Product-focused software engineer · Denver, CO
Zach Sykes
Building workflow-heavy applications with React, TypeScript, Next.js, and .NET — focusing on making complex workflows intuitive.
- React
- TypeScript
- Next.js
- .NET
About
How I work
I build and own production applications across frontend architecture, backend APIs, cloud infrastructure, and observability, with a particular focus on making complex workflows intuitive for users. The goal is not a longer tech list — it is turning operational complexity into understandable, maintainable experiences.
I partner directly with product, design, and business stakeholders to ship features that stick: clear contracts, reusable patterns, and production health (Grafana, Application Insights, GitHub Actions, Azure Pipelines). Based in Denver and open to hybrid roles for the right team; experienced working effectively remote.
Role fit
What I bring
- Full-stack product engineering
- Production API ownership
- React/TypeScript frontend delivery
- Backend systems across stacks
- Observability and reliability
- Internal tools and stakeholder-facing systems
Currently seeking
Currently looking for frontend and full-stack product engineering roles where I can own complex workflows, build maintainable React/TypeScript systems, and collaborate closely with product, design, and business stakeholders.
Featured projects
Selected projects
Deeper write-ups on selected work — with demos and source links where available.
Planning Poker — internal collaboration tool
ShippedReal-time estimation platform for distributed delivery teams at Forvis Mazars, integrated with Jira for viewing stories and updating estimates. Replaced manual estimation coordination with a single internal workflow that improved session consistency and reduced meeting friction.
At a glance: 0-to-1 internal product: React/TypeScript, WebSocket realtime, Jira integration, .NET services — adopted across all verticals.
Calathea — commerce & CMS client work
ShippedProduction marketing and e-commerce sites for small-business clients: responsive React/Next.js UIs, custom CMS editorial workflows, API integrations, and Vercel deployment — owned end-to-end from discovery through launch.
At a glance: Public product engineering: commerce/CMS workflows, responsive UI, API integration, and production ownership on Vercel.
Agentic chat with tool use + evals
ShippedStreaming chat where Claude calls seven structured resume tools (get_role, search_resume, list_projects_by_skill, get_metrics, list_recent_shipped, get_narrative, get_faq). Tool calls show up in the transcript. Evals hit the same HTTP endpoint; results power the pass/fail table on the project page.
At a glance: Structured tool use over real data, with evals so regressions show up as failing rows—not just a prettier UI.
MCP server for resume tools
ShippedSame seven resume tools as the web chat, exposed over the Model Context Protocol for Claude Desktop and other MCP hosts—load the same resume.json, get the same JSON tool results. Schema files are parity-tested against the .NET API so contracts cannot drift quietly.
At a glance: Protocol-layer surface for the same tool contracts as the chat loop, with cross-language schema parity tests—not a second ad hoc integration.
Chat Demo
Portfolio assistant — production AI integration
I build production software; this assistant is one example — a streaming chat backed by a real ASP.NET Core API, structured data, and guardrails. Ask about my work, stack, or role fit.
Starter prompts — tap to send.
Try one of these — each one fires a structured tool call so you can see how it works.
Experience
Career so far.
Full Stack Software Engineer
June 2023 – present
Forvis Mazars (remote)
Lead end-to-end delivery of production web features with React, TypeScript, Next.js, and ASP.NET Core — including UI architecture, API integration with SQL-backed services (PostgreSQL, SQL Server, EF Core), deployment, and observability. Highlights: Planning Poker (WebSockets) from 0 to 1; shared React/TypeScript component systems; CI/CD and monitoring (GitHub Actions, Azure Pipelines, Grafana, Application Insights); close partnership with product, design, and business stakeholders.
Freelance Full Stack Engineer
2024 – present
Calathea Web Design · Selected client work (remote)
Part-time freelance practice outside full-time engineering work. Production websites and e-commerce for small-business clients — from discovery through deployment. Own UI/UX, implementation, backend integrations, custom CMS creation when clients need tailored editorial workflows, and hosting on Vercel.
Kitchen Manager
2012 – 2022
Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company
Earlier career: led kitchen operations for a 40+ person team, including hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, and performance management.
Software Engineering Bootcamp
Graduated
General Assembly
Career change from operations leadership into software engineering.
The traditional resume page has the print-friendly layout and download.
Contact
Email is the fastest way to reach me.
For hiring or anything that needs a real thread, email or LinkedIn is best. The chat here reads from structured resume data—it isn't a direct line to me.