Ryan is available for hire

Ryan Felton

Verified Expert in Engineering

Full-stack Developer

Leawood, KS, United States

Toptal member since November 23, 2015

Expertise

Full-stack Software Development Interim CTOs SaaS AJAX MacOS JavaScript CSS Ruby on Rails Ruby Agile Development JSON jQuery Facebook API Ubuntu Software Consulting

Bio

Ryan Felton is a Facebook Innovation Award-winning leader and a highly technical software developer specializing in Ruby on Rails. Ryan is also a veteran, an MBA graduate, a private pilot, and a passionate software entrepreneur who has led the software engineering of three businesses from concept to acquisition.

Portfolio

UnitedHealth Group

Mobile, Mobile Apps, Mobile App Security, Mobile App Testing...

Q.ai

Leadership, Architecture, Business, Finance APIs, Ruby on Rails (RoR)...

Pulse Platform, LLC

Sidekiq, Redis, PostgreSQL, WordPress, Kotlin, Android, Swift, iOS, Angular...

Experience

JavaScript - 18 years
Ruby on Rails (RoR) - 14 years
Full-stack - 11 years
eCommerce - 10 years
WordPress - 9 years
Amazon Web Services (AWS) - 9 years
Product Management - 7 years
React - 4 years

Availability

Part-time

Preferred Environment

GitHub, MacOS, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Terminal, Heroku, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Full-stack, SQL, HTML

The most amazing...

...project was building a 3D virtual tour of a real estate apartment where a user could view the floor plan, 3D renderings of the building, and specific units.

Work Experience

Senior Director, Software Engineering

2021 - 2025

UnitedHealth Group

Took ownership of an underwhelming legacy mobile application and led the end-to-end strategy, architecture, and execution of a full redesign and rebuild to deliver a best-in-class, consumer-grade mobile experience.
Spearheaded the launch of a brand-new UnitedHealthcare mobile app recognized across the industry for innovation, usability, and performance, significantly boosting member satisfaction and engagement.
Managed a high-performing, global team of 86 professionals, including engineers, product managers, UX designers, and QA—creating a unified vision and delivery model across multiple time zones.
Managed a $22 million operating budget, aligning investments with strategic business goals and ensuring optimized resource allocation for maximum impact.
Reduced feature delivery timelines by over 22% through agile transformation, CI/CD automation, and a culture of continuous improvement and ownership.
Led the modernization of back-end and front-end systems with a focus on cloud-native technologies, ensuring the platform could scale to meet the needs of millions of users.

Technologies: Mobile, Mobile Apps, Mobile App Security, Mobile App Testing, Agile Software Development, Leadership, Team Leadership, Remote Team Leadership, Security, React, React Native, App Store, Google Play Store, Android, iOS, Figma, Strategy, Strategic Planning, Change Management, Budgeting, Capital Budgeting, Risk Modeling, Risk & Compliance, Compliance, SOC Compliance, HIPAA Compliance, HITRUST Certification, Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Firebase, Google Cloud, Analytics, Analytical Thinking, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Automation, CI/CD Pipelines, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking

Fractional CTO | Lead Developer

2021 - 2021

Q.ai

Guided the founder/CEO, bringing his vision of democratizing hedge funds by building a fully automated hedge fund tool, using machine learning to analyze and trade securities based on rapidly changing market conditions as a fractional CTO.
Architected the overall system platform. Led the software engineering teams to build out the Ruby on Rails back-end API, connect to 3rd-party financial APIs, and develop the React Native mobile application.
Implemented end-to-end testing and continuous delivery systems.

