
Jeffrey Bennett
Verified Expert in Engineering
Team Management Developer
Cookeville, TN, United States
Toptal member since July 1, 2019
Jeffrey has over a decade of experience developing software. He takes great pride in his versatility as a full-stack developer. As a freelancer, Jeffrey has a depth of knowledge from working on projects ranging from game development in Unity, mobile development for iOS and Android, web applications using Node.js and cloud technologies like AWS and Azure, and cutting-edge XR apps.
Portfolio
Experience
- C# - 16 years
- JavaScript - 15 years
- Unity - 10 years
- Agile Software Development - 9 years
- Software Development Management - 6 years
- Team Management - 6 years
- Performance Optimization - 6 years
- Claude Code - 2 years
Preferred Environment
JavaScript, C#, Node.js, Agile Software Development, Scrum, JetBrains IDE, Unity
The most amazing...
...project I've worked on recently is an augmented reality app that helped young children get comfortable with math by measuring things in the world around them.
Work Experience
Senior Software Engineer
Series Entertainment
- Served as the lead developer on a narrative fiction game engine project in TypeScript. Created to be utilized by AI agents for internal and external content creators to create apps for Unity and Web in a matter of days.
- Shipped The Ultimatum: Choices and Single’s Inferno: Choices with 500,000 downloads and a 4.5 rating on time for Netflix Games.
- Interfaced with Netflix employees to deliver both QA and release builds on time.
- Utilized AI tools, specifically Claude Code and Cursor, to create new features for the narrative fiction engine within 48 hours while maintaining high-quality code standards with a thorough testing suite.
Software Engineer
Avatar Partners
- Architected multiple systems for an internal networked XR defense training experience that the military clients used in their security training, both active-duty security personnel and support staff in the command center.
- Optimized Unity Netcode, increasing performance to enable more than 16 participants in a single simulation.
- Ensured high coding standards and practices in all deliverables.
Freelance Developer
Freelance Work
- Led a small team for a client who sells 3D printed models for wargaming tabletop games. Built an extension to the website for customers to make custom 3D models. Built the front end in Unity WebGL and the back end in Node.js and MongoDB.
- Oversaw a small team on a Node.js, MySQL, Discord, and Twitch bot to assist speedrunners with managing community races within their Discord channel.
- Collaborated on a VR-style public service announcement application that immersed users in VR cinematics playing out in front of them and showing the impact of their decisions.
- Contributed to a Unity AR game that encouraged kids to explore the world around them and measure things, strengthening their math skills. Also utilized PlayFab BaaS to handle user accounts and save data.
- Handled a mobile app that helped student drivers track the required hours to obtain their driver's license. Built the front end with Unity iOS and Android and the back end in PHP and MySQL.
Lead Developer
North Star Games
- Worked as a full-stack developer focused on creating the digital versions of North Star Games' board games.
- Acted as a software architect focused on creating all of the systems for Evolution: The Video Game.
- Interfaced directly with the project manager and artists to implement the design requirements for Evolution: The Video Game.
- Researched new technologies to implement in the game.
- Led the development team of full-time developers and contractors.
- Built the entire back end utilizing PlayFab BaaS with custom JavaScript code.
Senior Consultant
Booz Allen Hamilton
- Worked as a software developer creating applications for various government contracts.
- Developed serious games and interactive media projects in Unity 3D, creating the building blocks the designers used to make the applications.
- Developed native iOS applications for various government clients.
- Developed AWS Cloud applications using HTML, JavaScript, Angular, Foundation, Bootstrap, and PHP.
Software Specialist I
CareWorks Technologies
- Developed an automated testing framework for Nationwide Insurance's internal software. I was contracted out for this project.
- Built an automation testing framework around a Java desktop application.
- Built an automation testing framework around a Cobol desktop application.
- Taught the QA staff how to use an automated testing framework.
Staff Programming Specialist
The Equity Engineering Group, Inc.
- Started as a part-time employee while finishing up college and eventually was hired full-time upon graduation.
- Worked as a junior developer on a small team, building a 4-tier Windows application for the engineers in their consulting work with oil refineries.
- Developed an MVC framework and the UI to connect to the server, database, and calculator.
- Converted VBA applications to .NET or Java applications.
Experience
Single's Inferno: Choices
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.netflix.NGP.SinglesInfernoNetflixThe Ultimatum: Choices
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.netflix.NGP.TheUltimatumEvolution: The Video Game
I led a team of developers in bringing the board game to life in the video game format. I also created all of the application's architecture and integrated it with multiple departments.
The game was built in Unity3D and deployed to Steam, iOS, and Android. The back end was built using PlayFab BaaS and Photon.
JexBot
Per legal requirements, there is a website where seeds are generated for the players. For my Discord community, I built a Discord and Twitch bot—along with a small team—to assist with generating seeds on the website and managing races within the community.
It used a Node.js back end utilizing Discord.js and tmi.js to interact with both services while controlling the races. The data was stored in a MySQL database.
Measure! Everything!
Custom 3D Model Storefront PoC [NDA]
ESTA Visa Waiver Website
Employee Training Application [NDA]
I built the website in AngularJS with a Node.js back end hosted on AWS.
Real-time Networked Multiplayer Educational VR Experience [NDA]
Each participant has access to real-time, 3D spatial voice chat, allowing for natural communication, in addition to fully networked interactions within the virtual space such as pointing, waving, and manipulating objects. A narrated audio track helps inform students as they move through the lesson, providing educational content in addition to that provided by networked instructors.
Nintendo Switch Port [NDA]
I helped with debugging the Switch build, optimizing the code, and working on multiplayer.
VR PSA App [NDA]
Driving App [NDA]
PlantManager
Pier Pressure
Players go through the life of a naval officer working through the ranks of the US Navy while still having fun at night with their friends. The game is coupled with resources to help sailors practice responsible drinking behavior in real life.
Education
Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degree in Computer Engineering
The University of Akron - Akron, OH, USA
Certifications
Unity Certified Expert: Programmer
Unity Technologies
Unity Certified Developer
Unity Technologies
Skills
Libraries/APIs
jQuery, Steam Integration, Node.js, WebGL
Tools
Slack, Jira, Visual Studio, JetBrains Rider, Git, GitLab, Claude Code, OneSignal, Trello, Xcode
Languages
C#, JavaScript, TypeScript, C++, HTML, Java, HTML5, PHP, SQL, CSS, Ruby, JavaScript 6, Go
Frameworks
.NET, Unity, Unity3D, Photon Unity Networking (PUN), Unity2D, Phaser.io, Unreal Engine, Bootstrap, AngularJS, Photon
Paradigms
Agile, Agile Software Development, Scrum, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Unit Testing, Pair Programming
Platforms
Azure PlayFab, Oculus, iOS, Android, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Steam, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Oculus Rift, Vuforia
Storage
Unity Cloud Build, MySQL, MongoDB
Industry Expertise
Project Management
Other
Performance Optimization, Unity3D GUI Development, Unity Game Assets, Unity Networking & LAN, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Software Development Management, Leadership, Team Leadership, Team Management, Game Development, Extended Reality (XR), Oculus Quest, Meta Quest, User Interface (UI), API Integration, Cursor AI, OpenAI, Multiplayer, Unity3D AI, Unity3D Pathfinding, Unity3D Native Plugin Interface, Oculus Go, JetBrains IDE, VR Platform, VR Interfaces, AR Interfaces, 3D Games, 2D Games, Game Programming, Computer Engineering, Discord Bots, Twitch
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