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Henok Ghebrezghi
Verified Expert in Engineering
Software Developer
Toronto, ON, Canada
Toptal member since September 7, 2020
Bio
Henok is a detail-oriented software engineer with over 15 years of development, architecture, and technology leadership experience. Henok has developed major work for large Canadian and US corporations in the automotive, banking, and non-profit industries, to name a few. He excels at integrations, optimizations, migrations, and eCommerce projects, whether full-stack, mobile, or DevOps-related. Henok enjoys keeping up-to-speed with the latest innovations and sharing knowledge with others.
Portfolio
Hypertext Labs
Model View ViewModel (MVVM), RxJava 2, RxKotlin, Android, Gatsby, Strapi...
Charge Automation
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Vue 2, AngularJS, Stripe API, Stripe Connect API...
Agnet Reva
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT)...
Experience
- MySQL - 16 years
- Unix - 16 years
- Jakarta EE (Java EE or J2EE) - 15 years
- Java - 15 years
- Spring Boot - 12 years
- Microservices - 8 years
- MongoDB - 7 years
- React - 3 years
Preferred Environment
Spring Boot, Docker Compose, IntelliJ IDEA
The most amazing...
...project I grew as CTO was for ChargeAutomation.com and BookingAutomation.com. I took part in the DMZ accelerator program in Toronto to develop the company.
Work Experience
Founder and Senior Software Engineering Consultant
2010 - PRESENT
Hypertext Labs
- Developed an eCommerce integration platform that syncs your eCommerce operations data to reduce manual labor and costly errors.
- Developed many eCommerce-related integrations, including: Shopify, Amazon, Ebay, Commerce-hub and many more.
- Developed generic eCommerce integration capabilities that can read and write industry standard EDI formats.
- Collaborated with "Connected Labs" as a consultant and mentored developers on Spring Boot + React on a project involving a major motor vehicle company in the United States.
- Collaborated with "Connected Labs" as a consultant and helped re-build an Android banking application for a major Canadian retail bank (RX Java and MVVM).
- Served as an independent consultant and helped re-develop a major Canadian non-profit company's website using Strapi CMS and GatsbyJS.
- Assisted several companies in the design and development of Shopify websites that were well integrated into their back-office.
- Assisted in the development of an eCommerce platform for the travel technology industry that helped several vacation rental businesses launch eCommerce websites.
- Advised startups on how to quickly achieve product-market-fit and once they do, how to properly scale their team + technology to compete in their respective industries.
Technologies: Model View ViewModel (MVVM), RxJava 2, RxKotlin, Android, Gatsby, Strapi, Facebook API, eBay API, Amazon API, Shopify API, Shopify, JavaScript, PHP 7, React, Spring Boot, Java, Python, Cloud, Full-stack, Full-stack Development, Chatbots, Artificial Intelligence (AI), LangChain, eCommerce, Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO), Data Build Tool (dbt), GitHub, Asana, A/B Testing, Google Analytics, TypeScript, SCSS, GraphQL, Automation, CSV File Processing, React Native, Technical Consulting, Technical Architecture, Back-end, Big Data, Node.js, Architecture, Snowflake, Data Science
CTO
2018 - 2019
Charge Automation
- Assisted in the development of a bootstrapped company in building on its MVP and achieving product-market fit.
- Led two teams working on two different technology stacks (Java with Spring boot and PHP with Laravel).
- Oversaw the end-to-end process of product development, from defining user stories, designing user experience, designing software architecture, developing components, and growing a team of talented developers locally and offshore.
- Provided technical leadership during the scaling of the business while participating in a local accelerator program (Ryerson DMZ).
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Vue 2, AngularJS, Stripe API, Stripe Connect API, Unix, MySQL, Laravel, PHP 7, Spring Boot, Java, Python, Cloud, Full-stack, Full-stack Development, Chatbots, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO), GitHub, A/B Testing, Google Tag Manager, Automation, CSV File Processing, Technical Architecture, Back-end, Payment Gateways, Big Data, Node.js, Architecture, Data Science
Lead Software Architect and Developer
2018 - 2018
Agnet Reva
- Developed a cutting edge chatbot application that helps people find their perfect homes.
- Integrated the chatbot into Facebook's Messenger and ads API.
- Integrated the application into the Follow Up Boss platform; a CRM tool for the real estate industry.
- Integrated an application into Zapier for additional integration capabilities.
- Implemented integration with Dialogflow for NLP capabilities.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT), Dialogflow, Apache Solr, Facebook Messenger API, Facebook Ads API, Zapier, Follow Up Boss API, React, Facebook API, Spring Boot, Java, Cloud, Full-stack, Full-stack Development, Chatbots, Artificial Intelligence (AI), GitHub, ETL, CSV File Processing, Technical Architecture, Back-end, Node.js, Architecture
Software Engineering Manager
2017 - 2018
OpenLane (Adesa)
- Managed the development and maintenance of software for the automotive industry. Oversaw development tasks performed by local and remote-based developers.
- Ensured the maintenance and quality of a sellers portal, used by thousands of auction houses in North America.
- Provided technical leadership and helped solve problems in spite of challenging design and architectural problems.
- Completed the Scaled Agile certification training to further develop my agile coaching skills.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Apache Tomcat, JBoss, Jakarta Server Pages (JSP), Spring Boot, Java, Cloud, Full-stack, Full-stack Development, GitHub
Software Engineer and Team Lead
2013 - 2017
Quickplay Media (AT&T)
- Developed high-quality code with a team of talented developers. We were building the future of highly available/scalable online video transcoding.
- Developed a simple yet effective candidate screening process to quickly find talented team members.
- Developed Docker containers to help new team members get up-to-speed when setting up development environments and also to speed up development in general.
