David Cochrum, Developer in Orlando, FL, United States
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David Cochrum

Verified Expert  in Engineering

Software Developer

Orlando, FL, United States

Toptal member since September 19, 2022

Bio

David is a software developer specializing in PHP and JavaScript. He is also skilled in Bootstrap, React, Vue, Webpack, and jQuery, with experience in eCommerce, blockchain, and marketing tech. He constantly explores emerging techniques and technologies and produces the cleanest, most efficient, objective, and reusable code that exceed expectations. David believes good is not good enough and applies this principle to himself just as much as in his work, never settling with the status quo.

Portfolio

Cornel West 2024 Campaign
Node.js, Vue, Heroku, PostgreSQL, Slackbot, Slack API, Nationbuilder, CallHub...
ABA Toolbox via SOLTECH
PHP 8, Laravel, Laravel 10, Stripe API, Vue, MySQL, Docker, GitHub, Pusher, PHP...
Yahoo, Sports
PHP, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), SQL, Back-end, OOP Designs, REST APIs...

Experience

  • JavaScript - 16 years
  • PHP - 16 years
  • MySQL - 14 years
  • REST - 8 years
  • Redis - 7 years
  • Laravel - 7 years
  • Node.js - 5 years
  • Docker - 5 years

Availability

Part-time

Preferred Environment

MacOS, JetBrains, Docker

The most amazing...

...app I've built is an industry-first, web-based configuration tool for car wash tunnel controllers.

Work Experience

Technology Consultant

2024 - PRESENT
Cornel West 2024 Campaign
  • Built an interactive state map to display ballot access progress across the US. Completed the work below budget and quite ahead of schedule.
  • Created a bot to help fellow moderators of the Slack campaign streamline repetitive tasks.
  • Assisted with the moderation of campaign coordination in Slack.
Technologies: Node.js, Vue, Heroku, PostgreSQL, Slackbot, Slack API, Nationbuilder, CallHub, AdonisJS, GitLab, GitLab CI/CD, Docker, Vue 3, SaaS, CI/CD Pipelines, Cloud Services

Senior Software Engineer

2024 - 2024
ABA Toolbox via SOLTECH
  • Built back-end GraphQL and REST endpoints to feed data to the front end.
  • Built Vue components to fetch app data from the back end using Apollo and Quasar over GraphQL and REST.
  • Wrote unit and integration tests for each feature delivered.
Technologies: PHP 8, Laravel, Laravel 10, Stripe API, Vue, MySQL, Docker, GitHub, Pusher, PHP, Full-stack, Jira, PHPUnit, Quasar, Apollo, GraphQL, Vue 3, SaaS, CI/CD Pipelines, Cloud Services

PHP Developer

2022 - 2023
Yahoo, Sports
  • Modernized all aspects of PHP within a monolithic application with the latest open source standards and practices.
  • Created the next generation of APIs utilizing the Slim framework and GraphQL.
  • Fixed bugs in existing features while increasing test coverage.
Technologies: PHP, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), SQL, Back-end, OOP Designs, REST APIs, Linux, JavaScript, GraphQL, JSON, Migration, CSS, HTML, API Integration, Jira, Screwdriver CI, PHP 7, SlimPHP, SaaS, CI/CD Pipelines, Cloud Services

Lead Developer

2021 - 2022
Curio NFT
  • Added and updated features on the CodeIgniter-based eCommerce platform.
  • Integrated the content management system with the eCommerce platform.
  • Migrated back-end components into more modern tech stacks.
Technologies: PHP 7, Node.js, REST, JavaScript, React, Discord, GitHub, GitLab, Jira, Docker, MySQL, Redis, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Object-oriented Programming (OOP), PHP, Back-end, CodeIgniter 3, Development, Linux, REST APIs, Slack API, Discord Bots, Blockchain, Git, TypeScript, JSON, Deployment, Migration, CSS, HTML, API Integration, jQuery, PostgreSQL, AWS WAF, SaaS, CI/CD Pipelines, GitLab CI/CD, Cloud Services

