Zach Balder
zach{at}zachh{dot}me
Software engineer interested in designing applications and building web infrastructure.
Technical Skills
| Languages | JavaScript, Python, Go, Bash |
| Frameworks | Fastify, React, Vue, Express |
| Databases | DynamoDB, MongoDB, Redis, SQLite+Sequelize |
| Cloud/CDN | AWS, Cloudflare, Vercel, Netlify, Linode |
| AWS | CloudFront, EC2, ELB/ALB, Lambda, S3, API Gateway |
| Proxies | Burp, HAProxy, HTTP/S, SOCKS+SSH |
| VPNs | WireGuard, OpenVPN, Perimeter 81 |
Work Experience
Wisiwig, Lead Engineer & Cofounder
Jun 2022 - present
Tech: Node+npm, git+GitHub, Lambda, DynamoDB, React
- Built MVP Chrome extension for pilot program in <6 weeks
- Designed and deployed REST API, database, and React app
- Set up dashboard to measure user engagement over time
Gatherly, Senior Software engineer
Nov 2020 - Aug 2021
Tech: Node+npm, git+GitHub, TypeScript, DynamoDB, React
- Contributed code and PR review on spatial video-chat app
- Added logging via Slack webhooks to lower response times
- Secured cloud resources with VPN in preparation for audit
- Led frontend migration to CDN to improve performance & UX
- Automated release process and feature branch deployment
- Constructed staging environment to QA before production
Starry, Software engineer
Jun 2018 - Feb 2020
Tech: Node+npm, git+GitHub, Docker+Compose, MongoDB, Vue
- Contributed code and PR review on several projects
- Built library to make encryption easier for team
- Created SNMP service to configure field hardware
- Wrote full-coverage tests and made infrastructure design decisions
Education
Northwestern University
Sep 2013 - Jun 2016
Bug Bounty
- Jul 2020: $2K for bug on Robinhood's HackerOne
- Apr 2020: $750 for bug on Robinhood's HackerOne
- Mar 2020: $150 for bug on Glassdoor's HackerOne
Interests
- Web applications
- Computer networking
- Cyber Security
- Singing / keyboard / saxophone
- Digital art