Technologies: Leadership, Architecture, Business, Finance APIs, Ruby on Rails (RoR), React Native, TypeScript, Full-stack Development, Full-stack, SQL, HTML, minitest, CTO, CSS, Fractional CTO, Finance, Technical Leadership, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Security, DevOps, Startup Consulting, Team Management, Fintech, ECMAScript (ES6), Data Architecture, Data Engineering

CTO | Lead Developer

2017 - 2020

Pulse Platform, LLC

Led a team of globally distributed remote web, iOS, Android, and API developers, QA teams, UI and UX designers, and product managers to build an award-winning mobile and web HIPAA-compliant platform connecting doctors and patients.
Inherited a team using older technologies, couldn't achieve scale, and had not adopted standard Agile software development practices.
Led the team's technical adoption of upgrading to the latest version of Angular.
Added monitoring, crash monitoring, and performance optimizations to the back-end Ruby on Rails API and implemented 100% unit test coverage and end-to-end test coverage using Capybara and RSpec.
Re-architected the data model within PostgreSQL to optimize logical data storage and utilized foreign key constraints to ensure data integrity.
Added Redis as a data store and caching layer and Sidekiq Pro for asynchronous multithreaded background workers to send emails, push notifications, and generate PDF reporting.

Technologies: Sidekiq, Redis, PostgreSQL, WordPress, Kotlin, Android, Swift, iOS, Angular, Ruby on Rails (RoR), TypeScript, React, Full-stack Development, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Full-stack, SQL, HTML, minitest, CTO, CSS, Fractional CTO, Finance, Technical Leadership, DevOps, Startup Consulting, Team Management, Docker, Data Architecture, Data Engineering

Adjunct Instructor

2017 - 2018

Trilogy Education Services

Taught in-person and virtual classrooms of 30+ students for a six-month intensive bootcamp to equip them with the key skills for full-stack web development.
Taught students how to set up their computers as a development environment, work with GitHub, write code locally, collaborate with peers using GitHub pull request reviews, and deploy their code to production sites on Heroku.
Had a 97% graduation rate and a 86% job placement rate within the first three months of graduation, proving the education students gained in this program was effective in landing them their ideal job in software development.

Technologies: Homebrew, GitHub, MySQL, Express.js, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Node.js, React, Full-stack Development, Full-stack, SQL, HTML, CSS, Technical Leadership, Data Architecture, Data Engineering

Lead Developer

2016 - 2016

Checkmate, Inc.

Led a team of developers from concept to successful launch of the Checkmate iOS app and Ruby on Rails back-end application.
Mentored the team and built out a secure and scalable solution that seamlessly allowed the iOS app to interact directly with the restaurant's point-of-sale platform, the Stripe API for payment processing, and Facebook and Twitter API social sharing.
Built the back-end API and connected to Restaurant APIs from concept to launch in less than 90 days.

Technologies: Point of Sale, X (formerly Twitter) API, Facebook API, Stripe API, PostgreSQL, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby, Full-stack Development, Full-stack, SQL, HTML, CSS, Finance, Technical Leadership, DevOps, Startup Consulting, Team Management, Docker, Data Architecture, Data Engineering

CTO

2015 - 2015

Penrose Senior Care Auditors

Leveraged my talents as not only as senior developer but also helped to clearly understand the founders' vision for their product and translate that into a beautiful application. Together we delivered an amazing mobile-friendly MVP.
Built a Ruby on Rails web application and implemented Stripe's credit card payment processor to charge the client monthly for use of the service.
Created a mobile-friendly web app and PhoneGap native iOS app so that auditors can perform their audits while on site, providing instant feedback to their clients on the wellness of their loved one.
Implemented extensive integration tests that allowed me to implement continuous delivery so that bugs could be identified, fixed, and automatically deployed in only minutes.
Set up a Heroku pipeline for rapid QA, story acceptance, and production deployments.
Won AARP's Innovation@50+ LivePitch for the Penrose Senior Care Auditors platform on April 27, 2016.

Technologies: PostgreSQL, RSpec, Stripe, jQuery, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby, Full-stack Development, Full-stack, SQL, HTML, CTO, CSS, Fractional CTO, Finance, Technical Leadership, Team Management, Data Architecture, Data Engineering

CTO

2014 - 2015

OneHQ

Upgraded multiple web applications in their SOA from Rails 3 to Rails 4.
Spearheaded the transformation of deployment for our web applications to continuous delivery for all apps in our SOA utilizing Rspec, Capybara, Factory Girl via third-party integrations with GitHub, TravisCI, CodeClimate, and Engine Yard.
Implemented stunning interactive big data visualizations utilizing d3.js.
Built and launched our iOS and Andriod smartphone applications implemented via PhoneGap framework.
Implemented multiple API-based integrations with third-party products such as ZenDesk, Constant Contact, Pivotal Tracker, and more.

