Diego is available for hire

Diego Alfarache

Verified Expert in Engineering

Software Engineer and Developer

Location

Austin, United States

Toptal Member Since

June 7, 2023

Diego is a seasoned software engineer specializing in mobile apps and embedded projects, with a knack for resurrecting troubled projects. He has excellent communication skills, significant customer-facing experience, and top-notch programming, debugging, and technical skills. With hands-on leadership and a passion for creating great products and teams, Diego brings 20 years of experience building software solutions for consumer electronics, medical, scientific, and enterprise communities.

Portfolio

An Augmented Reality Digital Desk Platform

iOS, Android, Xcode Playgrounds, Podfile, Xcode, Model View ViewModel (MVVM)...

Hypersonic Mobile

Android, iOS, Embedded C, Embedded C++, Embedded Linux, Firmware, Bluetooth...

DAC International

iOS, Embedded C, ARINC, Weather, Embedded Systems, Firmware, Bluetooth...

Experience

Embedded C - 20 years C - 20 years Objective-C - 12 years iOS - 12 years Embedded Linux - 10 years Swift - 7 years Embedded C++ - 6 years Android - 5 years

Availability

Full-time

Preferred Environment

iOS, Android, Embedded C, Embedded Linux

The most amazing...

...app I've created as a solo developer is used by millions of students registering for college assessment exams.

Work Experience

Lead Mobile Developer

2022 - PRESENT

An Augmented Reality Digital Desk Platform

Refactored the company's core technology from a standalone app to an SDK package for embedding into multiple third-party applications.
Led the team that converted the mobile app logic into a self-contained SDK for both iOS and Android.
Liaised between the company and 3rd-party development teams for SDK integration.
Interviewed and made hiring recommendations for offshore development resources.
Maintained and enhanced both iOS and Android codebases.

Technologies: iOS, Android, Xcode Playgrounds, Podfile, Xcode, Model View ViewModel (MVVM), Figma, iOS Native Libraries, iOS SDK, Firebase, Mobile Apps, Kotlin, Software Design, Requirements Analysis, Architecture, Startups, Agile, Native Mobile Apps, Cross-platform, Mobile, Cloud, Android Studio, Augmented Reality (AR), Team Leadership, Code Review, App Store, Swift, Technical Leadership, Hiring, Networking, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), C, Internet Protocols, iPad, App Submission, Java, Mobile Development, iOS Frameworks, Lottie, Lottie-iOS, Mobile App Development, Swift 5, SQL, APIs, iOS Camera, Camera API, Multithreading, Android SDK, HTTPS, Software Architecture, API Integration, Third-party APIs, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Emerging Technologies, WebSockets, REST APIs, Core Data, UIKit, UI Animation, User Interface (UI), User Experience (UX), Socket.IO, Objective-C, Networks, Software Design Patterns, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Best Practices, Bash Script, Android App Design, Integration, Technical Architecture, Network Protocols, GitHub, TestFlight, SDK Development, Mobile UI, MySQL, API Development, Design Patterns, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), System Architecture, CocoaPods, Git, Instant Messaging

Founder | Mobile Developer

2014 - PRESENT

Hypersonic Mobile

Designed and developed iOS and Android apps. Embedded software/firmware on multiple processors' families and operating systems.
Specialized in hardware integration and medical, retail, and aviation software.
Worked with multiple clients to repair troubled development projects.

