Hi, I'm Mark.
Full-stack developer.

McMaster Computer Science alumnus building web applications end to end, from the database schema to the UI. I lean towards the back end — APIs, databases and the infrastructure under them — but I'm happy anywhere in the stack, and I love mentoring the people around me.

Get in touch GitHub LinkedIn

Years coding: 10+
Years as a Teaching Assisstant: 3
At Martinrea since: 2024

01 — About

Who I am

I'm a McMaster University Computer Science graduate who has been writing code since long before university. I love the web — front end and back end — but given the choice I'll always reach for the back end, because I enjoy the logic of designing systems that are correct, fast and easy to reason about.

Today I'm a Design Engineer at Martinrea, where I work across React, Python and C++ as well as the infrastructure underneath: Proxmox, PostgreSQL, Redis and plant-floor networking. Along the way the role has grown into teaching, mentoring and leading as much as writing code.

Outside of work you'll find me at tech conferences, museums, conventions, or putting together a costume. I try never to lose sight of the community around me, both in what I build and in what I do.

Back-end development

Go (Echo), Python (Django), Node.js (Express, Fastify), C# and C++ services.
Front-end development

React, Next.js, Svelte and Angular; Tailwind and shadcn/ui; server templates like Blade and htmx.
Data & protocols

PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, MongoDB and Neo4j. REST APIs, GraphQL, WebSockets and WebTransport.
Enterprise infrastructure

Plant-floor networks, server hardware, virtualization and Linux sysadmin work alongside development.

02 — Experience

Where I've worked

MR
Design Engineer at Martinrea

Mar 2024 – Present

Joined through the McMaster alumni network to build an internal software platform with a close friend. The work spans React, Python and C++ on the application side and Proxmox, PostgreSQL and Redis underneath. Martinrea has been challenging and rewarding, and has grown my skills as a teacher, mentor and leader as much as a developer.
- React
- Python
- C++
- PostgreSQL
- Redis
- Proxmox
IZ
Full Stack Developer at Izzy Software

May 2023 – Mar 2024

My first role after graduating. Built features on a platform handling sensitive data, using Angular on the front end, C# on the back end and in-depth SQL for the data layer.
- Angular
- C#
- SQL
TA
Teaching Assistant at McMaster University

Sep 2020 – May 2023

TA from second year onward. For two and a half years on CS1MD3 — Introduction to Programming in Python I managed the course server, generated ideas for tests and exams, and made sure no student question on Piazza or Discord went unanswered. In my final semester I moved to CS2DB3 — Databases, teaching tutorials and grading assignments.
- Python
- SQL
- Teaching
FY
Software Engineer at FYELABS

May 2021 – Aug 2022

Hired as a Go back-end engineer and grew into a full-stack role, picking up Vue and React along the way. Also built a Laravel project with Blade templates, broadening my toolkit further.
- Go
- React
- Vue
- Laravel
JZ
Freelance Web Developer as Jazzmoon

Sep 2017 – Aug 2021

Designed, built and maintained affordable websites for members of the local community. Worked directly with clients and handled everything from Cloudflare DNS and domain registration to Linux server administration.
- Full stack
- Linux
- Cloudflare
Guest Experience Leader at McDonald's

Aug 2017 – Mar 2021

Balanced customer-facing responsibilities with regular crew duties, including the extra COVID-19 measures. Built multitasking and communication skills I still use every day.

03 — Skills

What I work with

Rated by how much I've actually shipped with each one: from tools I know well enough to evaluate, up to the ones I use every day. I pick up new technology often, so this list keeps growing.