Scotty Waggoner
Verified Expert in Engineering
Software Developer
Sacramento, CA, United States
Toptal member since February 17, 2021
Scotty enjoys solving complex problems, researching new things, and implementing amazing user experiences. He is skilled with React, React Native, GraphQL, Next.js, Node.js, and TypeScript and cares deeply about writing quality code, using modern development tools, improving the developer experience, and optimizing application architectures. Scotty likes to create user-facing apps that combine great UX, intelligent systems, and complex data to solve meaningful real-world problems.
Portfolio
Experience
Availability
Preferred Environment
Visual Studio Code (VS Code)
The most amazing...
...project I've worked on is a React Native and GraphQL app to help people connect and take the following steps with people around them.
Work Experience
Back-end TypeScript Developer
Algebraic Labs, LLC
- Developed an AI pipeline using OpenAI APIs, GPT-3.5, GPT-4, AI keyword extraction, AI dataset filtering, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and AI chat message synthesis for dataset matching and estimating features.
- Wrote back-end functions and a pipeline to support an AI-powered iOS client app using TypeScript, Deno, Supabase Edge Functions, OpenAI APIs, PostgreSQL, and PostgreSQL functions.
- Implemented AI moderation tools that reduced moderation time and improved accuracy.
- Dockerized and deployed Node.js API and batch processes to Amazon ECS to simplify deployments, reduce manual work, reduce costs, and enable scaling.
- Built a low-cost pipeline to capture, batch, and store search query analytics for future AI use. Investigated multiple solutions, considered pricing, and architected final implementation involving Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose and S3.
- Developed admin tools and product features with Node.js, Koa, Interval, Knex.js, PostgreSQL, and OpenAI APIs. Iterated on AI prompts and used OpenAI function calling capabilities to structure inputs and outputs.
- Added customizable endpoint rate limiting backed by Redis.
- Configured monitoring and logging with Datadog for ECS, Amazon EC2, Nginx, Redis, and Node.js.
- Improved developer experience by setting up VSCode Dev Containers, creating DB seeds for testing and local development, and improving TypeScript tooling.
Full-stack Developer
Health Plans of North Carolina Inc.
- Worked for a health insurance agency and deployed the Next.js site to production backed by CMS data from Contentful loaded with GraphQL to replace the existing WordPress site.
- Had a lead engineer role, making product and technical decisions, scoping all new work, managing another engineer, and reviewing code.
- Implemented a new quote and call flow to improve conversion and allow users to get connected quickly with an agent and self-service their own quote.
- Improved load times, performance, search rankings, SEO, and Lighthouse scores.
- Updated the Next.js codebase to use the new Next.js app router, TypeScript, Prettier, GraphQL, Apollo Client, and GraphQL Code Generator.
- Created serverless functions to integrate with Calendly, the client's CRM, and Zapier for online quotes and other lead sources.
Full-stack Engineer
Chainstarters
- Implemented front-end Web3 integration with Alchemy and Polygon for a client NFT drop site to load NFT data, connect wallets, make smart contract calls, and purchase NFTs.
- Created new GraphQL endpoints and PostgreSQL tables and configured GraphQL Code Generator.
- Used TailwindCSS, React, and TypeScript to implement marketing sites based on Figma designs.
React Native Developer
Freelance Client
- Worked on an async audio app for sales teams. Implemented screens, components, and features based on Figma designs.
- Helped improve GraphQL schema for consumption by Apollo Client. Suggested pagination methodologies, cache key improvements, code generation, configured Apollo Client, and refactored several screens to fully utilize Apollo's capabilities.
- Fixed bugs, improved authentication flow, and contributed to design meetings.
Printed Circuit Board Designer
Client (via an online freelance agency)
- Used Autodesk Fusion 360 to create schematics, a PCB layout, a 3D model, and PCB manufacturing files based on a hand-sketched wiring diagram for 18 relays.
- Designed for high currents on specific signals and fitted everything in a small footprint according to the requirements.
- Helped the client through phases of design and PCB manufacturing and testing.
