Dakota Lightning, Developer in Victoria, BC, Canada
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Dakota Lightning

Verified Expert  in Engineering

Software Engineer and Developer

Victoria, BC, Canada

Toptal member since February 27, 2025

Bio

Dakota is a senior software engineer with over 15 years of experience, specializing in turning complex challenges into elegant solutions. His expertise includes TypeScript, React, Node.js, Rails, and cloud technologies. Excelling in both team leadership and hands-on development, Dakota combines technical expertise with innovative problem-solving. He thrives in dynamic environments where innovation is crucial and is always eager to learn.

Portfolio

Asurion
React, NestJS, CI/CD Pipelines, Node.js, Ruby on Rails 7, Next.js...
Enjoy Technologies
React, Next.js, Node.js, Ruby on Rails 7, Ruby on Rails 6, CI/CD Pipelines...
Animikii Inc.
React, Ruby on Rails 4, Ruby on Rails 6, Ruby on Rails 5, Web Development...

Experience

  • Ruby on Rails (RoR) - 10 years
  • Node.js - 10 years
  • NestJS - 10 years
  • Next.js - 10 years
  • React - 10 years
  • GraphQL - 8 years
  • ASP.NET - 4 years
  • C# - 4 years

Availability

Part-time

Preferred Environment

Ruby on Rails 8, Ruby on Rails 7, Node.js, React, Next.js, NestJS, Docker, Microservices, GraphQL, PostgreSQL

The most amazing...

...project I spearheaded involved creating a healthcare training platform that transformed the delivery of medical education.

Work Experience

Senior Software Engineer IV

2022 - 2024
Asurion
  • Developed front-end applications using React Hooks and the Context API, improving application speed by 10% and enhancing overall optimization.
  • Implemented and maintained CI/CD pipelines for automated testing and deployment, reducing deployment time by 40%.
  • Mentored five junior developers while integrating AWS Lambda and an event-driven architecture, improving system scalability by 30%.
  • Facilitated cross-functional collaboration with directors to optimize internal applications, increasing customer engagement metrics by 15%.
  • Conducted biweekly stakeholder meetings to align project progress with business objectives, resulting in a 25% improvement in customer sales conversion rates.
Technologies: React, NestJS, CI/CD Pipelines, Node.js, Ruby on Rails 7, Next.js, Web Development, TypeScript, Express.js, CSS, HTML, Large-scale Projects, Web Security, Webpack, APIs, Third-party APIs, Git, Responsive UI, JavaScript, Front-end Design, A11Y, Figma, Front-end Development, Storybook, Tailwind CSS, API Integration, HTML5, jQuery, SVG

Senior Full-stack Engineer

2021 - 2022
Enjoy Technologies
  • Developed and maintained comprehensive component libraries using Next.js and GraphQL, resulting in 30% faster development cycles and improved code reusability.
  • Implemented automated testing strategies and CI/CD pipelines, achieving 95% test coverage and reducing deployment time by 40%.
  • Architected scalable solutions using React and Node.js, handling 50,000+ concurrent users while maintaining subsecond response times.
  • Created optimized custom hooks and Apollo Client integrations for GraphQL, reducing data fetching latency by 60% and improving application performance.
  • Mentored five junior developers in modern web development practices, leading to the successful delivery of three major product features ahead of schedule.
Technologies: React, Next.js, Node.js, Ruby on Rails 7, Ruby on Rails 6, CI/CD Pipelines, GraphQL, Web Development, TypeScript, Express.js, CSS, HTML, Large-scale Projects, Web Security, Webpack, APIs, Third-party APIs, Git, Responsive UI, JavaScript, Front-end Design, A11Y, Figma, Front-end Development, Storybook, Tailwind CSS, API Integration, HTML5, jQuery, SVG

Founding Developer | Senior Software Developer

2015 - 2021
Animikii Inc.
  • Oversaw the development of a rewards platform, resulting in a 25% increase in sales through improved customer engagement and retention strategies.
  • Directed scaling operations at an Indigenous-focused technology company, growing the team from three to 30+ employees while ensuring high-quality deliverables and team efficiency.
  • Architected and implemented custom software solutions using Docker, React, Ruby on Rails, and cloud technologies for prominent Indigenous organizations.
  • Established and optimized Agile development processes across multiple cross-functional teams, reducing project delivery time by 30%.
  • Mentored junior developers and conducted code reviews, resulting in a 40% reduction in production bugs and improved code quality.
  • Designed and implemented CI/CD pipelines, reducing deployment time by 50% and increasing release frequency from monthly to weekly.
Technologies: React, Ruby on Rails 4, Ruby on Rails 6, Ruby on Rails 5, Web Development, Redux, TypeScript, Express.js, CSS, HTML, Large-scale Projects, Webpack, APIs, Third-party APIs, Git, Responsive UI, JavaScript, Front-end Design, Mapbox, WebGIS, GeoJSON, A11Y, Figma, Front-end Development, Storybook, Tailwind CSS, API Integration, HTML5, jQuery, SVG

