Darren Kovalchik

Software Engineering Leader
linkedin.com/in/kovalchik

Software engineering leader with 18 years of experience in software development and technical communication. Possesses a robust skill set that includes software architecture, team management, hiring, staffing, release planning, and organizing company initiatives. Has successfully led engineering teams and managed complex projects for high-profile clients, including Microsoft, Apple, and AWS. Helps teams define feature sets and roadmaps through story mapping, release planning, and estimation. Proficiency in a wide range of programming languages and technologies, such as Typescript, JavaScript, Node, and AWS.

Experience

Slalom Build

Director | 01/2022–06/2024

Managed the staffing, performance feedback, and promotion processes for a 15-person tree of managers and individual contributors, 10 of whom were promoted to more senior positions within the organization
Managed engineering teams developing software using Typescript, Node, React, SQL, and AWS, while working with clients such as Microsoft, AWS, and Pennymac
Acted in an engagement management role on projects, working with clients in an ongoing basis to determine staffing needs
Worked on an initiative organizing training programs to rapidly train engineers for client projects—the initial Flutter training led to the staffing of 12 team members in the Seattle and Orange County offices

Key projects

Pennymac: Managed multiple teams developing loan processing software using AWS, Typescript, and React, while working with stakeholders to identify backlog requirements, prioritization goals, and build timelines
Microsoft: Managed a team developing mapping and planning software using .NET, React, and Next.js
Sorenson Communications: Managed a team developing a mobile iOS and Android application to interpret stress levels based on voice analyzation using React Native and AWS

Engineering Manager | 01/2017–12/2021

Managed the staffing, performance feedback, and promotion processes for a 15-person tree of managers and individual contributors, 8 of whom were promoted to more senior positions within the organization
Managed software engineering teams for clients such as Apple, AWS, and Pennymac
Designed the architecture of complex software applications using Typescript, Node, React, SQL, MongoDB, AWS, and other technologies
Interviewed and screened software engineering candidates for multiple office locations with a focus on increasing the number of engineers familiar with modern web technologies, eventually accounting for 40% of hires
Organized and coordinated front-end development events and initiatives, including cross-office leadership meetings, round-table discussions, and speaker series
Worked with UX leadership to define processes that more closely integrated UX teams with the software engineering cycle
Organized, developed, and presented boot camp style trainings for React, Angular, Ember and other technologies
Built support among the executive team to grow the front-end development practice, increasing the skill-set by 50% in 2 years
Participated in discoveries with clients to determine technology stack, project duration, and team makeup
Created project architecture, process, and timeline diagrams using Miro, PlantUML, and Mermaid
Worked with engineers and UX designers to create project style guides using Figma and Storybook

Key projects

Apple Maps: Managed a team developing issue management software using React, Mapbox, and Electron, while working with stakeholders to identify needs for new applications and features
JRCS: Managed a team developing a mobile iOS prototype using Unity, C#, machine learning, and hardware integration
First Republic Bank: Managed a team developing accounting software using Node, Angular, and MongoDB

Architect | 06/2015–12/2016

Managed software engineering teams for clients such as Apple and Expedia
Designed the architecture of complex software applications using Node, React, Ember, and other technologies
Defined features, prioritized product backlogs, and led estimation sessions, using software such as Jira
Reviewed documentation and pull requests written by Slalom and client team members in GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket

Key project

Expedia: Architect of a team developing software to manage promotional products using Ember.js

Smashing Ideas

Associate Technical Director | 06/2014–06/2015

Managed the staffing, performance feedback, and promotion processes for 2 individual contributors
Provided technical oversight of projects and helped define products for clients such as Boeing and the Allen Institute
Defined features, prioritized product backlogs, and led estimation sessions
Developed and delivered training workshops and presentations about the Scrum development process, helping to modernize the development process at Boeing and Smashing Ideas
Facilitated user story mapping sessions with clients and internal teams

Key project

Boeing: Managed a team developing educational software using Unity and Ember.js

Senior Developer | 11/2013–05/2014

Developed sites using Python, Django, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, while working with clients such as Microsoft and Penguin Random House
Interviewed and screened software engineering candidates and contractors
Involved with creating client proposals and responding to RFPs

Key projects

‌Microsoft: Developed a mobile-first store prototype using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
‌Penguin Random House: Developed the Random House Kids website using Django, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
‌Penguin Random House: Developed a prototype educational platform using Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS

UI Developer | 02/2012–10/2013

Developed sites using Python, Django, PHP, Drupal, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
Implemented SEO techniques in websites by using HTML best practices and optimizing content for keywords
Worked with clients such as Penguin Random House and Sony

Key project

Penguin Random House: Developed the Junie B. Jones website using Django, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS

Phinney Bischoff

Interactive Developer | 03/2010–02/2012

Developed sites using PHP, Drupal, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, while working with clients such as the Bezos Family Foundation, Linfield College, and The Northwest School
Leveraged personal expertise and experience to write and publish blog entries about front-end development on the Phinney Bischoff website

Key projects

Bezos Family Foundation: Developed the Bezos Family Foundation website using Django, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
Linfield College: Developed an interactive map using JavaScript

SEOmoz

UI Engineer | 06/2009–12/2009

Developed advanced user interfaces for the SEOmoz platform using Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
Developed a custom graphic JavaScript graphing library for displaying data and trends on customer dashboards

Total Creative Inc.

Web Developer | 08/2006–06/2009

Developed websites for Seattle area clients using WordPress, PHP, JavaScript, MySql, HTML, and CSS

Key projects

Denny Triangle Neighborhood: Developed the Denny Triangle neighborhood website using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
Downtown Seattle Association: Developed multiple websites using JavaScript, Flash, ActionScript, HTML, and CSS

Education

Western Washington University

Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing
Emphasis in Technical Writing
Certificate in Web Development

University of Washington

Certificate in Editing
Specialization in Developmental Editing