- Contributed significantly to the overall application design and architecture of a multi-tenant video processing system. We successfully processed, encrypted and delivered thousands of hours of high-quality content per day using our platform.
Technologies: Cassandra, MongoDB, Microservices, Spring Boot, Java, Cloud, Full-stack, Full-stack Development, Server Security, GitHub, ETL, CSV File Processing, Technical Architecture, Back-end, Architecture
Software Engineer/Team Lead
2007 - 2010
Crosscap Media Services
- Developed custom solutions for major US retailers. Solutions include eCommerce, content management, web publishing, price forecasting, marketing planning, and intelligent process automation.
- Led a small team of developers in Toronto and India. I helped build the India office by traveling to India to ensure high-quality output of modules for a critically important client.
- Developed an in-house Ajax framework before jQuery became popular. We used this early Ajax library on the product listing website of a major North American retailer.
Technologies: Spring Boot, jQuery, Jakarta EE (Java EE or J2EE), Java, Full-stack, Full-stack Development, Server Security, eCommerce, GitHub, ETL, CSV File Processing, Back-end, Architecture
Software Engineer
2005 - 2010
Crosscap Media Services
- Developed the early version of a major Canadian retailer's eCommerce website.
- Designed and developed a portal for vendors to manage products listed on a major retailer's online website.
- Monitored and troubleshoot production issues, which was hosted in a remote Unix environment.
- Ensured high-quality code was consistently delivered by assisting in the training and managing of new team members.
Technologies: Ajax, JavaScript, CSS, HTML, Jakarta EE Design Patterns, Jakarta EE (Java EE or J2EE), Java, Full-stack, Full-stack Development, Server Security, eCommerce, GitHub, ETL, CSV File Processing, Back-end, Architecture
Product Support Engineer
2007 - 2008
Marsh
- Supported enterprise applications for the insurance business in the UK. Traveled to the UK to train with the team I would be supporting and off-board the off-shore company currently providing support.
- Transitioned support operations from off-shore in the UK to Toronto, Canada.
- Ensurer thorough documentation of existing systems and processes. Interfaced with business partners in the UK to communicate technical issues and solutions for them.
Technologies: Jakarta EE (Java EE or J2EE), Java, GitHub
Experience
Agent ReVa
A Spring Boot + React + Facebook Messenger API-based application. We developed a virtual assistant chatbot that can recommend homes that best suite your needs using live MLS data. The application's user interface is exclusively accessed through Facebook's Messenger application. We used Google's Dialogflow for NLP capabilities and other technologies to index the massive amount of MLS data needed to make home recommendations.
Reusable Widgets for Enhanced Customer Engagements
One of my clients required custom code written on multiple branded websites. The websites were all eCommerce or information that led to third-party eCommerce websites. The goal of the functionality was to improve customer engagement on their direct-to-consumer websites and fulfill industry-specific compliance requirements.
It was important that some of the websites be updated in collaboration with existing web administration teams. These teams were technical enough to make some HTML/CSS/JavaScript changes but not enough to develop custom experiences using JavaScript SDKs.
The solution I came up with was to develop reusable and smart engagement widgets. These widgets would be easily extensible using simple key/value HTML attributes as CSS for style.
The code was written using React+WebPack, where all the complex JavaScript and back-end code is invoked.
Thus, the website would get a simple JavaScript file to include and a number of CSS classes to apply to their webpages to display the React module. Adding complex functionality was as easy as using CSS.
It was important that some of the websites be updated in collaboration with existing web administration teams. These teams were technical enough to make some HTML/CSS/JavaScript changes but not enough to develop custom experiences using JavaScript SDKs.
The solution I came up with was to develop reusable and smart engagement widgets. These widgets would be easily extensible using simple key/value HTML attributes as CSS for style.
The code was written using React+WebPack, where all the complex JavaScript and back-end code is invoked.
Thus, the website would get a simple JavaScript file to include and a number of CSS classes to apply to their webpages to display the React module. Adding complex functionality was as easy as using CSS.
Education
2002 - 2004
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science
Trent University - Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
2000 - 2002
Advanced Diploma in Computer Programming and Analysis
Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Certifications
OCTOBER 2017 - OCTOBER 2018
Certified SAFe Agilist (SA)
Scaled Agile, Inc.
SEPTEMBER 2017 - SEPTEMBER 2018
Certified SAFe Practitioner (SP)
Scaled Agile, Inc.
Skills
Libraries/APIs
jQuery, Facebook API, React, Facebook Ads API, Facebook Messenger API, Shopify API, Node.js, Amazon API, eBay API, RxKotlin, RxJava 2, Stripe Connect API, Stripe API, Vue 2
Tools
IntelliJ IDEA, Docker Compose, Apache Tomcat, Zapier, GitHub, Apache Solr, Dialogflow, Asana, Google Analytics
Languages
Java, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, TypeScript, GraphQL, SCSS, Snowflake, PHP 7
Frameworks
Spring Boot, Jakarta Server Pages (JSP), AngularJS, React Native, Laravel
Paradigms
Microservices, Agile Software Development, ETL, Automation, Model View ViewModel (MVVM), Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
Platforms
Jakarta EE (Java EE or J2EE), JBoss, Unix, Shopify, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Android
Storage
MongoDB, MySQL, Cassandra
Other
Data Structures, Algorithms, Jakarta EE Design Patterns, Follow Up Boss API, Strapi, Gatsby, Cloud, Full-stack, Full-stack Development, Chatbots, Artificial Intelligence (AI), eCommerce, CSV File Processing, Technical Consulting, Technical Architecture, Back-end, Payment Gateways, Big Data, Architecture, Ajax, Server Security, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT), LangChain, Data Build Tool (dbt), A/B Testing, Google Tag Manager, Data Science
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