Ben West
Summary
My career has been defined by taking on complex systems and helping shape them with judgment, care, and a long view of how product, architecture, and execution come together.
Experience
Technology Lead Client Engagement
Digital Estimator is an AI-driven estimate creation assistant for ePS PACE, the leading ERP/MIS platform used across the commercial print industry. It enables users to generate accurate estimates by guiding product selection based on customer deliverable specifications, covering both work and materials. As Technology Lead, I drive system architecture, lead development efforts, and oversee the evolution of AI-assisted capabilities across a distributed engineering team.
Accomplishments
- Led architecture and development of an AI-driven estimate creation assistant integrated with ePS PACE
- Directed a distributed team of engineers and coordinated development with an offshore team in Vietnam
- Designed and evolved the platform through 3 major AI-assisted revisions, improving system capability and usability
- Automated estimation-related data workflows, reducing manual effort to ~12 minutes and replacing a full-time operational role for targeted tasks
Skills
- Python
- Django
- Bootstrap
- LangChain
- Redis
- pgvector
- Playwright
- PostgreSQL
- Software Architecture
- Process Development
- REST APIs
- PACE
- GenAI / LLM / NLP
Engineering Lead
Keen Companions is an elder-assistive technology platform focused on improving quality of life for seniors who are increasingly isolated in their homes or care centers, away from family and society. It provides interactive companionship through an animated character delivered on a dedicated tablet device, monitoring mood, activity, and user interaction, while generating summarized insights from conversations for caregivers and family members. The system also guides seniors in capturing personal stories and anecdotes, building a long-term digital memory book for their families. As Engineering Lead, I own full-stack development and infrastructure across backend systems, frontend applications, and native Android, as well as AWS infrastructure, deployment processes, and version control strategy, supporting scalable, AI-driven user experiences that improve engagement and caregiver visibility.
Accomplishments
- Led development across backend, frontend, and native Android mobile platforms
- Designed and managed AWS infrastructure, deployment pipelines, and Git strategy
- Established CI/CD workflows using GitHub Actions to support reliable deployments
- Implemented real-time communications, mobile notifications for users, email notifications for caregivers, and alarm-driven re-engagement to support interaction and oversight
Skills
- Python
- Django
- FastAPI
- Node.js
- React
- Kotlin
- Jetpack
- Android
- WebSockets
- P2P WebSockets
- LiveKit
- Neo4j
- Qdrant
- API-driven Architecture
- AWS
- IAM Management
- ECS
- Fargate
- EC2
- PostgreSQL
- Software Architecture
- Process Development
- GitHub Actions
- Git
- DevOps
- GenAI / LLM / NLP
Staff Developer Client Engagement
Contributed to the development of a two-sided marketplace connecting concrete service providers and customers. Took a deliberate approach to project execution by creating space for a team member, originally in an administrative role, to grow into product and QA responsibilities under mentorship. Over time, this individual progressed into senior operational leadership within the organization. Provided technical guidance throughout the project to ensure delivery of key platform capabilities, including payments and marketplace workflows.
Accomplishments
- Enabled marketplace monetization through Stripe integration and billing workflow design
- Structured project delivery to support professional development of a team member transitioning from administrative support into product and QA leadership responsibilities
- Supported development of core marketplace workflows connecting service providers and consumers
- Provided technical guidance and oversight to ensure successful delivery and system integrity
Skills
- API-driven Architecture
- CSS
- Capacitor
- Cloudflare Pages
- Code Signing (Apple, Google, and Microsoft)
- HTML
- Ionic
- JWT
- JavaScript
- Mobile Applications
- PostgreSQL
- REST APIs
- React
- Ruby
- Ruby on Rails
- Software Architecture
- Stripe
- Version Control
- Vite.js
- WebSockets
Staff Developer Client Engagement
Contributed to the development of integrated hardware/software systems used in mission-critical dispatch environments. Focused on implementing real-time device integration and control logic for environmental systems, including lighting, temperature, and communications. Worked within always-on systems where reliability, responsiveness, and seamless interaction between hardware and software were essential.
