Zenna James
MCS-Data Science Student @ University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Technical Lead Who Finds Joy in Clean Data, Efficient Systems, and Making the Complex Feel Simple
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About
Systems analyst and full-stack technical consultant with 6+ years of experience coordinating requirements analysis, designing technical solutions, and supporting business process improvement across complex, multi-stakeholder environments. Skilled in SQL, JavaScript, and JSON interaction; experienced translating user requirements into functional design specifications and working directly with agency and business teams to implement effective, sustainable systems. Pursuing an M.S. in Computer Science (Data Science) at UIUC.
Experience
Technical Lead at Both/And Creative (2022 – Present)
- Lead requirements gathering and technical architecture for web-based platforms, translating business needs into functional specifications and system designs.
- Write and maintain SQL queries for data analysis, reporting, and integrity checks across PostgreSQL-backed applications.
- Develop and maintain JavaScript/TypeScript codebases; parse and interact with JSON payloads for API integrations and third-party system connectivity.
- Coordinate implementation of new technical systems: define testing plans, oversee staff onboarding, and provide guidance through go-live.
Software Programmer at ArgonDigital (2019 – 2022)
- Delivered systems analysis and requirements consulting for enterprise clients including a large public state fund — a complex, compliance-sensitive environment with multiple agency stakeholders.
- Coordinated with process owners to identify system requirements, develop functional design specifications, and resolve operational problems.
- Produced requirements traceability matrices, data flow documentation, and business rules artifacts for technical implementation teams.
- Facilitated elicitation workshops across diverse stakeholder groups; translated business needs into actionable technical direction.
Education
M.S. in Computer Science – Data Science Track – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2026 – 2028)
A.S. in Computer Science – Austin Community College (2022)
Bootcamp in Full-Stack Web Development – UT Austin (2018)
B.A. in Anthropology – University of Texas at Austin (2012)
