Projects

Problem

Legacy Python/Tornado/CoffeeScript platform with 45+ minute build times was blocking rapid iteration, making deployments risky, and limiting engineering velocity. The technical debt had accumulated over years, creating maintenance burden and slowing feature development.

Solution

Led complete migration to Next.js/TypeScript/SCSS stack using Claude Code for assisted refactoring. Incrementally decomposed monolithic services into microservices, established modern CI/CD pipelines, implemented comprehensive testing, and standardized development practices across teams.

Outcome

Build times dropped from 45+ minutes to 75 seconds, enabling multiple daily deployments. Development velocity increased significantly with modern tooling, type safety, and improved developer experience. Reduced production incidents and accelerated feature delivery.

Tech Stack

Problem

The Muse wanted to expand revenue beyond job seeker platform by enabling partners to leverage job search technology. Required building scalable multi-tenant architecture that could handle custom branding, domains, and configuration while maintaining single codebase.

Solution

Architected and led development of white-label platform with tenant isolation, dynamic configuration, custom domain mapping, and brand theming. Built admin tooling for tenant provisioning and management. Designed data isolation strategy ensuring security and performance across tenants.

Outcome

Successfully launched B2B SaaS product opening new revenue stream. Platform enabled partners to launch branded job search sites within days instead of months. Architecture supports unlimited tenants with minimal overhead.

Tech Stack

Problem

Infinite scroll job search prevented Google from discovering and indexing deep job listings. Search engines could only crawl the initial page load, leaving thousands of job postings invisible to organic search traffic and costing significant potential revenue.

Solution

Redesigned search UX from infinite scroll to paginated results with proper SEO implementation (canonical URLs, rel=prev/next, XML sitemaps). Collaborated with Product/Design to maintain user experience while optimizing for crawlability. Implemented progressive enhancement ensuring functionality without JavaScript.

Outcome

Google began indexing entire job catalog. Organic search traffic increased dramatically as job listings became discoverable. Improved rankings for job-related queries and reduced dependency on paid acquisition.

Tech Stack

Problem

Existing ad partner provided limited formats and poor viewability. Ad revenue was plateauing and user experience suffered from intrusive placements. Needed better monetization without degrading Core Web Vitals or user experience.

Solution

Led evaluation and migration to new ad partner with modern formats (native, video, rich media). Redesigned ad integration with lazy loading, viewability optimization, and performance budgets. Implemented A/B testing framework to validate revenue impact and user experience metrics.

Outcome

Revenue increased 15% with better user experience. Improved ad viewability and CTR while maintaining excellent Core Web Vitals. Established framework for ongoing ad optimization experiments.

Tech Stack

Problem

Legacy ad platform across Vogue, The New Yorker, Wired, GQ, Bon Appétit, and 25+ other brands had poor viewability (45%), slow render times, and inconsistent implementation. Every millisecond of latency impacted global revenue across 229M+ monthly users.

Solution

Architected and implemented unified ad platform serving all Condé Nast brands. Removed jQuery dependencies, optimized bundle size, implemented lazy loading and viewability tracking. Created shared UI tooling and plugin architecture. Standardized testing achieving 80%+ coverage.

Outcome

Ad viewability jumped from 45% to 85%, dramatically increasing revenue. Faster render times improved user experience and Core Web Vitals. Reduced integration defects and accelerated feature delivery across all brands.

Tech Stack

Problem

Slow page loads (5+ seconds) and excessive network requests (100+ per page) created poor user experience, hurt SEO rankings, and reduced ad revenue. Mobile users particularly impacted, with high bounce rates on slow connections.

Solution

Implemented comprehensive performance optimization: lazy loading, image optimization, critical CSS, code splitting, CDN optimization, and reduced third-party scripts. Built responsive mobile-first architecture using SASS (BEM) and modular JavaScript. Established performance budgets and monitoring.

Outcome

Page load time decreased 54% and network requests cut 53%. Improved engagement metrics, better Core Web Vitals, higher SEO rankings, and increased ad revenue. Mobile experience dramatically improved.

Tech Stack

Problem

Indiana foster care system relied on manual paperwork, spreadsheets, and email to manage 12K+ children and 3K+ foster households. Processing took months, data was inconsistent, and staff spent significant time on data entry instead of helping families.

Solution

Founded software firm and built comprehensive platform handling parent recruitment, child placement, training compliance, mentorship forums, and developmental evaluations. Replaced paper/spreadsheet workflows with automated systems. Implemented secure single sign-on and encrypted remote access for field staff.

Outcome

Cut statewide foster/adoption processing time by 50%+, accelerating placements for vulnerable children. Eliminated manual paperwork and data entry roles, saving $400K+ annually. Platform expanded across state lines and served as model for child welfare digital transformation.

Tech Stack

Problem

Google Core Web Vitals scores in red/orange range hurt SEO rankings and conversion rates. LCP, FID, and CLS metrics failed Google's thresholds, directly impacting search visibility and user experience during critical job search moments.