Full-stack Developer
Cru
- Led a team rewriting an old AngularJS app into React, Next.js, Material UI, and created serverless functions to integrate GraphQL with some existing REST endpoints.
- Implemented a serverless function to pull article recommendations from BigQuery, sort and filter them, and then push JSON files to S3 grouped by page with diff support for easy front-end use by content sites.
- Worked as technical lead to rewrite a mobile app and align it with the new product direction using React Native, TypeScript, and GraphQL.
- Collaborated with the product team to scope new features, made tech stack decisions, mentored coworkers, and improved code quality.
- Helped migrate a contact management tool out of Rails views and into AngularJS, Babel, and Webpack, and helped architect and implement a product split aimed at streamlining two feature sets that historically were developed in the same codebase.
- Created a modern user experience for our donors on our giving site. Worked on gift configuration, the checkout process, managing payments, editing recurring donations, and the user's profile.
- Developed an npm library for validating, encrypting, and tokenizing bank account and credit card info. Written in TypeScript as a wrapper library for our payment processor. Provided a clean API for web apps to consume.
Mobile and Embedded Developer
Freelance
- Created prototype device using an ESP32 microcontroller and small screen to display data in a small form factor.
- Developed a React Native app to control the microcontroller using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
- Implemented UI with Tailwind CSS to send new data to the microcontroller over BLE.
Software Architecture Consultant
Freelance Client
- Researched and documented the AWS cloud architecture needed for deploying the app back end to periodically ingest data from a government dataset, run a data processing pipeline, and store that data for easy access.
- Scoped React Native work based on Figma screens and investigated and documented needed tooling and libraries.
- Provided context for chosen technologies and implementations, suggested alternatives, and shared general software development best practices.
Experience
MissionHub
https://www.missionhub.comI helped rewrite the existing mobile app and align it with the new product direction. I worked with the product and design teams to implement new features and turn Figma designs into beautiful screens. I had front-end technical lead responsibilities to help make technology decisions, mentor coworkers, and improve code quality. I helped migrate MissionHub to React Hooks, TypeScript, and GraphQL. And I implemented auth, onboarding, reminders, and community features.
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering
University of California Davis - Davis, CA, USA
Skills
Libraries/APIs
React, AWS Amplify, Node.js, Web3.js, PostgREST
Tools
GitHub, Babel, Webpack, Jira, Travis CI, PCB Layout, Autodesk Fusion 360, Git, Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS), HelpScout, Figma, Prisma, Knex.js
Languages
JavaScript, TypeScript, GraphQL, CSS, HTML, HTML5, SQL, C, C++, Rust, PHP, Java, Python, Embedded C
Frameworks
React Native, Next.js, Jest, AngularJS, Tailwind CSS, Tachyons CSS, Koa
Platforms
Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Netlify, AWS Lambda, Firebase, Contentful, Mobile, STM32, Raspberry Pi, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Vercel, Docker, Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), iOS, Android, Calendly, Blockchain, Kubernetes, RevenueCat
Paradigms
Continuous Integration (CI), Serverless Architecture, Microservices
Storage
PostgreSQL, MySQL, Datadog, Amazon S3 (AWS S3)
Other
Apollo, Front-end, Web App Development, CI/CD Pipelines, Mobile App Development, APIs, API Integration, Code Review, Full-stack, Mobile UX, Architecture, Full-stack Development, Technical Leadership, Nonprofits, Charity, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Technical Product Management, Software Architecture, Back-end, GitHub Actions, Internet of Things (IoT), ESP32, Electronics, Apollo Server, Embedded Development, Cryptocurrency, CSS Grid, Serverless, Smart Devices, Cloud, Donations, Embedded Systems, Product Ownership, Project Consultancy, OpenAI, OpenAI GPT-3 API, OpenAI GPT-4 API, Supabase, Deno, Bluetooth, PCB Design, PCB, GraphQL Code Generator, Crypto, Non-fungible Tokens (NFT), Smart Contracts, Ethers.js, Scrum Product Owner, Firmware, Amazon Kinesis, Electrical Engineering, Digital Hardware Design
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