Alejandro Tapia

Greetings! I'm Alejandro Tapia, a dedicated Software Engineer based in Seattle, WA with a keen interest in exploring opportunities elsewhere. A proud graduate of UCLA, I hold a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Cognitive Science, fields that perfectly blends my passions for programming, psychology, and mathematics.

With approximately 3 years of hands-on experience in full-stack and web development, I've had the privilege of contributing to various startup ventures, even as the sole developer. These dynamic environments have honed my ability to adapt and thrive, embracing diverse challenges and responsibilities. If you're interested in discussing potential collaborations or opportunities, feel free to reach out via email.

EXPERIENCE

Full-Stack Developer

Kossoris Search — Feb 2024 - Present

• Designed and implemented robust PostgreSQL database, enhancing data management efficiency by 40% and ensuring high availability and scalability for client, candidate, and interaction data.
• Streamlined marketing operations by developing a comprehensive dashboard that consolidated multiple data sources, enabling more efficient, data-driven decision-making across the organization.
• Automated data workflows with Python scripts for extraction, cleaning, visualization, and migration, transferring over 40,000 records from emails to the database with high accuracy and significantly reducing processing time.

Front-End Developer

Quorus Inc. — May 2023 - February 2024

• Spearheaded complete redesign from Vue to Next.js, focusing on creating scalable and reusable components with TypeScript and Tailwind, ensuring a simple yet flexible user experience, and reducing page load times by 15%.
• Improved real-time data performance by optimizing data retrieval and minimizing payload sizes, reducing API response times by 400ms and enhancing the user experience in dynamic scenarios, like fluctuating stock prices.
• Designed and implemented an AI-powered chatbot using React and Node.js, leveraging natural language processing (NLP) techniques to provide clients with real-time insights into their investment portfolios.
• Enhanced state management efficiency with Redux, optimizing asynchronous operations using caching and async thunks, resulting in reduced server requests by 1,500 per month and supporting scalability for a growing active user base.

Front-End Developer

Breakout.LA — October 2022 - April 2023

• Accelerated product listing processes through deployed functionality for user product submissions, reducing time to market from up to 7 days to under 24 hours and boosting weekly product availability.
• Aligned platform branding and UI/UX in collaboration with the client and designer to create a visually cohesive, user-centered experience, cutting navigation related support tickets by nearly 50%.
• Enhanced platform stability through rigorous testing protocols, simulating high-traffic conditions to identify and resolve potential issues before launch, increasing uptime by 40% during high-traffic product launches to improve reliability and user trust.

Python Tutor and Learning Assistant

UCLA — Jun 2020 - Jul 2022

• Enhanced content delivery, including AI focused topics, by collaborating with faculty to align lesson plans and instructional approaches, ensuring students received a cohesive understanding of programming and ML/AI principles.
• Supported over 150 students in mastering Python programming and AI concepts by implementing diverse instructional strategies in labs, discussions, and lectures, fostering active learning and improved retention of complex topics.
• Increased student engagement by organizing and leading weekly review sessions that reinforced course material, creating a more interactive and supportive learning environment as noted by course instructors.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Cognitive Science

University of California, Los Angeles • 2022 • 3.62 GPA