Accomplishments
- Implemented hardware-software integration for real-time environmental control systems used in mission-critical dispatch environments
- Developed control interfaces for managing lighting, temperature, and communications systems within integrated workstation platforms
- Integrated Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communications for device interaction and telemetry
- Contributed to reliability and usability of always-on systems operating in high-stakes operational settings
Skills
- .NET Framework
- Bluetooth Low Energy
- C-Sharp (C#)
- Code Signing (Apple, Google, and Microsoft)
- Capacitor
- Hardware Integration
- MVVM
- Playwright
- Software Architecture
- Universal Windows Platform
- Xamarin
Staff Developer Client Engagement
Early contributor to the evolution of a legacy marketplace into a nonprofit platform supporting multiple stakeholder groups, including organizations, providers, and end users. Led key technical efforts in re-architecting core systems, with a focus on data ingestion, internal tooling, and external data distribution. Over the lifecycle of the project, also served in a leadership capacity, guiding engineering efforts and supporting delivery across changing team compositions and priorities.
Accomplishments
- Re-architected a for-profit marketplace into a multi-constituent nonprofit platform supporting diverse stakeholder groups
- Designed and implemented core CRM functionality to enable engagement and interaction across platform participants
- Built data ingestion pipelines (CSV and API-based) to integrate external data into platform workflows
- Developed APIs to distribute platform data to partner systems and external services
Skills
- API-driven Architecture
- AWS
- Bootstrap
- CSS
- Elastic Search
- GitHub
- HTML
- Intensive Mentorship
- JavaScript
- Pivotal Tracker
- PostgreSQL
- RESTful Web Services
- React.js
- Ruby
- Ruby on Rails
- SQL
- Software Architecture
- Systems Design
- Version Control
- jQuery
Staff Developer Client Engagement
Originated and helped evolve an engineering calculation platform derived from spreadsheet-based workflows into a maintainable web and mobile application. Led development across phases of the project lifecycle, creating space for junior engineers to contribute while maintaining overall system direction. Stepped in during key moments, particularly major framework migrations and architectural shifts, to ensure system stability and long-term sustainability.
Accomplishments
- Originated development of an engineering calculation platform evolving from spreadsheet-based workflows into a full application
- Led ongoing development efforts, supporting growth of junior engineers contributing to the platform
- Stepped in during major framework and architectural transitions, performing critical updates to maintain system viability
- Identified and addressed issues stemming from early architectural decisions, improving long-term maintainability
Skills
- Apache Cordova
- API-driven Architecture
- AWS
- Capacitor
- Cloudflare Pages
- Code Signing
- CSS
- Cypress
- Deployment
- GitHub
- HTML
- Ionic
- JavaScript
- JWT
- Mocha
- Netlify
- Pivotal Tracker
- Playwright
- PostgreSQL
- React
- REST APIs
- Ruby
- Ruby on Rails
- Software Architecture
- SQL
- Version Control
Staff Developer Client Engagement
Developed a Salesforce-integrated distributor and customer-support portal.
Accomplishments
- Built Salesforce modeling architecture
- Created shipment tracking estimator
Skills
- AWS
- Ruby on Rails
- Ruby
- Salesforce APEX
- Yootheme UIKit
Software Architect Client Engagement
Contributed to a platform supporting flexible residential living across a network of multifamily properties, combining property management and hospitality systems into a unified experience. Sentral operates as a tech-enabled platform that integrates short- and long-term rental workflows, enabling residents to live for any duration while providing owners with enhanced operational performance and revenue optimization. Focused on API-driven architecture and backend service development to integrate and normalize data across multiple third-party property management systems, enabling consistent handling of bookings, availability, and resident data within a fragmented real estate and hospitality ecosystem.