Software Engineer

2018 - 2021
NinjaCat
  • Maintained multiple projects from monoliths to microservices using Laravel or Lumen on the back end and Vue or APIs on the front end.
  • Introduced regular code reviews, industry standards, and best practices while emphasizing the growth of automated test coverage required to pass builds.
  • Completed and maintained a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) microservice handling the dynamic routing of thousands of incoming voice calls per minute via Twilio and Plivo APIs.
  • Rebuilt Docker containers used by engineers, providing a vastly improved daily experience.
  • Created multiple internal and client-facing tools to replace various manual processes.
  • Engaged regularly in interviewing potential engineering hires.
  • Supported new team members to help them get acquainted with systems.
  • Followed Agile practices to groom and move stories through the Jira workflow.
  • Hosted a handful of weekly company-wide social gatherings.
Technologies: PHP 7, JavaScript, Vue, Laravel, Snowflake, MySQL, Bitbucket, REST, Twilio, Plivo, Docker, Jira, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Back-end, Development, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), PHP, REST APIs, Linux, Git, JSON, CSS, HTML, API Integration, Vue 3, SaaS, CI/CD Pipelines, GitLab CI/CD, Cloud Services

Senior PHP Developer

2015 - 2018
Sonny's Enterprises
  • Contributed to the complete overhaul of a legacy procedural PHP conversion to Symfony object-oriented programming (OOP)/model-view-controller (MVC).
  • Co-architected and wrote the industry's first cloud-served web interface for a programmable logic tunnel hardware controller, utilizing resilient Node.js microservices pushing and pulling messages up and down via RabbitMQ.
  • Started as a junior and moved up to senior PHP developer while mentoring other junior members.
  • Leveraged open-source libraries wherever possible while contributing to those projects to better fit our needs.
  • Wrote MySQL database migration scripts in SQL or with an in-house Java migration tool.
  • Participated regularly in interviewing potential engineering hires.
  • Followed Agile practices to groom and move stories through the Jira workflow.
  • Provided feedback to product owners, including user interface design suggestions, feature feasibility, and implementation suggestions.
Technologies: PHP 7, Node.js, REST, Symfony, Vue, RabbitMQ, Jira, GitLab, Jenkins, MySQL, Bootstrap 3, Bootstrap, PHP, Development, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Linux, REST APIs, Git, JSON, CSS, HTML, API Integration, jQuery, Full-stack, SaaS, CI/CD Pipelines, GitLab CI/CD, Cloud Services

Senior Web Developer

2014 - 2015
Macate Group
  • Owned sole responsibility for maintaining, expanding, debugging, and improving API, which extends WordPress XML-RPC, and the accompanying documentation used by all mobile and desktop apps produced by the group of companies.
  • Created my first Laravel OOP/MVC project, serving a multi-tenant VoIP SaaS.
  • Built back-end APIs for prototype mobile applications.
  • Maintained and added features for the back end of a position-coach-based fantasy football application.
Technologies: PHP 5, WordPress, REST, Subversion (SVN), Laravel, PHP, REST APIs, Linux, Back-end, Fantasy Sports, XML-RPC, JSON, Deployment, CSS, HTML, API Integration, jQuery, SaaS

IT and Web Administrator | Production Director

2006 - 2014
Calvary Chapel Sawgrass
  • Migrated multiple PHP Dynamic HTML sites to WordPress using custom themes and plugins where necessary.
  • Converted static website designs to mobile-friendly, responsive designs implementing Twitter Bootstrap.
  • Created many cost-saving web applications to interface with various services that would have otherwise required additional subscriptions with other SaaS providers.
  • Fashioned web portals for credit/debit card donations and event registration/payments to be used within kiosk-enabled tablets.
  • Updated, backed up, and maintained all the organization's computers, devices, and servers.
  • Installed, configured, and maintained network and telephone infrastructure.
  • Recruited, trained, and directed the production technical team for on-site services.
  • Headed numerous video projects and either coordinated or performed shooting and editing.
Technologies: PHP 5, JavaScript, MySQL, Bootstrap, WordPress, Video Production, IT, Back-end, Front-end, Bootstrap 3, Linux, PHP, JSON, Deployment, CSS, HTML, DigitalOcean, API Integration, jQuery

Web-based Configuration for Tunnel Controllers

Sonny's was developing its next-generation tunnel controller, which coordinates all the equipment within a car wash tunnel. Across the industry, these controllers were previously configured by a Windows Embedded edition computer terminal built into the box housing the controller. Updates to the software involved mailing a USB drive to each customer and walking them through a manual and painstaking process.

