Nicholas Beighley

I am a partially self-taught developer, hardened through ai and software engineering boot camps and other educational paths. I own a small business helping nonprofits with technical solutions and software solutions. This is where most of my experience comes from.

I also work with senior software engineers on personal projects and recommend AI tooling and architecture for their products. Currently I have served three non-profit clients overhauling websites, automating processes, and creating custom software for their use cases in Kansas City. Before that I volunteered as a technical consultant for nonprofits.

Founder, Software Engineer & AI Practitioner at KC Optimal Computing LLC (2025-08 – Present)

• Full-Stack Architecture: Architected and deployed end-to-end web applications utilizing React, TypeScript, and Next.js for the frontend, powered by Node.js, Python, and C# backends with PostgreSQL databases and REST APIs.
• Agentic AI & LLM Infrastructure: Engineered advanced AI solutions, including Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) pipelines, custom AI agents, and multi-agent workflows. Championed privacy-first, local-LLM infrastructure to ensure full client data ownership.
• Technical Leadership & Model Optimization: Directed cross-functional collaboration with engineers and product designers. Led initiatives in prompt engineering, model fine-tuning, and infrastructure scaling to deliver transparent, high-performance systems.
• Nonprofit Tech Integration: Partnered with local nonprofits to audit workflows and implement custom, open-source AI and software automation. Leveraged grant funding to eliminate expensive SaaS subscriptions and reduce manual administrative work.

Budtender -> Supervisor at Elevate/Key Cannabis (2020-03 – Present)

• Architected a Technical Timekeeping Solution: Resolved chronic hardware freezes with the proprietary Swipeclock kiosk by replacing tablets with mini-PCs. Leveraged the Swipeclock API and implemented an offline storage failsafe for network outages, drastically reducing missed punches and administrative overhead.
• Systems Training & Integration: Directed comprehensive training for all staff on the Dutchie POS system, covering UI navigation, reporting, financial reconciliation, and technical troubleshooting.
• Operational Consulting: Advised incoming management during a corporate acquisition on MO Metrc compliance software, system integrations, and customer engagement best practices.
• Autonomous Pre-Opening Operations: Spearheaded the launch of a new medical dispensary alongside an 8-person team in an under-construction facility. Autonomously developed and implemented Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and compliance workflows from the ground up with minimal executive direction.
• Inventory & Revenue Generation: Coordinated with vendors and purchasing managers to optimize product pipelines, and designed sales incentive programs to drive daily revenue.

Operations Manager at Tailored Brands (Men's Wearhouse) (2010-09 – 2020)

• Directed daily multi-million dollar store operations, supply chain logistics, and performance tracking across a decade of stable, high-volume leadership.
• Oversaw hiring, technical onboarding, and cross-functional scheduling to maximize team efficiency and ensure compliance.
• Served as the primary resolution point for high-priority client and operational escalations, maintaining brand loyalty and service continuity.

Software Engineering and AI Boot Camp in Software Engineering and AI – Launch Code (2026-08)

Quincy Larson code camp - responsive web design, JavaScript algorithms and data structures, scientific Computing with python