Accomplishments
- Designed API-driven architecture integrating multiple property management systems (Yardi, Entrata, Guesty, StayNTouch)
- Built backend services to unify and normalize data across heterogeneous external platforms
- Contributed to development of scalable services supporting booking, availability, and customer workflows
- Supported integration of third-party systems to enable a cohesive rental and hospitality platform
Skills
- API-driven Architecture
- Elixir
- Entrata API
- Golang
- Google Cloud Platform
- Guesty API
- Phoenix
- PostgreSQL
- React
- Software Architecture
- SSL
- StayNTouch API
- Yardi API
Software Architect Client Engagement
Plan to Eat is a shopping-list, meal-planning, and recipe-book app.
Accomplishments
- Migrated from Legacy Framework
- Added Test Suite to Legacy Application
- Migrated from outdated Language runtime
- Extracted Services and Implemented REST API
- Implemented State of the Art React Implementation
- Designed bilateral cache management for offline application
- Long-term ongoing maintenance of Hybrid mobile app
Skills
- Apache Cordova
- API-driven Architecture
- Apple Pay
- Capacitor
- Cloudflare Pages
- Code Signing
- CSS
- Cypress
- Elastic Search
- GitHub
- HTML
- Intensive Mentorship
- JavaScript
- JWT
- Mocha
- MySQL
- Netlify
- Pivotal Tracker
- React.js
- RESTful Web Services
- Ruby
- Ruby on Rails
- Software Architecture
- SQL
- Stripe
- Version Control
Staff Engineer Client Engagement
A social platform with a game and values-matching algorithm.
Accomplishments
- Improved real-time communications implementation
- Rearchitected social logins to support integration into CurseForge
- Implemented proof-of-concept realtime video via WebRTC and WebSockets
Skills
- CSS
- Communications
- CurseForge
- Cypress
- Deployment
- GitHub
- Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
- HTML
- JWT
- JavaScript
- Linux
- Mobile Applications
- MongoDB
- Netlify
- Node.js
- RESTful Web Services
- React.js
- Realtime Video
- SSL
- Software Architecture
- Version Control
- WebRTC
- WebSockets
Staff Engineer Client Engagement
Digital software sales and delivery platform for enterprise subscription software. UL acquired Homer Energy, a power-grid modeling and management tool, in 2020.
Accomplishments
- Assisted payments platform transition
- Handled ongoing system needs and improvements in legacy codebase
- GoToWebinar Integration
- Added new staging instances and migrated to a new deployment as part of payments transition
Skills
- API-driven Architecture
- AWS
- AWS IAM Management
- CSS
- Communication
- Deployment
- Fastspring
- GitHub
- Intensive Mentorship
- JavaScript
- Linux
- Pivotal Tracker
- PostgreSQL
- Ruby
- Ruby on Rails
- SQL
- SQL Views
- SSL
- Software Architecture
- Version Control
Staff Engineer Client Engagement
Contributed to the development of a data-driven platform supporting qualitative evaluation and performance tracking for educators. Focused on optimizing reporting performance and usability for large datasets, as well as enhancing data entry and tagging workflows to support richer, more actionable insights. Worked on systems that enabled longitudinal tracking of performance data, helping support consistent evaluation and progress measurement over time.
Accomplishments
- Optimized performance of reporting systems handling large-scale qualitative datasets across multiple dimensions
- Enhanced data entry workflows to support structured tagging and richer contextual input
- Contributed to improvements in longitudinal data management, enabling more efficient year-over-year tracking
- Supported evolution of analytics and reporting capabilities for educator performance evaluation
Skills
- AWS
- Bootstrap
- CSS
- GitHub
- HTML
- Heroku
- JavaScript
- PostgreSQL
- Ruby
- Ruby on Rails
- SQL
- Systems Design
- Version Control
- Vue.js
Staff Engineer Client Engagement
Worked within a cross-disciplinary team building an IoT-based animal monitoring platform involving wearable hardware, firmware, and cloud systems. Played a role in navigating complex integration challenges across technical domains, particularly where coordination between software engineering, electrical engineering, and external contributors was required. Later assumed ownership of project delivery and client coordination through transition and handoff.