Sonny's wanted to enable configuration from any web-connected mobile device or computer and enable over-the-air updates. I was given an architecture outline and set free to build the system as I saw fit.

Since these tunnel controllers were deployed across the world with varying levels of internet connectivity, we had to build the software to be resilient, able to operate offline, and configurable via the web without requiring complex VPN setups or the like. We achieved all these goals and presented it as an industry first at the trade show the following year.

Development of a Resale Fraud Detector

At Curio, we had issues with customers exploiting the peer-to-peer resale marketplace to buy NFTs from themselves, inflating prices and keeping the profits. I built a system that would flag resale listings matching the criteria of an attempt at fraud. The listing information would then be posted into a Slack channel for manual review by a Curio support employee with one-click buttons to approve or reject the listing.

Development of a Discord Bot

Curio wanted to grant access to exclusive content within their Discord server based on whether a user held a particular NFT. I built a bot application using the official Discord Node.js library to respond to specific slash commands, which would direct users to a page on the Curio site where they could connect their Curio and Discord accounts.

Twilio & Plivo In-bound Marketing Call Handling

https://www.ninjacat.io/marketing-performance-management-platform/agency-call-tracking
During my time at NinjaCat, I was given ownership over a microservice built on Laravel Lumen, which responded to incoming webhook requests from Twilio and Plivo to direct them on how to handle incoming calls. The NinjaCat platform allowed users to configure dynamic call routing based on various parameters, including time of day, caller location, search engine, etc.

The response time of this API was immensely important since each second a caller spent waiting to be connected meant a significantly increased likelihood that the caller would hang up and our clients would lose out on sales leads. This service handled millions of calls monthly and needed to meet 99% uptime service level agreements.

In addition to the back-end webhook handling, I helped maintain a front-end JavaScript snippet that would be installed on client websites. This script would dynamically replace pre-configured phone numbers with a number from a collection registered via Twilio or Plivo for this client. Incoming calls to those replacement numbers were handled by our platform, which would later attempt to match to a search engine click. This gave the client a complete picture of the user journey and better sales conversion insight.
2009 - 2011

Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology

Kaplan University - Online

Libraries/APIs

Node.js, Plivo, REST APIs, jQuery, Vue, Slack API, Vue 3, React, Twilio API, Stripe API, Pusher

Tools

JetBrains, Git, Bitbucket, Jira, RabbitMQ, GitLab, GitHub, GitLab CI/CD, Jenkins, Subversion (SVN), CallHub

Languages

PHP 7, JavaScript, PHP 5, PHP, HTML, Snowflake, TypeScript, CSS, SQL, GraphQL, PHP 8

Frameworks

Laravel, Bootstrap, CodeIgniter 3, Symfony, Bootstrap 3, Lumen, AdonisJS, Laravel 10, PHPUnit, Quasar

Paradigms

REST, Object-oriented Programming (OOP)

Platforms

MacOS, Twilio, WordPress, Linux, Blockchain, DigitalOcean, Docker, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Heroku, Nationbuilder

Storage

MySQL, Redis, JSON, XML-RPC, PostgreSQL, SlimPHP

Other

Development, Back-end, API Integration, SaaS, Discord, Video Production, IT, Front-end, Discord Bots, Fantasy Sports, Deployment, Migration, AWS WAF, CI/CD Pipelines, Cloud Services, OOP Designs, Slackbot, Full-stack, Apollo, Screwdriver CI

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