Nelson Samayoa

Software developer

The technology changes. The joy of building doesn't.

Full-Stack Software Engineer with 16+ years of experience building products, platforms, and developer tools at scale. Throughout my career, I've worked primarily within established organizations across the technology, enterprise, and education sectors, maintaining a consistent track record of long-term contributions and continuous growth in software engineering, architecture, and technical leadership.

I'm also a native English and Spanish speaker, and am fluent in Japanese and French and I'm a graduate of Oregon State University with a Bachelor's in Computer Science, and Portland State University with a Bachelor's in Spanish.

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01About me

Experienced developer
Adaptable and friendly teammate

I started my career in 2010, and have absolutely loved turning ideas into useful, lasting software. I've worked on a wide range of projects, from small personal projects to large enterprise applications, and everything in between.

My work spans .NET, React, Angular, TypeScript, Azure, AWS, mobile development, distributed systems, and DevOps. I've contributed to projects ranging from public APIs and AI-driven learning applications to enterprise platforms, large-scale LMS solutions, and engineering productivity tools.

I enjoy owning problems end-to-end, whether that means shaping architecture, improving user experience, building reliable cloud infrastructure, or creating the automation and quality systems that keep products running smoothly. I've also led SDET and automation teams, helping organizations improve delivery speed, reliability, and engineering quality.

16+ years experience
100% Full-stack developer
Nelson Samayoa

Software developer

Nelson Samayoa

A full-stack developer with 19+ years of .NET and C# experience, and a love for clean interfaces, lightweight code, and learning languages. Fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese.

LinkedIn GitHub

The cool neighbor who can fix anything from devices to drywall, and will do it for the fun of it.

02 My career

Where I've
spent my time.

  1. –

    Entacit LLC

    Software Engineer · Remote

    Full-stack developer delivering web, mobile, and desktop applications for an education platform using React Native, Angular, Electron, and .NET Core.

    Mobile development

    Core developer on a React Native (TypeScript) app from its inception: data management UI for users' downloaded content, QR code scanning to connect users, deep links from account-management emails, iOS development and testing, and dev/staging/prod iOS build schemes. Owned multiple major React Native upgrades, replaced unmaintained dependencies with custom components, led a complete UI/UX redesign, and built forced-update flows, parent/teacher/manager views, and reliable cross-platform media playback. Created automated mobile UI smoke tests using Maestro.

    Desktop development

    Owned the building and maintenance of an Electron (React + Node.js) application, delivering tabs support, reliable image rendering with FastImage, dependency upgrades, and robust handling of unsupported file types and external links. The product lets teachers present course content safely through deep links or drag and drop.

    Web development

    Gathered customer requirements and developed major Angular web-app features: QR code generation, CSV generation and upload with data-integrity handling for empty values, and video testing that records student answers. Delivered Safari support, audio/video device testing, permission-gated quality reports, a tagging system, and horizontal stepper/form-component library work. Performed Angular upgrades and set up Azure DevOps build and release pipelines.

    AI development

    Used Azure OpenAI and Speech APIs to create an AI chatbot for English language learning, and prototyped with Google's Gemini API and Rive animations. Built a pronunciation component with recording-loss prevention, error indicators, and resume-attempt handling for speech evaluation.

    Backend development

    Built C# .NET Core, Entity Framework, and MS SQL REST API features including a student points/rewards system; bulk session delete/cancel, student username updates, and bulk tag/custom-field uploads; custom fields with full CRUD and CSV import/export; course cloning; timezone-aware email notifications; password policy and forgot-password/username flows; and a full-stack student/parent account-deletion flow supporting data-protection compliance.

  2. –

    Imagine Learning

    Software Engineer · Remote

    Full-stack engineer on an LMS, building learner experiences, reporting tools, backend services, and cloud event processing with C#, React, TypeScript, AWS, and PostgreSQL.

    Web development

    Developed React applications for an LMS, including a highly customized progress-reporting tool with complex data visualizations, dynamic layouts, and advanced styling that enabled managers to track employee training progress.

    Performance engineering

    Participated in a large-scale performance initiative, identifying and implementing frontend and backend optimizations that improved application responsiveness, scalability, and overall user experience across the platform.

    Cloud architecture & distributed systems

    Owned the design and implementation of AWS-based event-driven systems for processing student and application events. Developed scalable architecture patterns for asynchronous processing and integration between platform components.

  3. –

    Paylocity

    Software Engineer · Remote

    Full-stack engineer on an LMS for course discovery, registration, content delivery, learner engagement, and course management, using React, Ionic/Angular, .NET, RabbitMQ, SQL Server, AWS, and Azure.