Technologies: Authorization, Authentication, CAS, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), D3.js, jQuery, RSpec, PostgreSQL, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby, Full-stack Development, Full-stack, SQL, HTML, CTO, CSS, Fractional CTO, Technical Leadership, Team Management, Data Architecture, Data Engineering

VP of Technology and Product

2010 - 2014

BLiNQ Media

Established the product vision, strategy, and development in creating the product Local LiFT, which launched in under six months and won the Facebook PMD Innovation Award in Oct 2013.
Built Facebook's first ever third-party ad management platform that created multi-variant social ads for their Facebook Ads API before it was publicly released.
Implemented a custom in-house ad optimization algorithm that systematically determined winners and losers for advertising campaigns and make budgeting, day-parting, and other optimization decisions based on that that intelligence.
Developed a brand analysis algorithm and application that would allow big brands to evaluate their Facebook social presence against that of their competitors, find overlaps, and discover new keywords and demographics for optimal targeting all without spending a single dollar.
Upgraded the entire SOA stack from Rails 2 to Rails 3 and then Rails 4 as well as switching from Resque to Sidekiq, which delivered nearly 8x in performance improvements.

Technologies: Facebook Open Graph API, Engine Yard, Resque, Sidekiq, MySQL, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby, OAuth 2, Facebook Connect, Facebook Ads API, Full-stack Development, Full-stack, SQL, HTML, CSS, Startup Consulting, Team Management, Data Architecture, Data Engineering

Founder

2005 - 2010

Calculated Combustion

Built a custom marketplace for the biotechnology industry using Merb, DataMapper, and Solr Search.
Helped found the Ruby Midwest conference, creating an amazing conference for people passionate about Ruby to network and learn in the heart of the Midwest. Organizer of KC Ruby.
Built an in-image and in-screen advertising platform, driving brand engagement for advertisers. The patented in-image ads are overlaid on editorial photos where a user's attention is actively focused, creating higher viewability and engagement, to a better consumer experience.
Built a social management dashboard that connected to Facebook and Twitter for compliance-based content creation, multi-network engagement and listening, and reporting.
Built a revolutionary knowledge e-learning service which dramatically increased retention and learning speed.

Technologies: Unobtrusive JavaScript, XML, Apache Solr, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby, SQL, HTML, Data Architecture, Data Engineering

Experience

Checkmate

https://www.itsacheckmate.com/solutions/web-app-ordering

Built out the back-end API that connected to multiple restaurant point-of-sale APIs for single-source reservation management, ordering, loyalty, and rewards (https://www.itsacheckmate.com/integrations).

BLiNQ Media | Local LiFT

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blinq-media-wins-facebook-preferred-marketing-developer-innovation-award-227095661.html

Local LiFT is truly one of a kind. No other solution can provide this kind of automated ad creation with local-level, market-specific targeting. Retailers, consumer packaged goods makers, and shopper marketing teams have been looking for an effective solution that delivers local reach with both scale and efficiency.

Obsidian Portal

I was the co-founder of this niche social network. My co-founder was well aware of the problem GMs faced with Tabletop RPG, in which the game information is stuck in their notebook. We replace the notebook with an online planning, wiki, and social network for gamers willing to pay a monthly subscription for the service. Can you imagine having to pay $5/month for Facebook? Well, we found an audience that loved to pay us monthly for the service. In fact, the service was so loved we won a Gold ENnie Award at GenCon every year I was a member of the team.

GumGum | In-image Advertising Platform

http://techcrunch.com/2008/02/13/gumgum-launches-new-image-licensing-platform/

Built an in-image and in-screen advertising platform, driving brand engagement for advertisers and increased revenue for publishers across every screen. This project was tricky because it had to load JSON and ad images from a third party after the image on the page had already been rendered. We accomplished this utilizing JSONP to overcome the cross-domain restrictions and deliver these patented in-image ads.