Solution

Implemented comprehensive Web Vitals optimization: image optimization with next/image, font loading optimization, code splitting, lazy loading, server-side rendering improvements, and third-party script optimization. Established monitoring and performance budgets to prevent regression.

Outcome

Achieved 90%+ green Core Web Vitals scores across all pages. Improved SEO rankings, increased organic traffic, and higher conversion rates. Established performance culture with ongoing monitoring and optimization.

Tech Stack

Problem

Job listings and articles not appearing in Google rich results (job cards, article snippets). Search engines struggled to understand content structure, limiting visibility in competitive job search market.

Solution

Implemented comprehensive JSON-LD structured data across all content types (JobPosting, Article, Organization, BreadcrumbList). Worked with SEO team to optimize schema markup and validate in Search Console. Built automated testing to prevent schema regression.

Outcome

Organic SEO traffic increased 10x as content appeared in Google rich results. Job listings displayed with salary, location, and company in search. Articles featured in Top Stories and article carousels. Dramatically reduced dependency on paid acquisition.

Tech Stack

Problem

Over 24,000 articles from The Muse and FGB were difficult for users to discover through traditional search and navigation. Article content represented significant value but wasn't being surfaced effectively, limiting engagement and monetization opportunities. Users needed a more intuitive way to find relevant career advice.

Solution

Designed and led development of Maya, an AI-powered content discovery tool that uses natural language processing to surface relevant articles. Built with React.js and Next.js, integrating with article APIs to provide intelligent search results. Positioned platform for AI-first search future while maintaining performance standards.

Outcome

Increased article pageviews by 3,500 unique users per month. Boosted organic reach and created PR-driven traffic opportunities. Opened new top-of-funnel monetization paths by improving content discoverability. Demonstrated technical leadership in emerging AI technologies.

Tech Stack

Problem

Job seekers had to click into separate pages to view job details, then use back button to return to search results. This multi-tab workflow created friction, interrupted browsing flow, and reduced application conversion. Users lost context switching between search and detail views.

Solution

Revamped job search UX to two-pane layout allowing jobseekers to browse listings and view details in same tab. Implemented inline navigation that updates URL for SEO while maintaining smooth UX. Created new indexable URLs for each job view state while keeping user in browsing mode.

Outcome

50% increase in job applications per user by reducing navigation friction. Improved SEO through new indexable job detail URLs. Enhanced user experience by maintaining search context while exploring opportunities. Demonstrated impact of thoughtful UX on core conversion metrics.

Tech Stack

Problem

Google prioritizes sites with direct application capability in Google Jobs search results. The Muse needed to enable on-site applications without rebuilding forms for each partner's unique requirements. Each ATS had different fields, validation rules, and security requirements for handling PII.

Solution

Partnered with multiple third-party applicant tracking systems and built dynamic form generator consuming JSON schema definitions. Created system supporting custom fields, validation rules, display ordering, and PII security. Implemented multi-phase approach with technical documentation, partner coordination, and POC variants for each ATS integration.

Outcome

Clickthrough rate increased 15% and job applications increased 10% by reducing friction. Achieved Google Jobs prioritization improving organic discovery. Built scalable platform supporting unlimited ATS partners without custom development for each integration.

Tech Stack

Problem

Company profile pages built on legacy monolith (CoffeeScript, Python, Tornado) had poor performance scores hurting SEO rankings and user experience. Mobile Lighthouse scores: Performance 62, Accessibility 96, Best Practices 83, SEO 89. Slow load times reduced engagement and conversion for job seekers researching employers.

Solution

Replatformed Company Profile pages as server-side rendering microfrontend using Next.js, TypeScript, Docker, AWS ECS, and CircleCI. Replaced legacy stack with modern standards while maintaining feature parity. Focused optimization efforts on Core Web Vitals and accessibility compliance.

Outcome

Achieved all-green Lighthouse scores: Performance 91 (+29), Accessibility 100 (+4), Best Practices 92 (+9), SEO 96 (+7). Dramatically improved page load times and user experience. Enhanced SEO rankings leading to increased organic traffic to company profiles and job listings.

Tech Stack

Problem

Job search experience felt dated and didn't align with The Muse's modern approach to job seeking. Technical debt in search page architecture limited ability to iterate quickly and add features. Poor Core Web Vitals hurt SEO rankings. User engagement metrics showed room for improvement in browsing and discovery.

Solution

Complete UX refresh redesigning search interface from ground up while rebuilding technical architecture. Migrated to Next.js, Koa, Storybook, TypeScript, CSS Modules, and Docker. Collaborated with Product and Design teams to reimagine job discovery experience. Focused on performance optimization achieving perfect Core Web Vitals scores.

Outcome

Increased job tile views 8.7%, tile views per unique visitor 20%, and job tile clicks 21.9%. Achieved exceptional Core Web Vitals: LCP 2.23s, FID 0.02s, CLS 0 (perfect). Improved SEO rankings through performance gains. Created scalable, maintainable platform for future search innovations.

Tech Stack