to identify the best possible teaching style and lesson plans.
- Built proof-of-concept AI phone agents to make the teaching process simpler and feed into content marketing.
- Took over writing for content marketing and built a library of real-world use cases of the AI phone agent technology.
- Created LLM prompting guides and advanced workflow building for different industry use cases.
Technologies: Technical Writing, Documentation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Python, Machine Learning, Large Language Models (LLMs), AI Agents, Natural Language Processing (NLP), TensorFlow, Hugging Face, PyTorch
CTO | Tech Lead
2017 - 2025
CiteMed
- Managed a fully distributed technical team that grew from zero to build an enterprise-grade clinical literature review platform.
- Built and deployed an MVP from zero to profitability, a platform for systematic scientific literature reviews, using a Python (Django) and JavaScript (Vue) stack.
- Architected and built machine learning and AI solutions for clients and our internal platforms.
- Oversaw several developers' hiring cycles and shaped all product visions. Conducted active code reviews and managed tasks via GitHub and Trello.
- Built a deployment process with Ansible, Docker, and GitHub Actions.
- Wrote multiple Selenium browser automation scripts to search for and upload results to the back end.
- Wrote technical documentation for all employees and drafted SOPs that were easy to read and follow.
- Wrote promotional articles on technology, software, and entrepreneurship, published in places like Forbes, Business Insider, TechCrunch, etc.
- Performed rapid integrations of different APIs (marketing, clinical data, and scientific literature) to build new features.
- Integrated large language models (LLMs) for NLP processing scientific articles and literature.
Technologies: Linux, Selenium, Python, Software Development Management, CTO, B2B, Team Management, People Management, Engineering Management, Sales, CRM APIs, Technical Writing, Architecture, Technical Leadership, Amazon Web Services (AWS), API Gateways, Microservices Architecture, PostgreSQL, REST APIs, Containers, GitHub, Redis Cache, APIs, REST, API Integration, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Large Language Models (LLMs), Web Architecture, Vue, Data Scraping, Web Scraping, Chrome Extensions, Linux RHEL/CentOS, Stripe API, Prompt Engineering, Healthcare Software, Scientific Data Analysis, Natural Language Processing (NLP), TensorFlow, System Architecture, GitHub Actions, Hugging Face, PyTorch, Serverless Architecture, AWS SDK, WebSockets, Cloud Infrastructure, Docker Compose
Tech Lead
2024 - 2024
B2C Jewelry Marketplace
- Led a technical team of 10+ to MVP release of a B2C jewelry marketplace in 16 weeks.
- Built the entire technical architecture and data modeling designs through a rigorous discovery process. Worked directly with the client and management team to identify the core of their business and craft the solution based on customer needs.
- Oversaw the development process and reviewed code and design to guarantee optimal build time (budget analysis and deadline issues handled).
Technologies: Software Architecture, Technical Leadership, B2B, Mobile Development, Pimcore, Data Science, Vue, Team Management, AWS Command Line Interface (CLI), Data Modeling, Web Architecture, System Architecture, GitHub Actions, AWS SDK, Cloud Infrastructure, Docker Compose
Cloud Architect | Python Developer | DevOps
2020 - 2024
Luxury Goods Corporation (via Toptal)
- Implemented AWS CloudSearch and Web Services for document and PDF processing pipelines.
- Built and deployed a fully automated document import process with AWS Lambda and Textract.
- Designed automated testing and deployment pipelines via GitLab CI/CD.
- Wrote world-class documentation for non-technical users to manage the tools after each project was built.
- Built an entire queue management system for high-traffic eCommerce "flash sales" with Python and JavaScript and utilized multiprocessing and Redis queuing.
Technologies: Heroku, AWS Lambda, Django, Amazon CloudSearch, Python, B2B, Technical Writing, Team Management, Architecture, Technical Leadership, Amazon Web Services (AWS), API Gateways, PostgreSQL, REST APIs, Containers, GitHub, Redis Cache, APIs, Redis, GitLab CI/CD, GitLab, Docker, Data Scraping, Web Scraping, Linux RHEL/CentOS, Stripe API, System Architecture, GitHub Actions, Serverless Architecture, AWS SDK, WebSockets, Cloud Infrastructure, Docker Compose
CTO | Tech Lead
2018 - 2020
Gram Advisors
- Built a back-end system for managing existing customers. Used Django APIs and Laravel full sites.