Accomplishments
- Supported development of an IoT-based animal monitoring platform integrating wearable devices and cloud systems
- Helped resolve complex integration challenges across hardware, firmware, and software layers
- Facilitated collaboration between software engineers, electrical engineers, and external contributors
- Assumed project ownership in later stages, managing delivery and client engagement through handoff
Skills
- AWS
- Apache Cordova
- Bluetooth Low Energy
- Bootstrap
- Capacitor
- Django
- Django REST Framework
- Firmware
- JavaScript
- PostgreSQL
- Python
- React
- REST APIs
- Software Architecture
- Systems Design
- Twilio
- Version Control
Strategic Advisor Client Engagement
Built and integrated tenant application tooling for small-scale property investors, using information from TransUnion.
Accomplishments
- Rapid Delivery Timelines
- Ongoing cost-of-delivery management
- ACH Implementation via multiple vendors
- Fraud management dashboard
Skills
- AWS
- CSS
- Communication
- GitHub
- HTML
- Heroku
- JavaScript
- Pivotal Tracker
- PostgreSQL
- React.js
- Ruby
- Ruby on Rails
- Software Architecture
- Transunion
- Twilio
- Version Control
- XML
President Owner
Radial builds solutions on stable, popular web and mobile tech stacks to deliver functional, valuable products to clients. Key clients include startups, engineering companies, e-commerce businesses, education, and nonprofit organizations across broad industries.
Accomplishments
- Hired up to 40 employees and managed 20 team members at any given time. Focused on hiring for cultural fit and willingness to ask questions as opposed to only considering previous experience or education. Led efforts to increase diversity in hiring and maintained an iron-clad policy of pay equity and agency for all.
- Spearheaded recruitment, talent management, and compensation processes with a focus on hiring from boot camps and self-taught developers which became a valuable differentiator in the industry. Learning to layer junior developers with more experienced talent fostered a culture of learning, support, and mentoring while lowering compensation costs, creating equity, increasing retention, and building a solid talent pool.
- Developed a value-driven plan for aligning operations, marketing, and sales; this value-based approach became the foundation for realizing the potential of the organization and ensuring that everyone was going in the right direction.
- Initiated a company philosophy that honored the benefits of conflict; provided ongoing coaching to support staff and managers in having difficult conversations in a safe and respectful manner.
- Conducted weekly “retrospectives” to keep managers aware of issues and bottlenecks being experienced by their team members.
- Promoted a Director of Engineering (DOE) to conduct regular one-on-one meetings with technical staff to ensure projects were managed on time and on target, ultimately fostering strong customer satisfaction.
- Continually worked with founding partner and DOE to understand and assess organizational risk with a future-forward focus on planning for success and failure while scaling for growth; on the micro level, this same approach enabled staff to take risks, solve problems, and learn from mistakes within the scope of their roles which strengthened the culture of innovation, trust, and empowerment.
- Utilized a modified version of scrum methodology to identify and address key customer facing deliverables every two weeks ensuring consistent, measurable progress. The process kept the focus on delivery while also addressing dynamic business needs, arising technical issues, and customer feedback.
- Select Clients Include: Contact Mapping, Inc., Copper Leaf Creative, Saturday, Sentral, TurboTenant, Plan to Eat, ASPCA, and Bullseye.
