5 years of professional experience in backend systems engineering, with interests in performance, security, and scalability
Hello, I'm Richard. I work as a Backend Systems Engineer in financial messaging. When it comes to programming, I’m especially interested in writing performant yet human-readable code, security, and distributed systems. I also enjoy contributing to projects on GitHub when I can and have been dabbling in front-end development to round out my skill set.
Outside of tech, I have a mix of hobbies—long-distance running (getting back into it after some recent post-marathon downtime), experimenting with different coffee brewing methods (currently going back and forth between the AeroPress and V60), and trying to do the occasional backpacking or hiking trip when I get the chance. I also have a tendency to tinker with my home server setup and Docker containers when something new catches my interest.
June 2020 - Present | Hybrid
I work on both modernizing existing and building new production backend services in Java, helping guide implementation priorities, testing strategies, and collaborating across distributed teams. I’ve designed and deployed high-throughput Kafka components that process thousands of events per second with strong reliability and scalability.
I also support modernization initiatives across the stack, including migrating legacy applications to React and Python-based architectures to improve usability and reduce maintenance overhead. Beyond development, I’ve mentored interns and helped facilitate hackathon projects to support team learning and growth.
Developed foundational experience in software testing, automation, and infrastructure for production backend services. Contributed to improving release reliability through manual and automated testing, enhanced Jenkins pipelines, updated Ansible playbooks, and supported a C++ application in active deployment.
2015 - 2020 | Remote
While balancing high school and college studies, I worked directly with clients to plan, build, and deliver full-stack web solutions. I developed custom plugins and dynamic websites using Java, PHP, and MySQL, keeping clients updated throughout the process from initial requirements to final deployment. Over time, I completed more than ten client projects, each one sharpening my ability to translate technical work into real-world results.
pilotapproach.com - 2021
Stack: PHP, Laravel, Stripe API
My homelab has been a fun and rewarding hobby for several years that has allowed me to learn more about hardware, data protection, and containerization. It originally started with me simply wanting to have network attached storage, but has expanded into an outlet for me to experiment with new tools and systems.
One of the challenges I've faced is working with a somewhat limited space and budget, which has pushed me to work to optimize more and choose what I want to prioritize. I have enjoyed trying to find cost-effective solutions for self-hosting and am always looking for practical applications that add value in my day to day life. This work has not only been fun but has also helped me deepen my understanding of both the software and hardware sides of system administration.
I’d like to eventually document the full setup—hardware, software, and networking—on GitHub.