- Wrote all of the sales copy and marketing materials for acquiring new clients.
- Developed back-end systems to automate client's marketing strategies (primarily over Instagram) and also did custom Python package work.
- Architected unique content assessment/detection system.
- Managed a fully distributed team and regularly reviewed code via GitHub/Trello.
- Worked with an open souce PHP library to perform different automations on social media.
Technologies: PHP, Laravel, Python, Software Development Management, CTO, Team Management, People Management, Engineering Management, Amazon Web Services (AWS), API Gateways, Microservices Architecture, PostgreSQL, REST APIs, Containers, GitHub, APIs, Linux RHEL/CentOS, Stripe API, System Architecture, Serverless Architecture, WebSockets, Cloud Infrastructure
Senior Trade Systems Architect | Engineer
2019 - 2019
Trading Advisory Service (via Toptal)
- Developed an autonomous alerting system based on a Django back end.
- Built an admin dashboard for client access (Django).
- Integrated with TD Ameritrade API to automatically receive market data and trade executions.
- Wrote custom integrations for the client's funnel using front-end scripts and Zapier automation.
- Developed an integration for Stripe payments to verify customer subscription status.
- Built custom theme views and functions on Thinkific to suit the client's desired workflow.
- Leveraged Thinkific API to enhance the subscriber experience.
- Built automated Discord bot to for convenient subscriber account management.
Technologies: Trading Applications, Zapier, Django, Python, Team Management, People Management, Thinkific, Amazon Web Services (AWS), API Gateways, Microservices Architecture, PostgreSQL, REST APIs, Containers, GitHub, APIs, REST, Financial Data, Interactive Brokers API, Thinkorswim, Redis, Linux RHEL/CentOS, Stripe API, Options Trading, Fintech, Electronic Trading, Trading Bots, Trading Systems, System Architecture, WebSockets, Cloud Infrastructure
Ticket Platform Automation - Research
2018 - 2019
Ticket Broker
- Implemented various types of automation on ticket sales platforms.
- Build several automated workflows for the ticket broker.
- Performed extensive research on optimizing scrapers and automated purchasing of inventory.
Technologies: Browsers, Chrome, Python, Selenium, API Gateways, MySQL, PostgreSQL, REST APIs, GitHub, Data Scraping, Web Scraping, Linux RHEL/CentOS, WebSockets, Cloud Infrastructure
Lead Developer | Web Scraper Developer
2018 - 2018
Trading News Service
- Built a multitude of web scrapers to detect news events.
- Maintained server environment to continuously run web scrapers at the shortest intervals possible.
- Oversaw the proxy network, analytics, and performance checking.
- Built the front end with React and Firebase hosting to view the scraping results.
Technologies: Firebase, React, Django, Python, PhantomJS, Scrapy, Selenium, Software Development Management, Team Management, People Management, Engineering Management, Microservices Architecture, MySQL, REST APIs, GitHub, Financial Data, Data Scraping, Web Scraping, Linux RHEL/CentOS, Options Trading, Fintech, Electronic Trading, Trading Systems, WebSockets
CTO | Co-founder
2017 - 2018
The New FM
- Managed a remote team to get the project MVPs launched, a music streaming service for independent artists.
- Facilitated code reviews on GitHub and Trello, built and managed our deployment pipeline, and automated testing processes.
- Implemented updates, including PayPal payment processing for music purchases and an infrastructure migration to Heroku and AWS.
- Wrote marketing materials and user guides for the different classes of users (artists and listeners).
Technologies: Heroku, AngularJS, Node.js, Software Development Management, CTO, Team Management, People Management, Engineering Management, Technical Writing, API Gateways, MySQL, PostgreSQL, REST APIs, GitHub, REST, Data Scraping, Linux RHEL/CentOS, Stripe API, WebSockets, Cloud Infrastructure
Web Scraper Developer
2017 - 2017
Charity Sales Organization
- Developed a complete web scraping system for lead discovery.