Technologies: Android, iOS, Embedded C, Embedded C++, Embedded Linux, Firmware, Bluetooth, Wireless Communication, Internet of Things (IoT), Embedded Software, WiFi, Video Streaming, Xcode Playgrounds, Podfile, Xcode, Software Development Management, Model View ViewModel (MVVM), Video Livestreaming, LiveStream, Figma, SwiftUI, iOS Native Libraries, iOS SDK, Firebase, Arduino, Mobile Apps, Firmware over the Air (FOTA), Device Firmware Updates (DFU), Kotlin, Web Development, Software Design, Leadership, DevOps, Requirements Analysis, Architecture, Startups, Agile, Native Mobile Apps, Cross-platform, Mobile, Microservices, Cloud, Linux, Android Studio, JavaScript, Team Leadership, Code Review, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Node.js, React, GPS, Mobile GPS, Tracking, App Store, Swift, Technical Leadership, Hiring, Fintech, C++, Device Drivers, Motion Control, Networking, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), UDP, C, Internet Protocols, iPad, App Submission, Java, System-on-a-Chip (SoC), Mobile Development, Full-stack, Health, Embedded Hardware, iOS Frameworks, Google Maps SDK, Mobile App Development, HTML, Swift 5, CSS, Express.js, Low-level Programming, SQL, PostgreSQL, APIs, Back-end, Audio, iOS Camera, Camera API, TCP/IP, Multithreading, VPN, Android SDK, Audio Streaming, Routing, Sockets, HTTPS, WAN, Software Architecture, API Integration, Third-party APIs, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Emerging Technologies, Digital Health, Hardware/Software Interaction, WebSockets, REST APIs, Core Data, UIKit, UI Animation, User Interface (UI), User Experience (UX), Game Development, Gamification, Socket.IO, Objective-C, Networks, Computer Vision, Financial Transactions, Banking & Finance, Online Banking, Software Design Patterns, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Best Practices, Optimization, Bash Script, Android App Design, Manufacturing, Industrial & Manufacturing, PCI Compliance, Integration, Real-time Communication (RTC), RTP, WebRTC, Scraping, Web Scraping, Technical Architecture, Hardware, Python, Embedded Development, Microcontrollers, Network Protocols, Front-end, Over-the-top Content (OTT), GitHub, TestFlight, Expo, Point of Sale, POS, SDK Development, Mobile UI, Video Players, FFmpeg, Scalability, Abstraction, MySQL, Xamarin, API Development, Design Patterns, Retail & Wholesale, Technical Consulting, Project Management, Product Management, WebView, QR Codes, Geolocation, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), MQTT, Raspberry Pi, Oscilloscopes & Tester Equipment, Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART), STM32, Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), Wearables, Wearable Technology, Video Encoding, ARM Linux, Qt, System Architecture, CocoaPods, Git, x264, Medical Software

Mobile Developer | Lead Firmware Developer

2014 - PRESENT

DAC International

Created a hardware interface SDK and multiple apps to provide ARINC flight data and satellite weather information to commercial, military, and private pilots.
Worked with hardware and firmware teams to design interface methods and protocols for efficient and scalable communications between iPhones and iPads and the client's MFi-certified aircraft avionics interface hardware.
Built iOS frameworks to provide third-party developers access to the client's avionics interface hardware and ARINC 429 avionics protocol, encoding, and decoding.
Developed an iOS framework to provide real-time aviation weather information, including tiled raster maps of HD NEXRAD radar, lightning, and METARs, for overlaying onto third-party moving map applications.
Created GCD 64 Wx and DAC Bus Reader applications for the Apple App Store and several internal iOS applications used by hardware, firmware, and support teams.

Technologies: iOS, Embedded C, ARINC, Weather, Embedded Systems, Firmware, Bluetooth, Embedded Software, WiFi, Xcode Playgrounds, Podfile, Xcode, Model View ViewModel (MVVM), iOS Native Libraries, iOS SDK, Firebase, Mobile Apps, Device Firmware Updates (DFU), Software Design, Leadership, Requirements Analysis, Architecture, Native Mobile Apps, Mobile, Team Leadership, Code Review, GPS, Mobile GPS, Tracking, App Store, Swift, Technical Leadership, Hiring, C++, Device Drivers, Motion Control, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), UDP, Buffer, C, Internet Protocols, iPad, App Submission, Digital Signal Processing, CAN Bus, System-on-a-Chip (SoC), Real-time Operating System (RTOS), Electrical Engineering, Mobile Development, Embedded Hardware, Microchip PIC18, iOS Frameworks, Google Maps SDK, Mobile App Development, APIs, TCP/IP, Multithreading, Sockets, HTTPS, Software Architecture, API Integration, Third-party APIs, Hardware/Software Interaction, REST APIs, UIKit, UI Animation, User Interface (UI), User Experience (UX), Socket.IO, Objective-C, Networks, Software Design Patterns, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Best Practices, Optimization, C++11, Bash Script, Industrial & Manufacturing, Integration, Technical Architecture, Hardware, Embedded Development, PIC32, Microcontrollers, Network Protocols, GitHub, TestFlight, SDK Development, Mobile UI, Scalability, Abstraction, API Development, Design Patterns, Geolocation, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), System Architecture, CocoaPods, Git

Senior Firmware Developer

2019 - 2020

Audi On Demand

Created firmware, including device drivers, for their next-generation vehicle control system on embedded Linux, using a common IoT framework.
Architected and developed wireless protocol for app-to-vehicle communications.
Wrote device drivers to interface with CAN bus devices, cellular modems, security encryption modules, and Bluetooth modules.
Developed an iOS application to test Bluetooth to mobile integration.

