Rian Sousa Email & Phone Number

Boston, Ma

• Designed and developed a conversational AI chatbot for Shopify using Cloudflare, Python, FastAPI, and OpenAI APIs, enhancing customer engagement and streamlining the shopping experience with a secure and scalable architecture.• Implemented a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) solution using Langchain, Pinecone, and MongoDB to enable efficient product search and personalized interactions through Agent workflows and @tools for LLM API calls.• Integrated the chatbot with the Shopify platform, utilizing GraphQL, REST APIs, Webhooks, Axios, Remix, and React for real-time product queries.• Optimized chatbot performance using a tiered model approach with OpenAI's GPT models and Asyncio for concurrent processing, reducing API costs and improving response times.• Enhanced chatbot security and abuse prevention with Cloudflare, Redis, and OpenAI Content Moderation tools, implementing a penalty system to block malicious actors.• Spearheaded full-stack development efforts, from backend API design (using FastAPI and Asyncio) to front-end integrations (using Remix and React), ensuring a scalable, maintainable, and performant application stack.• Streamlined backend operations by integrating Redis for session management and MongoDB for persistent data storage, deployed on Fly.io with Docker for high availability and easy scaling.• Improved user experience by refining the chatbot's conversational tone, implementing prompt engineering techniques to generate precise and engaging responses, and correcting spelling and punctuation errors.• Collaborated with ChatGPT as an integral development partner, leveraging its capabilities for code generation, code reviews, prompt engineering, and refining AI-driven interactions to enhance the overall chatbot experience.

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Tech Lead & Full Stack Developer2022 Carbonite.com E-commerce RedesignLed the 2022 Carbonite.com e-commerce platform redesign using a JAM Stack architecture (JavaScript, Markup, API). This project leveraged React/Next.js for the front end (headless) and C# APIs/Azure to connect with the Optimizely EpiServer CMS on the backend.• Team Leadership: Assembled a sprint team for continued development and QA. Established a 3-week sprint schedule, overseeing sprint kick-offs, standups, grooming sessions, demos, and retrospectives.• Project Management: Set up and managed the Jira board, populating it with open tickets to facilitate efficient task tracking and workflow management.• Front-End Development: Actively engaged in front-end development using React/Next.js. Managed code through Git with deployments handled via Vercel using Git hooks.• Back-End Development: Developed C# APIs with the Optimizely EpiServer Framework, using Swagger and Visual Studio 2022. Managed deployments through PowerShell Scripts and the Optimizely DXP Management Portal.• Deployment Pipeline Management: Managed and optimized deployment pipelines to ensure smooth and efficient releases.• Code Reviews: Conducted and approved Pull Request (PR) code reviews on GitHub to maintain code quality.• Technical Documentation: Authored comprehensive documentation on the architecture redesign in Confluence, covering topics such as system flow diagrams, the transition from legacy to headless architecture, security features, deployment procedures, attack vectors, disaster recovery, localization, and troubleshooting.

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Tech Lead on Mozy MergerMarch 2018 – Carbonite's Acquisition of Mozy from Dell ($145MM)Led the transition of Mozy customers to the Carbonite platform following Carbonite's acquisition of Mozy. Oversaw the user experience, implementation, and product integrations to ensure a seamless transition for all Mozy customers globally.• Team Leadership: Onboarded core team members and managed a remote team of 6, along with 4 peripheral stakeholders, using MS Teams to facilitate seamless communication and collaboration.• Agile Project Management: Served as Scrum Master, organizing the Jira board and running sprints. Led daily standups, grooming, and retrospective meetings to ensure project milestones were met on schedule.• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Worked closely with Product Owners and Designers on UI designs, flows, and requirements. Authored an API spec document to align Mozy and Carbonite teams on integration designs and responsibilities.• Stakeholder Engagement: Created demos to showcase integration points and success factors for end-to-end testing to senior management. Participated in weekly senior-level meetings with Department Heads to review project goals and progress.• Adaptability & Problem Solving: Adapted to major changes in design and workflow mid-stream while maintaining adherence to pre-scheduled deadlines. Actively worked across departments to troubleshoot roadblocks and ensure smooth system integration and global communication.• Successful Transition: Delivered the final "Release" version, initiating the Carbonite upgrade effort to replace all instances of the Mozy Desktop Client globally with the Carbonite Client, ensuring a successful and efficient transition for all customers.