    Mobile development

    Developed Ionic (Angular) mobile-app features including course-catalog browsing, search, multi-criteria filtering, and user-experience improvements for course discovery and learner engagement.

    Web development

    Developed and maintained user-facing LMS experiences using React and Angular. Built new interfaces, enhanced existing workflows, and contributed to the Learning module within the broader Paylocity suite.

    Backend & distributed systems

    Implemented RabbitMQ-based background services and work processors to distribute workloads and execute tasks asynchronously, replacing API-bound processing that had become a scalability bottleneck. The message-driven architecture improved performance, throughput, and system scalability.

    Architecture & system design

    Authored architecture documentation for a cross-platform learning solution using React web clients, Angular/Ionic mobile applications, C#/.NET APIs, SQL Server, RabbitMQ messaging, and AWS storage. Collaborated on system design across the full stack.

  4. –

    DriveTime

    Software Engineer · Tempe, AZ

    Built customer-facing web and mobile apps, public APIs, and Azure solutions; contributed to DriveTime.com and Bridgecrest.com, frontend standards, event-driven systems, and identity modernization.

    Web development

    Built DriveTime.com and Bridgecrest.com features using Angular, TypeScript, C#, and .NET. Introduced Angular Material and established UI/UX, performance, and code-quality standards. Contributed to web apps, maintained legacy jQuery and KnockoutJS systems, and implemented a public-facing credit-request wizard that gave customers an instant answer about their ability to buy a car.

    Mobile development

    Gathered requirements and data directly from end users to develop mobile applications using Ionic with Angular.

    API & backend development

    Contributed to the design and implementation of a public-facing GraphQL API built with C#/.NET for external consumers. Participated in architecture discussions, developed proofs of concept, implemented the API authentication model, and developed REST-based services and backend functionality for customer-facing applications.

    Cloud architecture & distributed systems

    Architected and implemented event-driven Azure solutions using Azure Functions, Service Bus, Queues, Topics, Blob Storage, and Azure Active Directory. Designed serverless and message-driven systems for automated vehicle-image processing and vehicle-value analysis. Replaced semi-manual calculations based on less accurate data, reducing costs and employee time while increasing revenue through better stock acquisition pricing.

    Identity & security

    Led the migration of legacy products to Azure Active Directory authentication using OpenID Connect. Contributed to authentication and authorization architecture for externally consumed APIs, improving security and identity management across platforms.

  5. –

    iPro Tech

    Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) Team Lead · Tempe, AZ

    Led automation engineering and designed an enterprise test platform for CI/CD, reporting, distributed execution, and developer tools. Earned three performance awards and two product certifications within two months.

    Test automation leadership

    Led an automation engineering team, managing sprint planning, delivery, and priorities using Agile/Scrum and Jira. Directed migration from deprecated Microsoft CodedUI to SpecFlow BDD and White UI Automation, reducing tooling and maintenance costs while improving test maintainability. Designed and owned a company-wide dashboard showing automated test-suite health and progress across products and teams. Worked with C#, Selenium, SpecFlow, PowerShell, Azure DevOps (VSTS/TFS), and JavaScript.

    Automation framework development

    Designed and implemented core features for a C# test automation platform, including Entity Framework-backed test-result logging, reporting, asynchronous multi-browser execution, and distributed test execution across multiple agents. Improved test scalability and execution efficiency across product teams.

    Internal tools & applications

    Developed internal support and reporting applications using C#, WinForms, JavaScript, and Team Services APIs. Built a multithreaded diagnostic utility for troubleshooting customer environments and a web dashboard visualizing test health and quality metrics from TFS data using Google Charts.

    DevOps & infrastructure

    Managed build and test infrastructure using Team Foundation Server (TFS) and PowerShell automation. Maintained automated test environments and deployment processes for continuous validation across multiple development teams.

  6. –

    Dell Inc

    Software Engineer & SDET Team Lead · Remote

    Progressed from Software Engineer to Automation Engineering Lead, building enterprise apps, developer tools, CI/CD, and test systems. Led five engineers and received the 2015 Dell Champion Award.

    Desktop & enterprise application development

    Developed internal and customer-facing applications using C#, WinForms, ASP.NET, IIS, Windows Services, and Web Services. Built a support command-line utility that collected diagnostics from Windows, SQL Server, and Active Directory, reducing manual investigation, support costs, and customer effort. Also built a WinForms application to view historical security-policy snapshots through a REST API, then supported the product's sunset with maintenance, bug fixes, and knowledge transfer.