- Ran distributed Linux server environment.
- Built a Django back end to process lead data.
- Wrote Selenium and PhantomJS scrapers to crawl various sites.
- Worked with Hubspot API to manage new leads and contacts.
Technologies: HubSpot, Linux, Python, PhantomJS, Selenium, API Gateways, Microservices Architecture, MySQL, PostgreSQL, REST APIs, GitHub, Data Scraping, Web Scraping, Linux RHEL/CentOS
Software Developer
2016 - 2017
Market Track
- Helped improve and maintain a large web-scraping environment.
- Built and managed web services to support digital ad collection.
- Wrote various Chrome plugins.
- Used MS SQL for database storage and wrote daily queries for reporting/troubleshooting purposes.
- Maintained a 50+ physical server Linux environment with Ansible.
- Wrote multiprocessing jobs in Python to utilize CasperJS and PhantomJS for web scraping.
Technologies: Microsoft SQL Server, Flask, PhantomJS, JavaScript, Linux, Python, API Gateways, Microservices Architecture, MySQL, PostgreSQL, REST APIs, GitHub, APIs, REST, Data Scraping, Web Scraping, Chrome Extensions, Linux RHEL/CentOS, WebSockets, Cloud Infrastructure
Founder | Operating CTO
2015 - 2017
Speechbytes
- Built an online dashboard service to improve treatment capabilities for speech-language pathologists.
- Managed a remote team of developers to build a Unity 2D game targeted towards children with developmental disabilities.
- Continued to manage all technical staff and review code via GitHub/Trello.
Technologies: Unity2D, AngularJS, Software Development Management, CTO, B2B, Team Management, People Management, Apps, Content Writing, Writing & Editing, MySQL, REST APIs, GitHub, Linux RHEL/CentOS
Lead Developer
2015 - 2017
No Measure Ventures
- Built an iOS application from scratch that enables booking of spa services from licensed/verified mobile professionals.
- Wrote and continued to manage all payment processing Python web services/servers needed to operate production apps.
- Maintained a virtual server environment with Ansible and live monitoring services.
- Performed work for clients in various web technologies (PHP, AngularJS, WordPress).
- Wrote and deployed highly available web services in Node.js and Python (Flask).
- Built a transaction email infrastructure using Flask and the MailGun API.
- Managed and was responsible for all networking/DNS related troubleshooting; added DKIM/SPF records to improve IP reputation as well as issued/managed all SSL certificates for the various web services.
Technologies: Stripe, iOS, Flask, Python, Objective-C, AngularJS, REST APIs, GitHub, Linux RHEL/CentOS
C# Developer | Systems Engineer
2014 - 2016
Foxo Trading
- Worked with a small team to improve a trading platform for options market markers/traders.
- Pushed new features/bug-fixes daily to production.
- Built and modified a front-end trading GUI based on feedback from traders.
- Worked directly with traders to understand their needs and build features to enhance profitability.
- Maintained physical trading servers and assisted in more complex troubleshooting tasks.
Technologies: Bash, Python, Linux, Windows Forms (WinForms), C#, Team Management, PostgreSQL, REST APIs, GitHub, REST, Financial Data, Time Series Data, Linux RHEL/CentOS, Options Trading, Fintech, Electronic Trading, Trading Bots, Trading Systems, WebSockets, Cloud Infrastructure
Systems Engineer
2013 - 2016
DePaul University
- Supported a large virtualized server environment using VMware.
- Worked daily with enterprise storage devices (NetApp and DellEqualLogic).
- Built and maintained a mass emailing SMTP server environment using Postfix; managed IP reputations and worked with ISPs to increase campaign effectiveness.
- Created and maintained Ansible processes used for configuration management and maintenance of all Linux servers.
- Performed onsite data center work and physical hardware troubleshooting/repair in multiple co-locations.