Second and Delware

https://tour.122delaware.com/

Built a full-stack Ruby on Rails, jQuery, and Modernizr with SVG images and Pano2VR 3D renderings to deliver a 3D virtual real estate website to all potential customers to visualize the interior and exterior views from within their select unit. Customers are given several simple sliders, allowing them to select their preferences, and a custom algorithm sorts through all available units to find the optimal unit for that customer. Availability, pricing, and reservation data are synchronized through a 3rd-party integration with RealPage.

Dreamcatcher Real Estate Co.

https://search.taosnewmexico.com/

Built a powerful real estate search tool to search all MLS listings for single-family homes, land/lots, commercial, and multi-family real estate available with customizations specifically targeted for real estate for sale within the Northern New Mexico region. Custom integration with Google Maps and Bootstrap to provide visualization of each property available within the region.

Education

2009 - 2011

MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation

University of Missouri Kansas City - Kansas City, MO, USA

1998 - 2001

Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science and Mathematics

University of Iowa - Iowa City, IA, USA

Certifications

APRIL 2022 - PRESENT

Private Pilot Certificate

Federal Aviation Administration

Skills

Libraries/APIs

Facebook API, jQuery, Sidekiq, Facebook Open Graph API, Facebook Ads API, React, ThinkingSphinx, Social APIs, Resque, Selenium WebDriver, Underscore.js, Node.js, Stripe, Stripe API, X (formerly Twitter) API, Modernizr, Google Maps, D3.js, Backbone.js, Vue

Tools

Git, GitHub, Facebook Connect, RSpec, Homebrew, Apache Solr, Multiple Listing Services (MLS), Adobe Illustrator, NGINX, Apache, Passenger, Adobe Photoshop, Terminal, Figma

Languages

JavaScript, Ruby, HTML5, Haml, HTML, CSS, CSS3, SQL, TypeScript, ECMAScript (ES6), XML, Swift, Kotlin, SCSS, CoffeeScript

Frameworks

Bootstrap, Capybara, Factory Girl, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Selenium, AngularJS, Angular, minitest, OAuth 2, Express.js, PhoneGap, Slim, React Native, Ruby on Rails 7, Ruby on Rails 3

Paradigms

Test-driven Development (TDD), Agile Software Development, Continuous Integration (CI), Scrum, Unit Testing, Continuous Deployment, Continuous Delivery (CD), Service-oriented Architecture (SOA), Kanban, DevOps, Unobtrusive JavaScript, Change Management, HIPAA Compliance, Automation

Platforms

MacOS, Engine Yard, Heroku, Docker, DigitalOcean, Ubuntu, Linux, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon EC2, Shopify, Mobile, WordPress, iOS, Android, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Firebase

Storage

JSON, Redis, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), MongoDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Google Cloud

Other

CTO, Leadership, Stripe Payments, Full-stack, Lean Startups, SaaS, Ajax, Lean Development, Product Management, Product Development, Lean Canvas, Software Development, Story Carding, Integration Testing, Capybara-Webkit, APIs, Software, Software Consulting, Front-end Development, eCommerce, Architecture, API Integration, Full-stack Development, Fractional CTO, Technical Leadership, Startup Consulting, Team Management, Social Media Optimization, Open Source, Ad Optimization, Digital Advertising, Ruby Gems, Software Architecture, Finance, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Security, Fintech, Data Architecture, Data Engineering, CAS, Authentication, Authorization, Point of Sale, Real Estate, SOAP, SVG, Virtual Reality (VR), Digital Media, Digital Marketing, Puma, Business, Finance APIs, Computer Science, Mathematics, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, CFO, Mobile Apps, Aviation, Aerospace & Defense, Mobile App Security, Mobile App Testing, Team Leadership, Remote Team Leadership, App Store, Google Play Store, Strategy, Strategic Planning, Budgeting, Capital Budgeting, Risk Modeling, Risk & Compliance, Compliance, SOC Compliance, HITRUST Certification, Cloud, Analytics, Analytical Thinking, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), CI/CD Pipelines, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking

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