Technologies: Embedded Linux, Embedded Systems, Firmware, Bluetooth, Wireless Communication, Internet of Things (IoT), Embedded Software, WiFi, Xcode Playgrounds, Xcode, iOS Native Libraries, iOS SDK, Model View ViewModel (MVVM), Mobile Apps, Firmware over the Air (FOTA), Device Firmware Updates (DFU), Software Design, Leadership, Requirements Analysis, Architecture, Agile, Native Mobile Apps, Mobile, Cloud, Yocto, Linux, Linux Kernel, Code Review, GPS, Mobile GPS, Tracking, Swift, Hiring, C++, Device Drivers, Motion Control, Networking, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), UDP, C, Internet Protocols, CAN Bus, System-on-a-Chip (SoC), Real-time Operating System (RTOS), Electrical Engineering, Mobile Development, Embedded Hardware, Mobile App Development, Low-level Programming, APIs, TCP/IP, Multithreading, Routing, Sockets, HTTPS, Software Architecture, API Integration, Third-party APIs, Hardware/Software Interaction, REST APIs, Socket.IO, Networks, Software Design Patterns, Best Practices, Bash Script, Manufacturing, Integration, Real-time Communication (RTC), Technical Architecture, Hardware, Sierra Wireless, Embedded Development, Microcontrollers, Network Protocols, GitHub, Abstraction, API Development, Design Patterns, Geolocation, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Oscilloscopes & Tester Equipment, Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART), Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), ARM Linux, Git

Architect | Senior Software Engineer

2018 - 2019

ACT, Inc.

Architected app designs for iOS and Chromebook to replace paper ACT exams and developed a prototype iPad-based exam app and a React Native photo registration app.
Worked with Apple to implement the edu-assessment-mode entitlement.
Created the ACT photo app using React Native, which was utilized by millions of students registering to take the ACT exam.
Transitioned the projects and supported the new internal development team.

Technologies: iOS, Chrome OS, Android, React Native, Xcode, Model View ViewModel (MVVM), iOS Native Libraries, iOS SDK, Firebase, Mobile Apps, Web Development, Software Design, Leadership, DevOps, Requirements Analysis, Architecture, Agile, Native Mobile Apps, Cross-platform, Mobile, Android Studio, JavaScript, TypeScript, Team Leadership, Code Review, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Node.js, React, App Store, Swift, Technical Leadership, Hiring, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), Internet Protocols, iPad, App Submission, Java, Mobile Development, Full-stack, Mobile App Development, HTML, CSS, APIs, iOS Camera, Camera API, Multithreading, Android SDK, HTTPS, Software Architecture, API Integration, Third-party APIs, REST APIs, UIKit, UI Animation, User Interface (UI), User Experience (UX), Objective-C, Networks, Software Design Patterns, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Best Practices, Android App Design, Integration, Technical Architecture, Front-end, GitHub, TestFlight, Expo, Mobile UI, Scalability, API Development, Design Patterns, Project Management, Product Management, WebView, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), System Architecture, CocoaPods, Git

Director of Development

2012 - 2014

DocBookMD

Led the team in developing a secure medical communication app that allowed healthcare providers to send text and images securely while maintaining HIPAA compliance.
Defined the architecture for Android and iOS mobile apps, Python server applications, and RESTful APIs.
Distributed and managed company apps in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
Designed APIs used by external development partners.
Built middleware to connect external HL7 sources, a medical interoperability language, to the DocbookMD network to provide real-time critical reporting and notifications.

Technologies: Android, iOS, HIPAA Compliance, HL7, SSL, Networking, Xcode, Software Development Management, Model View ViewModel (MVVM), iOS Native Libraries, iOS SDK, Mobile Apps, Web Development, Software Design, Leadership, DevOps, Requirements Analysis, Architecture, Startups, Agile, Native Mobile Apps, Cross-platform, Mobile, Cloud, Android Studio, CTO, Team Leadership, Code Review, Amazon Web Services (AWS), App Store, Technical Leadership, Hiring, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), Buffer, C, Internet Protocols, iPad, App Submission, Java, Mobile Development, Full-stack, Health, Mobile App Development, SQL, APIs, Back-end, iOS Camera, TCP/IP, Multithreading, Android SDK, HTTPS, Software Architecture, API Integration, Third-party APIs, Digital Health, REST APIs, Core Data, UIKit, UI Animation, User Interface (UI), User Experience (UX), Socket.IO, Objective-C, Networks, Software Design Patterns, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Best Practices, Optimization, Android App Design, Integration, Technical Architecture, Network Protocols, GitHub, TestFlight, Mobile UI, Scalability, MySQL, API Development, Design Patterns, Project Management, Product Management, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), DICOM, System Architecture, CocoaPods, Git, Instant Messaging, Medical Software

