Zijian Yan
Software Engineer
with a background in the arts
I'm Zi, a software engineer experienced in React, Vue, TypeScript, JavaScript, Node, SQL/NoSQL Databases, and building powerful apps with impactful design. I believe a great developer elevates the work of an entire software team, from UX all the way to the database.
In addition, a lifetime in the arts has rewarded me with professional experience in design, illustration, film, audio, music, and education.
I'm excited to bring all those skills to you.
Skill
Frontend
- HTML / CSS / SASS / SCSS
- TypeScript
- JavaScript
- React.js / Redux
- Vue.js / Vuex
- Webpack / Babel
- D3.js
- Wordpress
Backend
- Node.js
- Express.js
- SQL / NoSQL
- Sequelize
- MongoDB
- REST API Services
- Authentication
- Websockets
- Jenkins / Heroku
Fundamentals
- Git and Best Practices
- Code Reviews
- Data Structures and Algorithms
- TDD and Unit Testing
- Continuous Integration and Deployment
- Docker
- Agile Methodology
Creative
- Web design, Graphic design, Illustration, Videography, Film editing, Audio engineering, Music composition, and Game Development
Sketch, InVision, Figma, Zeplin, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Premiere, Adobe After Effects, Webflow, Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pro Tools
Education
Fullstack Academy
New York, NY
Software Engineering
Columbia University
New York, NY
MFA in Film Directing
New York University
New York, NY
BA in Cinema Studies
and Music Composition
and Music Composition
The Oatley Academy
of Visual Storytelling
Los Angeles, CA
Digital Art
Experience
Creator & Software Engineer
Storyline // New York, NY // 2022-2023
Designed and engineered a Markdown editor prototype for true narrative storytellers. Storyline is a desktop writing app combining traditional markdown sheets with a video editing-inspired timeline, allowing writers to place text within time. Built with Node.js, Electron, React, and TypeScript.
Senior Software Engineer
Barbarian // New York, NY // 2021
Integrated a CMS and CRM for a 1,200+ location client in their digital transformation that allowed users to streamline legacy customer data with new data, and edit and publish marketing content with ease. Guided junior developers and contractors from disparate teams to code with a singular vision.
Senior Fullstack Developer
Havas // New York, NY // 2020
Established coding best practices, style guides, and DevOps workflows. Led system design and selection of technologies at the start of each project. Created a Gitflow methodology with code reviews. Mentored junior developers on comp-sci fundamentals and writing modular, reusable, and maintainable code.
Frontend Engineer
MongoDB // New York, NY // 2019-2020
Developed and maintained MongoDB’s customer-facing websites and internal employee tools as part of MongoDB’s talented web team.
Fullstack Developer
Havas // New York, NY // 2019
Collaborated with designers to implement CSS/SASS with precision. Worked tightly with backend developers to architect MySQL database models and design REST API’s. Wrote clean, maintainable, and scalable code.
Software Engineering Teaching Fellow
Fullstack Academy of Code // New York, NY // 2018-2019
Mentored students in Fullstack Academy’s renowned software engineering program. Performed code reviews and provided feedback for Node and React applications. Hosted weekly workshops to study data structures and algorithms.
Creative Lead & Senior Web Designer
Wonderist Agency // San Diego, CA // 2015-2018
Spearheaded the hiring, tooling, and expansion of web development and design departments. Created stunning websites and digital branding.
Visual Storytelling Mentor
OATLEY ACADEMY OF VISUAL STORYTELLING // LOS ANGELES, CA // 2016-2017
Hosted web-based mentor sessions for an industry-leading curriculum on composition and dramatic writing. Explored story structure, art history, and painting while building a community of illustrators and authors.
Honors
Adobe Design Achievement Awards Finalist
Alfred P. Sloan Grant Winner
Columbia University Fellowship
NYU Trustee and Tisch Scholarship
Fullstack Academy Fellowship
Alfred P. Sloan Grant Winner
Columbia University Fellowship
NYU Trustee and Tisch Scholarship
Fullstack Academy Fellowship
Interests
AI/ML, writing, painting, composing @pianosketches, and the common good.
Work is love made visible.
CODE
IBM Journey to AI
REACT + IBM CARBON DESIGN SYSTEM + DRUPAL EXPERIENCE
A marketing experience that integrated advanced CSS/JS animation with IBM’s existing API’s, design system, and unit testing framework.
MongoDB.com
PREACT + NODE + MONGODB CUSTOM CMS
A CMS built on custom component libraries and user-friendly GUI that allowed hundreds of employees to create pages and content for MongoDB.com.
Arcadia
VUE + D3 + IBM WATSON ADVERTISING ANALYSIS PLATFORM
An industry-leading marketing research tool built with IBM Watson’s artificial intelligence, D3.js data visualization, MySQL, Node, and Vue.
Artlens
REACT NATIVE + IMAGE ANALYSIS ANDROID APP
An Android app built using React Native, designed to capture and generate color palettes from photographs. Built using Node, Axios, Webpack, Babel, React, Redux, React Native, Google Cloud Vision artifical intelligence, and Expo.
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