Jay Simons

Full-Stack Engineer (TypeScript • React/Next.js • Node.js)

Beloit, WI• [email protected] • +1 (608) 347-6917 • Portfolio • GitHub • LinkedIn

Professional Summary

Full-stack product engineer specializing in TypeScript, React/Next.js, and Node.js with PostgreSQL on Ubuntu. Build and operate production web apps end-to-end (UI, APIs, auth, data modeling, performance, deployments, and monitoring). Known for shipping customer-facing features fast, improving UX performance with modern React patterns, and delivering secure, reliable systems with measurable outcomes.

Selected Projects

WriteSpellRead

Next.js • TypeScript • Node.js • PostgreSQL • AWS EC2
Production LMS for phonetics, spelling, and handwriting practice
  • Launched and operate a live platform (400 students, 10 teachers/admins, ~1200 monthly users) with lessons, quizzes, assignments, progress tracking, reporting, parent portal, and messaging.
  • Built custom authentication using argon2 password hashing, JWT sessions, and Redis-backed access tokens.
  • Improved initial page load performance to 95 Lighthouse and reduced load time by 40% using React Suspense + code-splitting and caching/edge delivery.
  • Implemented handwriting recognition for student-drawn characters on an HTML canvas using a custom PHP + Imagick scoring algorithm.
  • Operated with Sentry and a custom event log; support reliable releases with rollbacks and 1-click restores from backups.

Vortex Optics — E-Commerce Platform Redesign

Linux • Apache • MySQL • PHP (LAMP)
High-volume e-commerce + back-office admin (75–150 orders/day)
  • Led migration from Windows/VB.NET to a LAMP stack and modernized the customer experience (legacy Web 1.0 HTML → XHTML Transitional).
  • Built end-to-end e-commerce workflows (catalog, checkout, admin) with integrations to Authorize.net, ERP systems, UPS WorldShip, and Peachtree/Sage Accounting.
  • Replaced manual printed order handoffs with an automated order queue and automated shipping label generation, reducing fulfillment time by 35%.

Work Experience

Founder / Software Engineer

May 2008 – Present
Designly — Madison, WI (remote)
  • Built and shipped production full-stack applications with Next.js/React, TypeScript, Node.js, and PostgreSQL, owning architecture through delivery.
  • Implemented secure authentication systems using argon2, JWT, and Redis-backed access tokens; added audit logs and admin tooling.
  • Built data and search features including pgvector, schema migrations, and indexing to improve query latency and relevance.
  • Improved reliability with monitoring, rollbacks, and 1-click backup restores; reduced incident impact and sped up recovery.
  • Reduced operating costs by migrating from managed platforms (Vercel, Mailchimp) to AWS EC2 + React Email + AWS SES, and implementing self-hosted web push + AWS SNS for SMS notifications.
  • Collaborated with designers, animators, and program directors to ship polished learning and customer-facing experiences.

Director of IT

Mar 2005 – May 2008
Vortex Optics — Middleton, WI
  • Led redesign of the e-commerce platform (75–150 orders/day), migrating from Windows/VB.NET to LAMP and enabling faster feature delivery across catalog and checkout workflows.
  • Modernized and re-architected legacy infrastructure; standardized environments and improved uptime through monitoring, automation, and vendor consolidation.
  • Removed ordering/shipping/accounting bottlenecks by integrating systems and automating handoffs, reducing fulfillment cycle time by 35%.
  • Integrated departments through shared data and automation, improving reporting accuracy and operational visibility.

Systems Administrator

Feb 2003 – Mar 2005
Terracom Inc. — Madison, WI
  • Administered OpenBSD servers and large-scale access infrastructure supporting ~20,000 subscribers.
  • Managed QoS and contention ratios; improved network stability and reduced peak-time incidents by 40%.
  • Engineered 802.11a point-to-point and multipoint wireless networks; performed site surveys and documented deployment standards.

Technical Support Supervisor

Jan 2001 – Feb 2003
JVLNET Internet Services — Janesville, WI
  • Managed an ISP support center (8–10 staff); created troubleshooting playbooks and improved first-call resolution by 20%.
  • Administered ERP and RADIUS accounting systems; maintained Red Hat Linux and Windows servers.