Co-founder | CTO

2011 - 2012

nulifeScience

Created a healthcare provider software suite integrating data acquisition from multiple medical devices and exercise equipment to allow providers to capture essential encounter information with minimal interaction.
Designed a HIPAA-compliant web portal allowing multiple user types to access protected health information.
Integrated nulifeScience technologies into hospital EHR and scheduling systems.
Provided the technology vision and roadmap required to achieve the company goals.

Technologies: C#, Windows, HIPAA Compliance, HL7, REST, ASP.NET, Software Development Management, Web Development, Software Design, Leadership, DevOps, Requirements Analysis, Architecture, Startups, CTO, Team Leadership, Code Review, Technical Leadership, Hiring, C++, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), C, Digital Signal Processing, Full-stack, Health, Embedded Hardware, Mobile App Development, HTML, Low-level Programming, SQL, APIs, Back-end, Sockets, HTTPS, Software Architecture, API Integration, Third-party APIs, Digital Health, Hardware/Software Interaction, REST APIs, User Interface (UI), User Experience (UX), Socket.IO, Networks, Software Design Patterns, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Best Practices, C++11, Manufacturing, Industrial & Manufacturing, Integration, Technical Architecture, Hardware, Python, Embedded Development, Microcontrollers, Network Protocols, Scalability, MySQL, API Development, Design Patterns, Technical Consulting, Project Management, Product Management, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART), System Architecture, Medical Software

Director of Software Development

2004 - 2010

ClearOne

Shipped over 30 unique, networked multimedia products in five years. Many of these products received the Design and Engineering Award from the Consumer Electronics Association at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
Led the development of Windows CE and Windows Mobile for Windows Phone products.
Worked with Adobe and multiple other vendors to embed Flash into touchscreen products.
Directed a large team of disparate engineers, including offshore contractors.

Technologies: Embedded C, Embedded C++, Windows CE, Windows, Multicast, Audio Codecs, Video Codecs, TI DSP C2000, Embedded Systems, Software Development Management, Video Livestreaming, LiveStream, Mobile Apps, Device Firmware Updates (DFU), Software Design, Leadership, Requirements Analysis, Architecture, Startups, Cross-platform, CTO, Team Leadership, Code Review, Technical Leadership, Hiring, Device Drivers, Networking, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), UDP, Buffer, iPerf3, C, Internet Protocols, Digital Signal Processing, System-on-a-Chip (SoC), Real-time Operating System (RTOS), Electrical Engineering, Embedded Hardware, Mobile App Development, Low-level Programming, SQL, PostgreSQL, Audio, TCP/IP, Multithreading, VPN, Audio Streaming, Routing, Sockets, HTTPS, WAN, Software Architecture, Third-party APIs, Hardware/Software Interaction, User Interface (UI), User Experience (UX), Socket.IO, Networks, Software Design Patterns, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Best Practices, Optimization, C++11, Manufacturing, Industrial & Manufacturing, Integration, Real-time Communication (RTC), RTP, Technical Architecture, Hardware, Embedded Development, Microcontrollers, Network Protocols, Over-the-top Content (OTT), Scalability, Abstraction, MySQL, API Development, Design Patterns, Project Management, Product Management, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Oscilloscopes & Tester Equipment, Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART), Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), Video Encoding

Experience

iOS App for Wearable Tech Bracelet

An iOS app designed to interact with a unique connected bracelet featuring a matrix of LED lights. Through the app, users could control the bracelet, altering the pattern and colors displayed by the LEDs. One of the app's most interesting features involved analyzing images and creating a color palette to ensure the bracelet matched the wearer's outfit. The following videos demonstrate the app and bracelet in action:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6UGmQzcarSBJvhAGDv4SaA

Photo Identification App for iOS and Android

https://www.act.org/mobileapps

A React Native application, released for iOS and Android, that allowed students to submit their photos for identification purposes when registering for college assessment exams. The app was used by millions of students annually and required full accessibility support.

Omni Sales App

A native iOS enterprise application used by sales associates to allow online-only merchandise to be sold while the customer is in the store. The app interfaces with a Verifone e335 Sled configured with RSA or TAVE encryption, depending on the country of use. The app is credited with generating over $25 million in annual sales.