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Front-End & Back-End Development for Carbonite EndpointFront-End Development:Assigned to Carbonite's flagship backup product "Endpoint" as part of the "BB8" front-end team, transitioning the Endpoint UI Dashboard from an ASP.Net WebForms architecture to Angular 6 with TypeScript.• UI Modernization: Focused on Angular 6-7 and TypeScript, implementing Jasmine tests to ensure a seamless transition of the UI Dashboard.• Automation: Utilized PyCharm and the PyTest framework with WebDriver for Python-based UI tests to streamline and automate testing processes.• Technologies Used: WebStorm, Angular 6-7, TypeScript, Jasmine, GitHub, Jira, PyCharm, PyTest, Python (3.6-3.8), WebDriver, Postman, Auth 2.0 API with Bearer Token.Back-End API Development:After Carbonite's merger with WebRoot, transitioned to the "Rogue 2" API team to integrate Carbonite Endpoint with the WebRoot user portal.• API Integration: Developed C# APIs authenticated with JWT access tokens, implementing various HTTP verbs (Post, Get, Patch, Delete) and custom route attributes to support integration.• Testing & Documentation: Employed Swagger for API testing and documentation, managing input validation, stored procedures for data access, and exception handling to ensure robust and secure API functionality.• Technologies Used: C#, JWT, Swagger, Stored Procedures, JSON, Postman.

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

CodeCampKidz (codecampkidz.com - facebook.com/codecampkidz - instagram.com/codecampkidz) ongoing since 2014• Invented and developed an online learning platform to teach coding in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript through a progressive series of Lego™-style projects, initially designed to support students with dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, and working memory issues.• Researched and developed the learning format through an 8-month clinical study, using focus groups and weekly A/B split testing to refine the curriculum for maximum engagement and effectiveness.• Created a multi-level project catalog, guiding students from basic to advanced coding concepts in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, and Bootstrap JS. Facilitated learning by having students apply their skills on personal projects with guidance from online instructors.• Developed real-time collaboration tools, including a Chat Server, Code Server, and integrated Zoom Video Conferencing, allowing students to interact with instructors as if they were working side-by-side.• Implemented Code Reviews to ensure students' progress, allowing instructors to provide feedback and keep learners on track throughout their coding journey.• Expanded the platform’s reach, teaching in public school systems across Metro West and in-person programs at Microsoft Stores in New England, and eventually pivoting to an exclusively online format focusing on Girl Scouts at a national level.• Established partnerships with 29 Girl Scout Councils across 20 states, making CodeCampKidz the first virtual coding program introduced by many councils to their members.Technologies Used: Visual Studio, Asp.net MVC, HTML5, CSS3, JQuery, Javascript, JSON, Angular JS, C#, WebAPI, Linq, Lambda, Entity Framework, Unit of Work and Repository Design Patterns, SQL Server, SSMS & Node JS (chat & code servers).

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

• Delivered high-impact software solutions for a variety of clients in the Boston area, including Berklee College of Music, Fidelity Investments, and Joslin Diabetes Center.• Led full life cycle development for numerous projects, from architecting cloud-based applications to implementing complex e-commerce platforms and enterprise software systems.• Developed secure, scalable solutions using ASP.NET MVC, Angular JS, C#, SQL Server, and Entity Framework, adapting to each client’s unique requirements.• Designed and deployed high-performance, data-driven web applications, utilizing cutting-edge technologies to enhance user experience and support critical business functions.• Played a key role in developing and deploying software products in both cloud and on-premise environments, ensuring reliability, security, and scalability.

Master Of Computer Information Systems - Mscis, Computer Software Engineering, Dean’S List All Semesters

Started CodeCampKidz.com while doing my Masters program online. Originally worked with special needs students learning to write real code.

Bachelor'S Degree, Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies/Finance, Finalist For Best Business Plan Competition With Scorpio Computers Inc.

Started a computer company and won an award for participating in the Charm Prize Competition for the best business plan (Scorpio Computer.