    Customer support & sales engineering

    Served as a principal technical contact for major customers, including Disney. Gathered requirements for feature requests, debugged issues, and led product and code training during a product ownership transition.

    Test automation leadership

    Led a five-engineer automated test development team, managing sprint planning, delivery, and stakeholder reporting in Azure DevOps (formerly VSTS). Expanded automated testing across product teams, including UI automation, API testing, load testing, and security-focused testing.

    Developer enablement & training

    Mentored developers and test engineers on automation frameworks and quality engineering. Delivered training on Microsoft CodedUI, Selenium, API automation, performance testing, and security and penetration-testing methodologies.

    DevOps & continuous integration

    Owned build and test infrastructure for multiple product teams. Designed and maintained CI/CD systems, build servers, automated test environments, PowerShell automation, on-premises TFS/VSTS integrations, and Azure Virtual Machine environments for validation and releases.

  7. –

    Intel Inc

    Software Engineer Intern · Hillsboro, OR

    Developed an internal IDE and enterprise test automation platform, building developer tools, framework extensions, device plugins, and web apps; trained and supported engineers and SDETs.

    Developer tools & IDE development

    Built and maintained an internal IDE for SDETs to develop and debug automated tests. Implemented support for processing XML files larger than available RAM, persistent breakpoint storage, and JavaScript language tooling including syntax highlighting and autocomplete.

    Test automation infrastructure

    Extended the automation platform with custom plugins and framework integrations, including Linux SSH command execution, Wake-on-LAN, battery-state monitoring through WMI, and automated Cisco access-point testing through an SSH abstraction layer.

    Web applications

    Developed an ASP.NET (Razor) web interface for remotely managing automation runs, execution environments, and framework operations.

    Automated testing

    Developed and maintained automated test suites for Bluetooth-enabled devices using the internal automation framework. Worked with SDETs to troubleshoot failures, improve test reliability, and enhance framework capabilities.
03 Selected work

A few things I've
put into the world.

Language learning, wellness, and product features made real through software.

FEATURE DEMODevice testing

Phone Media Device Tester

A phone media device testing feature built for a production English test taking app for a previous client using React Native.

App Store ↗ Google Play ↗
FEATURE DEMOAI · Pronunciation

AI English Chatbot

A chatbot feature focused built for a production app for a previous client. After the conversation completes, an AI-powered analysis of the user's English pronunciation and grammar is provided.

App Store ↗ Google Play ↗
Screens from the DriveTime credit application form
FEATURE DEMOProduction App · Angular

DriveTime Credit Application

A credit/financing application form used by DriveTime.com that I implemented during my time there. This team had a pixel-perfect design approach, and I was responsible for translating the designs into a fully functional Angular application.

Visit the website ↗
 Screens from the Navika Serbian and Croatian learning app
LANGUAGE LEARNINGiOS · Android

navika

A practical companion for Serbian and Croatian grammar, cases, verbs, and Cyrillic. Created in Flutter as part of our language drills apps suite.

App Store ↗ Google Play ↗
Screens from the HanDrills Korean grammar learning app
LANGUAGE LEARNINGiOS · Android

HanDrills

Short, focused drills that make challenging Korean grammar easier to practice. Created in Flutter as part of our language drills apps suite.

App Store ↗ Google Play ↗
Screens from the nareru Japanese learning app
LANGUAGE LEARNINGMobile app

nalelu

A friendly way to get comfortable with Japanese grammar, numbers, and everyday practice. Created in Flutter as part of our language drills apps suite.

App Store ↗ Google Play ↗
Rise and Thrive Wellness website shown on mobile screens
WELLNESSWeb · WordPress

Rise & Thrive

A welcoming wellness website connecting clients with personal training and services. This web site was created for a client's business needs and showcases their offerings.

Visit the website ↗
Gamepoints app screenshot
PRODUCT DEMOGaming

Gamepoints

A mobile app that allows users to keep track of points for a number of players. Great for board games and group activities! This was our first Flutter project and has been essentially abandoned, so it may not work as expected.

App Store ↗ Google Play ↗
Dragon Puppy Fun app screenshot
GAME DEMOGaming

Dragon Puppy Fun

A mobile game created with my 9 year old niece over a weekend to teach her about app development and not meant to be considered a serious game. She designed the characters and gameplay, created the artwork, and helped test the game. I created the underlying game mechanics and implemented the app using Flutter and the Flame game engine.

App Store ↗ Google Play ↗
04 Let's talk

Have something
good in mind?

Tell me what you're working on. I'd love to hear about it.

casitekllc@gmail.com