Aviation Weather App for iOS

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gdc64wx/id991165844

A Swift and Objective-C app used to display aviation-specific weather products to commercial, military, and private pilots. The weather products included NEXRAD radar and METAR data superimposed on a moving FAA Sectional map.

iOS App for Personal Air Quality Monitor

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/raycombs/sprimo-personal-air-monitor

A Swift and Objective-C application used to monitor and control air quality through the Sprimo Personal Air Monitor. The Sprimo device connects via the iPhone lightning port and communicates via MFi to provide the app with hyper-localized air quality data. The app also accessed EPA data sets via REST APIs for additional air quality measurements.

Skills

Languages

Embedded C, Embedded C++, Swift, Kotlin, C, Objective-C, C++, Swift 5, SQL, C++11, Bash Script, HTML, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, C#, CSS, Python

Frameworks

Core Bluetooth, iOS SDK, iOS Frameworks, Core Data, UIKit, Android SDK, Qt, React Native, ASP.NET, SwiftUI, Express.js

Libraries/APIs

iOS Native Libraries, Buffer, Camera API, Sockets, REST APIs, Socket.IO, API Development, CocoaPods, x264, Node.js, Google Maps SDK, Lottie-iOS, WebRTC, FFmpeg, React

Tools

Xcode Playgrounds, Xcode, Android Studio, GitHub, TestFlight, WebView, MQTT, Git, VPN, Figma, Expo

Paradigms

HIPAA Compliance, Model View ViewModel (MVVM), Requirements Analysis, Agile, Cross-platform, Mobile Development, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Best Practices, Design Patterns, Gamification, Automation, REST, DevOps, Microservices

Platforms

iOS, Android, Bluetooth LE, Windows CE, Mobile, Software Design Patterns, Embedded Linux, Firebase, Linux, Amazon Web Services (AWS), STM32, ARM Linux, Chrome OS, Windows, Arduino, Xamarin, Raspberry Pi

Storage

MySQL, PostgreSQL

Industry Expertise

Retail & Wholesale, Project Management, Banking & Finance

Other

Bluetooth Beacons, Networking, Multicast, Audio Codecs, Video Codecs, Aviation, MFI, Embedded Systems, Firmware, Embedded Software, Video Streaming, Software Development Management, Video Livestreaming, LiveStream, Mobile Apps, Device Firmware Updates (DFU), Software Design, Leadership, Architecture, Startups, Native Mobile Apps, Cloud, CTO, Team Leadership, Code Review, GPS, Mobile GPS, Tracking, App Store, Technical Leadership, Hiring, Fintech, Device Drivers, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), UDP, Internet Protocols, iPad, App Submission, System-on-a-Chip (SoC), Real-time Operating System (RTOS), Health, Embedded Hardware, Mobile App Development, Low-level Programming, APIs, Back-end, Audio, iOS Camera, TCP/IP, Multithreading, Audio Streaming, HTTPS, Software Architecture, API Integration, Third-party APIs, Digital Health, Hardware/Software Interaction, UI Animation, User Interface (UI), User Experience (UX), Networks, Optimization, Android App Design, Manufacturing, Industrial & Manufacturing, PCI Compliance, Integration, Real-time Communication (RTC), RTP, Scraping, Web Scraping, Technical Architecture, Hardware, Embedded Development, Microcontrollers, Network Protocols, Over-the-top Content (OTT), Point of Sale, SDK Development, Mobile UI, Video Players, Scalability, Abstraction, Technical Consulting, Product Management, Geolocation, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART), Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), Video Encoding, System Architecture, Instant Messaging, Medical Software, ARINC, Weather, HL7, TI DSP C2000, Bluetooth, Wireless Communication, Internet of Things (IoT), WiFi, Podfile, Firmware over the Air (FOTA), Web Development, Yocto, Motion Control, Digital Signal Processing, CAN Bus, Microchip PIC18, Lottie, Routing, WAN, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Emerging Technologies, WebSockets, Game Development, Computer Vision, Financial Transactions, Online Banking, Sierra Wireless, PIC32, POS, QR Codes, Oscilloscopes & Tester Equipment, Wearables, Wearable Technology, Apple MFi, SSL, Environmental Science, Linux Kernel, Augmented Reality (AR), iPerf3, Electrical Engineering, Full-stack, Front-end, DICOM

Education

1987 - 2010

Bachelor's Degree in Physics

The University of Texas at Austin - Austin, Texas, USA

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