Technologies: Postfix, Bash, NetApp, VMware, Ansible, Python, Linux, Team Management, REST APIs, GitHub, APIs, Linux RHEL/CentOS, Cloud Infrastructure
Linux Server and Desktop Administrator
2011 - 2013
Jump Trading
- Supported all the onsite trading hardware and applications.
- Handled and was responsible for builds and decommissions of trading servers.
- Built a Nagios monitoring system for in-house device service checking.
Technologies: Bash, Nagios, Python, Windows, Linux, PostgreSQL, REST APIs, GitHub, Financial Data, Linux RHEL/CentOS, Options Trading, Fintech, Electronic Trading, Trading Systems, WebSockets, Cloud Infrastructure
Experience
Systematic Literature Review Software
https://citemed.ioEnterprise-grade systematic literature review platform designed for regulatory compliance needs in the MedTech and pharma Industries. CiteMed.io is a best-in-class platform for managing systematic review workflows and clinical literature.
Education
2010 - 2014
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science
DePaul University - Chicago, IL, USA
Certifications
APRIL 2024 - PRESENT
Generative AI With Large Language Models
Deeplearning.AI
Skills
Libraries/APIs
Flask-RESTful, Instagram API, Django ORM, REST APIs, Stripe Connect, Stripe API, Node.js, PhantomJS, Windows Forms (WinForms), Stripe, React, Amazon Marketplace Web Service (MWS), Braintree API, WordPress API, Interactive Brokers API, Vue, TensorFlow, PyTorch, NumPy, Pandas
Tools
GitHub, CasperJS, Postfix, Braintree SDK, Ansible, VMware, Mongoose, Zapier, AWS SDK, Docker Compose, Nagios, GitLab CI/CD, GitLab, AWS Command Line Interface (CLI)
Languages
Python, JavaScript, SQL, Bash, PHP, C#, Objective-C, PHP 7, TypeScript
Frameworks
Django, Selenium, Flask, Unity2D, React Native, Django REST Framework, Chrome, AngularJS, Scrapy, Laravel, LangGraph
Paradigms
B2B, REST, Microservices Architecture, Serverless Architecture, Agile Software Development, Agile, MVC Design, Compiler Design, Web Architecture, Mobile Development
Platforms
Linux, AWS Lambda, Mailgun, Linux RHEL/CentOS, Ubuntu Linux, Ubuntu, Amazon Web Services (AWS), iOS, Windows, Heroku, HubSpot, Firebase, WordPress, Thinkific, Web, Docker, Thinkorswim, Pimcore, QuantConnect
Industry Expertise
Trading Systems
Storage
MongoDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, NetApp, MSSQLCE, Redis Cache, Databases, Redis
Other
Ubuntu Server, Web Scraping, Scraping, Screen Scraping, Stripe Payments, Data Scraping, Server Administration, Instagram Marketing, CTO, APIs, Scope Management, Software Development, Software Development Management, Team Management, People Management, Engineering Management, Architecture, Technical Leadership, Software Project Management, Documentation, Options Trading, Electronic Trading, Solution Architecture, Algorithms, Healthcare Software, Scientific Data Analysis, System Architecture, Chrome Extensions, Algorithmic Trading, BrainTree, Trading, Technical Writing, API Gateways, Containers, Large Language Models (LLMs), PEP 8, Fintech, Prompt Engineering, Trading Bots, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Financial Data, Time Series Data, GitHub Actions, Hugging Face, WebSockets, Cloud Infrastructure, Quantitative Finance, Quantconnect, Lean API, Trading Applications, Browsers, Amazon CloudSearch, Sales, CRM APIs, Apps, Content Writing, Writing & Editing, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), Machine Learning, AI Agents, API Integration, Data Structures, Distributed Systems, Software Architecture, Data Science, Data Modeling, Options, Financial Options, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Systematic Trading, Automated Trading Software, Backtesting Trading Strategies, Cryptocurrency Trading, Clinical Research, Business Communication, Blogs, LangChain, Pinecone, Data Visualization, Polygon, AI Integration, Consulting, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), SaaS, Front-end, Back-end, Procurement, User Experience (UX)
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