Ben Homnick

Taipei, Taiwan

Member since August 5, 2013

With over fifteen years of experience building and scaling software products for web and mobile, Ben is a well-versed engineer and manager passionate about solving real-world problems through technology. Ben has previously worked with the University of Michigan, Microsoft, and a variety of venture-backed startups across the US and Asia.

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Portfolio

Azure Interactive, LLC
Python, PHP, Django, Flask, iOS, JavaScript, PostgreSQL, LESS, Backbone.js
Noodle Education, Inc.
Django, Python, PostgreSQL
Allclasses, Inc.
Flask, Python, Elasticsearch, AWS, Backbone.js, JavaScript

Experience

Python, 10 years
JavaScript, 10 years
Django, 10 years
SQL, 10 years
Flask, 5 years
iOS, 3 years
React.js, 2 years
Go, 1 year

Availability

Part-time

Preferred Environment

Mac, Linux, Git, BBEdit, XCode

The most amazing...

...app I've built is a Twitter-based traffic aggregator that provided real-time updates to users all around the world.

Employment

Managing Director
Azure Interactive, LLC
2006 - PRESENT
- Founded a web development, design, and technology consulting company, managing clients in both North America and the Greater China area.
- Managed staff both in Taiwan and abroad.
- Provided custom eCommerce, web design, and other development services geared toward small businesses.
Technologies: Python, PHP, Django, Flask, iOS, JavaScript, PostgreSQL, LESS, Backbone.js
Senior Software Engineer
Noodle Education, Inc.
2015 - 2016
- Provided recommendations on architecture decisions and engineering best practices.
- Redesigned Noodle’s search architecture, improving reliability, performance, and scalability.
- Independently designed and developed command line tools to seamlessly manage developer interactions between environments.
- Developed and supported a versioned API, making Noodle’s search features more available both internally and to external partners.
Technologies: Django, Python, PostgreSQL
Senior Software Engineer
Allclasses, Inc.
2013 - 2015
- Performed integrations with third-party data providers including Facebook and Yelp.
- Independently built the Allclasses iOS application, available on the App Store.
- Transitioned Allclasses to Elasticsearch and designed indexing strategies as well as back-end search code.
- Developed the API powering both the Allclasses website and iOS application.
Technologies: Flask, Python, Elasticsearch, AWS, Backbone.js, JavaScript
Lead Developer
Dressed Salads HK
2013 - 2015
- Designed and developed an web-based ordering system for all of Dressed's HK locations.
- Localized site content and layout to Chinese.
- Developed HTML5-based mobile applications for tablet/smartphone.
- Integrated payment processing features, handling almost $1M HKD worth of transactions within first six months after launch.
Technologies: Python, Django, LESS, Backbone.js, PostgreSQL
Senior Developer
Construct Digital
2013 - 2014
- Developed core features for the Symplfy UAE car portal.
- Wrote external vendor integration tools via the SharePoint lists service API.
Technologies: Python, Django, MySQL
Senior Developer
Bread Retail Software and Systems
2012 - 2014
- Analyzed DB performance issues and made query optimization and indexing recommendations, in many cases increasing performance by a factor of 10.
- Implemented DB replication for in-store POS and web-based ordering systems.
- Integrated automatic build and deployment processes.
- Administered several Linux-based servers, managing separate staging and production environments.
Technologies: Python, Django, PostgreSQL
VP of Engineering
Genie Capital, Ltd.
2011 - 2012
- Led a team of eight engineers in the development of Python-based, large-scale social networking software.
- Defined company-wide engineering best practices including source control, unit testing, build processes, project management, and code style.
- Worked within a Chinese-speaking team.
- Represented company at trade events both in Taiwan and abroad.
- Made key architecture and technology platform decisions.
Technologies: Python, Erlang, JavaScript, MongoDB, Redis, Django
Developer
University of Michigan
2005 - 2006
- Designed, developed, and maintained web-based tools designed to improve accessibility to engineering classroom facilities.
- Developed web-based software to record lectures and make streaming videos publicly available online.
- Redesigned the UM technology guide website, a directory of classroom technology facilities published for students and faculty.
- Troubleshot equipment failures and provided on-site support to university faculty.
Technologies: PHP, SQL, HTML, CSS

Experience

Dressed On-the-go (Development)
Built an online ordering system for the popular HK salad franchise. Since February 2013, On-the-go has handled over $500,000 HKD worth of transactions and is now being used across all of Dressed's five Hong Kong locations.
Allclasses (Development)
Allclasses is the world's largest search engine for local and online classes. Apart from significant back-end and front-end web development work, I was responsible for the entire iOS app development cycle.
Global Leadership Adventures (Development)
http://www.experiencegla.com
Designed and built an online application and student registration system, allowing GLA to process thousands of applications and manage trips from one central location.
Expat Workforce (Development)
Founded an expat job marketplace that connects professional expats with local employers in need of high-quality, internationally minded talent. Acquired by Recruu, Inc. in 2014.

Skills

Languages
Python, Sass, Less, Objective-C, PHP, HTML5, JavaScript, SQL, Go, Erlang
Frameworks
Django, Flask, iOS SDK, Laravel, CakePHP
Libraries/APIs
Backbone.js, jQuery, React.js, Facebook API, Facebook iOS SDK, Yelp API
Platforms
Linux, Mac, iOS
Tools
Subversion (SVN), Git, Xcode, Adobe Fireworks, Adobe Photoshop
Storage
MongoDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Redis
Other
Elasticsearch
Paradigms
Test-driven Development (TDD), Functional Programming

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Summa Cum Laude) degree in Computer Science Engineering
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Michigan
2004 - 2009

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