Owen Edwards
Full-Stack & Mobile Software Engineer
"Building innovative, user-centric applications to drive the future of technology."
About Me
I'm currently a fourth-year Computer Science student at the University of Cincinnati, College of Engineering and Applied Science, where I'm set to graduate in Spring 2025.
Most recently, I worked at Paycor as a Software Engineer Co-op, working in Java with Spring Boot and Python with Flask on the backend and Angular with TypeScript on the frontend. I contributed to optimizing database performance, managing knowledge bases, and enhancing security measures, while also getting hands-on experience with Docker containerization and Agile methodologies from May 2024 - August 2024. Previously, I worked for Siemens Digital Industries Software as an NX Software Development Co-op, working with C++ where I authored change packages, addressed problem reports, and collaborated on functional specifications from January 2023 - December 2023.
I also worked as an Engineering Teaching Assistant at my university, working with Python, mentoring first-year students and helping them navigate the basics of programming and engineering principles from August 2022 - December 2022. Currently, I am a Computer Science Teaching Assistant teaching Linux and C to students in my computer science program for Introduction to Computer Systems from August 2024 - December 2024.
In addition to my professional experience, I've worked on several projects for classes and for fun, including developing a long-distance ride share app for Android with Kotlin using Jetpack Compose and C# using ASP.NET and a full-stack e-commerce application using React.js and Java with Spring Boot. I've also led a team of cybersecurity interns during a virtual apprenticeship, where we focused on enhancing our knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks and incident response methodologies. I have my Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals certification and I'm looking into getting my AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate certification.
Outside of work and school, I enjoy spending time in the kitchen cooking, playing guitar, and lifting weights at the gym. I'm also a cat person and love spending time with my feline companion. I'm based in Cincinnati but my hometown is Hudson, Ohio.
Experience
Computer Science Teaching Assistant
University of Cincinnati, College of Engineering and Applied Science — Department of Computer Science
August 2024 — PRESENT
Responsibilities:
- Assisted 110 students by holding 20 office hours per week and answering course-related emails each week.
- Provided guidance on C programming and debugging using GDB in Linux, helping students solve complex coding issues.
- Ran help sessions during office hours, teaching course material and troubleshooting student code.
Key Skills:
Linux
C
Software Engineer Co-op
Paycor
May 2024 — August 2024
Responsibilities:
- Enhanced offer letter processing by refining queries and transitioning to a reader database, resulting in a 60% average reduction in load on the writer database for ReadIOPS.
- Overhauled KnowledgeBase links post-migration from Salesforce to HelpJuice, replacing static HTML links with dynamic Angular variables for improved user experience.
- Containerized a Python Flask app with Docker, reducing setup time from 1 week to under 5 minutes. Simplified local development and improved team collaboration.
- Partnered with InfoSec to resolve a dozen critical security issues, including SSRF, CRFD, and open redirects.
- Optimized memory efficiency in the Recruiting app, improving performance by rethinking I/O operations using RESTful APIs.
- Contributed within an Agile team using Kanban Board on Azure DevOps, completing 3-week sprints with GitLab CI/CD pipelines.
Key Skills:
Java
TypeScript
Docker
Angular
Spring Boot
Python
Flask
NX Software Development Co-op
Siemens Digital Industries Software
January 2023 — December 2023
Responsibilities:
- Authored over 40 change packages to improve the Siemens NX CAD software.
- Improved the Drafting application by resolving 45+ Problem Reports (PRs).
- Integrated new C++ APIs into existing systems, enhancing legacy features.
- Collaborated on 3+ functional specifications, gathering requirements from the product manager and customers.
- Employed test-driven development (TDD) to ensure robust functionality in code implementation.
- Utilized CI in DevOps with descriptive commits, pull requests, and code reviews.
Key Skills:
C++
XML
Engineering Teaching Assistant
University of Cincinnati, College of Engineering and Applied Science — Department of Engineering & Computing Education
August 2022 — December 2022
Responsibilities:
- Mentored 24 first-year engineering students in engineering best practices.
- Tutored Python programming and flowchart creation to student groups.
- Managed email correspondence and grading for 76 students on a weekly basis.
Key Skills:
- Python
Relevant Coursework
2021-2022
- Computer Science 1
- Data Structures
- Introduction to Computer Systems
- Python Programming
- Information Security & Assurance
2022-2023
- Discrete Computational Structures
- Programming Languages
- Database Design and Development
- Design and Analysis of Algorithms
- Operating Systems & Systems Programming
- Software Engineering
2023-2024
- Artificial Intelligence: Principles and Applications
- Computer Networks and Networked Computing
- Requirements Engineering
- The Theory of Formal Languages and Automata
- User Interface I
2024-2025
- Engineering Interactive Visual Interfaces for Data Science
- Large Scale Software Engineering
- Security Vulnerability Assessment
Projects
Long-Distance Ride Share Mobile Application
- Developed a long-distance ride share app for Android using Kotlin (Gradle) with Jetpack Compose, Material 3, and Retrofit.
- Designed an ASP.NET Core backend supported by Microsoft SQL Server and MongoDB for data storage.
- Utilized Retrofit for API communication and Kotlin Coroutines for asynchronous programming.
- Integrated location services and real-time data handling to improve user experience.
Kotlin
Jetpack Compose
Android
C#
ASP.NET Core
SQL Server
MongoDB
Portfolio Website
- Developed a personal portfolio website using React for component-based UI development and Material UI for responsive, modern styling across the site.
- Utilized TypeScript for type-safe coding practices, enhancing maintainability and debugging.
- Leveraged Next.js for server-side rendering and optimized performance, while React Router managed routing between pages seamlessly.
- Deployed the website using Vercel, ensuring reliable hosting and continuous integration with GitHub for automatic updates.
React
Material UI
TypeScript
Node.js
Next.js
React Router
Vercel
E-Commerce Application
- Developed a full-stack e-commerce application using Java Spring Boot with Maven dependencies and React.js with Material UI.
- Designed and implemented a PostgreSQL database schema using an Entity-Relationship (ER) Diagram for efficient data organization.
- Utilized Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) with Hibernate/JPA for seamless interaction between the Java backend and the PostgreSQL database.
- Designed and utilized RESTful APIs for CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete).
- Built a user-friendly frontend using React components and hooks, ensuring a dynamic and responsive user experience with Material UI.
Java
Spring Boot
PostgreSQL
JavaScript
React
Material UI
Portfolio Website (Old)
- Applied basics of front-end web development to develop static portfolio website in Visual Studio Code.
- Displayed resume and contact information using HTML and CSS.
- Improved website responsiveness to mobile with CSS media queries and Bootstrap framework.
- Committed website to GitHub Pages static web hosting service through Git version control.
HTML
CSS
Bootstrap
GitHub Pages
Autonomous Product Retrieval (APR) System
- Employed the Engineering Design Process to create an Autonomous Product Retrieval (APR) LEGO robot with an EV3 operating system.
- Interfaced with a team of engineers in the communicative teaming process.
- Analyzed data collected from a Python script using VBA macros and Excel descriptive statistics.
- Recorded a report documenting project management and technical information.
Python