UX and UI Developer

2012 - 2015
West Edmonton Mall Property Inc
  • Spearheaded UX/UI initiatives for North America's largest shopping center, implementing design improvements that enhanced overall customer experience and navigation.
  • Rearchitected the systems management infrastructure, significantly improving efficiency and performance metrics.
  • Collaborated with a cross-functional team to develop and deploy an electronic kiosk system, driving increased sales conversion and positive customer feedback scores.
Technologies: ASP.NET, IIS, Windows, C#, Umbraco, React, Angular, SQL, Web Development, Redux, TypeScript, Express.js, CSS, HTML, Large-scale Projects, APIs, Git, Responsive UI, JavaScript, Front-end Design, A11Y, Front-end Development, API Integration, HTML5, jQuery, SVG

Experience

San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training Program

https://sanyas.ca/
I spearheaded the development of Sanyas.ca, a comprehensive mental health resource platform serving healthcare professionals and the general public across Canada. I designed and implemented a scalable web application using React and Node.js, incorporating an interactive directory of mental health services, real-time appointment scheduling, and secure patient-provider communication channels.

Working with a cross-functional team of five developers and three UX designers, I delivered the platform within a six-month timeline. I integrated multiple healthcare provider databases and implemented HIPAA-compliant data protection measures. Since its launch, the platform has grown to serve over 50,000 monthly active users and has facilitated more than 75,000 mental health consultations.

Web Application

I led the development of an app that serves as a comprehensive platform for managing Magic: The Gathering collections. I designed and implemented core features, including mobile card scanning, real-time price tracking across multiple marketplaces, and detailed collection analytics. The app integrates with the TCGplayer API for accurate pricing and Card Kingdom for buylist comparisons.

To enhance usability, I built advanced filtering and sorting capabilities, enabling users to manage collections of over 10,000 cards efficiently. I also developed a responsive web application using React and Node.js, ensuring a seamless user experience. Within the first quarter of launch, the app received 98% positive feedback and achieved 45% month-over-month growth. Additionally, I optimized database queries and implemented caching strategies, reducing average page load times by 65%.

Rewards-tracking App

I designed and deployed a comprehensive rewards-tracking platform that aggregated real-time sales metrics and commission data across the organization. I developed an interactive dashboard to showcase individual and team performance, driving a 27% increase in sales productivity and a 35% improvement in delivery completion rates. By implementing gamification elements, I boosted employee engagement by 42% and reduced turnover by 15%. I also integrated automated commission calculations and reporting features, cutting payroll processing time by 60% and eliminating calculation errors. The platform processed over 50,000 transactions monthly and became a vital tool for performance management and team motivation.

Education

2018 - 2019

Diploma in Writing for Business

Royal Roads University - Victoria, BC, Canada

Certifications

JUNE 2024 - PRESENT

Career Essentials in Data Analysis by Microsoft and LinkedIn

Microsoft

JUNE 2024 - PRESENT

Cybersecurity Foundations: Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)

LinkedIn

JUNE 2024 - PRESENT

Foundations of Project Management

Google

JUNE 2024 - PRESENT

Learning Program Management

LinkedIn

SEPTEMBER 2013 - PRESENT

Umbraco Certified Developer

Umbraco Org

Skills

Libraries/APIs

Node.js, React, jQuery

Tools

Webpack, Git, Figma

Languages

GraphQL, TypeScript, CSS, HTML, JavaScript, HTML5, C#, SQL

Frameworks

Next.js, NestJS, Redux, Express.js, Tailwind CSS, Ruby on Rails 7, Ruby on Rails 6, Ruby on Rails 4, Ruby on Rails 5, ASP.NET, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Angular

Platforms

Umbraco, Docker, Mapbox, Windows, Dokku

Paradigms

Microservices

Storage

PostgreSQL

Industry Expertise

Project Management

Other

CI/CD Pipelines, Web Development, Large-scale Projects, APIs, Third-party APIs, Responsive UI, Front-end Design, A11Y, Front-end Development, Storybook, API Integration, SVG, Ruby on Rails 8, Program Management, Enterprise Cybersecurity, GRC, Data Analysis, Web Security, WebGIS, GeoJSON, IIS, Technical Writing, Business

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