Skills
- .NET Framework
- API-driven Architecture
- AWS
- AWS IAM Management
- Adtech (SSP)
- Apache Cordova
- Backbone.js
- Bitbucket
- Bluetooth Low Energy
- Bootstrap
- Bower
- Business Management
- C-Sharp (C#)
- CSS
- Capacitor
- Card Present Systems
- Chai
- Cloudflare Pages
- Code Signing
- Code Signing (Apple, Google, and Microsoft)
- Communication
- Cypress
- Deployment
- Django
- Django REST Framework
- DrDOS systems
- Elastic Search
- Elixir
- Entrata API
- Firmware
- GitHub
- GitLab
- Golang
- Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
- Guesty API
- Gulp
- HTML
- Hardware Integration
- Heroku
- Human Resources
- Inside Sales
- Intensive Mentorship
- Intranet Infrastructure
- Ionic
- JIRA
- JWT
- JavaScript
- Linux
- Marketing Communications
- Mobile Applications
- Mocha
- Model-view-viewmodel (MVVM)
- MySQL
- Netlify
- Node.js
- One Signal
- Organizational Development
- PHP
- Performance Management
- Phoenix
- Pivotal Tracker
- Playwright
- Point-of-sale installation and maintenance
- PostgreSQL
- Process Development
- Python
- RESTful Web Services
- React.js
- Recurly
- Ruby
- Ruby on Rails
- SQL
- SQL Views
- SSL
- Salesforce APEX
- Sinon
- Software Architecture
- StayNTouch API
- Systems Design
- TinyMCE
- Transunion
- Trello
- Twilio
- Universal Windows Platform (UWP)
- Version Control
- Vite.js
- Vue.js
- Web 2.0
- WebRTC
- WebSockets
- XML
- Xamarin
- Yardi API
- Yootheme UIKit
- jQuery
- pm2
CTO, Founding Engineer Transitional Contract
Supported technology for an advanced booking engine for local events and activities for leisure travelers.
Accomplishments
- Deployed to production and prototype test site within 3 months of initial development.
- Developed key processes and standards for future developers/projects.
Skills
- AWS
- Backbone.js
- Bower
- Chai
- Gulp
- Heroku
- Mocha
- Ruby on Rails
- Sinon
Developer
QuickLeft was a consulting company that partnered closely with Foundry Group and was a staple of the Boulder tech community. I worked on multiple accounts with clients in health information technology, HIPAA, commercial real estate, and event management.
Accomplishments
- Contributed to sales pipeline for resourced but under-budgeted project
- Self-acquired framework understanding of complex java-like front-end framework in 16 developer hours with less than 1hr of support from existing team
- Bridged interdepartmental issues on front-end team to solve key unresolved blockers
- Stretched to new tools and languages to support deployment of incomplete backend
Skills
- AWS
- Apache Cordova
- Backbone.js
- Bootstrap
- Elastic Search
- Python
- Ruby
- Ruby on Rails
Senior Developer
Built a high-performance, advertising-integrated content delivery platform and provided technical training and support for development staff and management.
Accomplishments
- Built prototype node-based Ad tech SSP for testing SSP Configuration UI
- Built SSP Configuration UI
- Closed 6-month-old punch list in first 2 weeks of work
Skills
- Ad tech (SSP)
- jQuery
- MySQL
- PHP
- XML
Developer Freelance
Freelance software development, IT, Web 2.0, and content management.
Accomplishments
Skills
- jQuery
- Linux
- MySQL
- PHP
- Web 2.0
Installer, Maintenance Tech Contractor
Installed point-of-sale systems, performed site surveys for future installations, and managed cashless, card-present system installations. Maintained point-of-sale systems throughout the Mountain West.
Accomplishments
- Installation and upgrade of cashless terminal systems (×30+)
- POS system installation
- Postal Service Site-Surveyor
Skills
- Card Present Systems
- Communication
- DrDOS systems
- Intranet Infrastructure
- Point-of-sale installation and maintenance
Education
IT and Technology Professional (not completed)
Course of Study
- Internet networking
- Desktop Support
- Windows and Unix Technology
- General Education
Concurrent Enrollment
Course of Study
- Computer Science
High School
Course of Study
- Journalism
- Communications
- Document Review
- Thesis
- Advance Mathematics
- Foreign Language (Esp)