who you are looking for

Brian McKinney

Skills

Extensive Python/Django, Django Rest Framework, and Javascript experience, experience with Docker, Git, microservices, web application/database optimization. Vast knowledge of user interface design and front-end web development technologies such as HTML, CSS, typography, and graphic design. Additionally I have proven my ability to develop and utilize new skills in order to achieve specific goals.

tl;dr

  • Currently a senior software engineer at O’Reilly Media with a focus on the backend
  • Former full-stack team lead at the company that originally created Django
  • Previously managed a team of four front-end developers, provided leadership and thoughtful code review
  • Co-founded Brisky Business, where I built Gentlemint — a social network that has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Mashable and was named one of the top websites of 2012 by PC magazine
  • Over a decade's worth of experience in building web applications with Python/Django, JavaScript and HTML/CSS

Work Experience

  • O’Reilly Media
  • Sebastopol, California
  • Senior Software Engineer: June, 2017 – Present

As a senior software engineer at O’Reilly, I’ve gained broad, hands-on experience by contributing across multiple teams and projects, each pivotal to our platform's success. My focus is on expanding and sustaining a robust, large-scale Django-based application built on a microservices architecture that supports hundreds of thousands of users daily, including engineers from some of the most recognized companies in the tech industry. Progressing from software engineer to team lead and now senior engineer, I’ve led and contributed to numerous mission-critical projects that deliver substantial business impact and enhance user experience. My work directly shapes our services, driving innovation and reliability across the organization.

 

 

 

  • The World Company
  • Lawrence, Kansas
  • Lead Developer: September, 2013 – August, 2016

As the Lead Developer at The World Company, my primary focus was on full-stack development across several large scale media-focused web sites built on Ellington CMS—the original Django web application. I built and designed a Django‐based apartment search app, redesigned and implemented a modern mobile user experience across all World Company sites and improved countless other user interfaces on both desktop and mobile. My day to day duties required me to move between all layers of our web stack in order to accomplish varying tasks like troubleshooting slow database queries, improving site performance and addressing security issues. I worked with a geographically distributed development team to address issues with the Ellington platform. I also provided direction, training and code review to other front-end development team members, and advised the leadership of the World Company on all matters relating to their Web strategy.

  • Mediaphormedia (The World Company)
  • Lawrence, Kansas
  • Lead Front End Developer and Designer: October, 2011 – August, 2013

As the lead front-end developer at Mediaphormedia I continued to design and build the front-end of web applications with Django, JavaScript, HTML and CSS while overseeing and managing our four member front-end development team. I collaborated on code reviews with all of our front-end developers to ensure that our work met or exceeded our expectations and standards. I provided extensive support and had direct communication with a large community of Ellington end users. I became in expert in all layers of the vast Ellington codebase, in order to support and offer direction to the front-end development team. I frequently met with the leadership of our company as well as other stakeholders to communicate our vision of design and web strategy. I had an important role in not only leading our design/development efforts, but also representing the company and shaping the strategy and direction of our organization as a whole. I was consulted on every significant design/development decision at Mediaphormedia, which is a testament to the organization's belief in my ability to make definitive decisions that support the overall strategy and direction of our company.

  • Mediaphormedia (The World Company)
  • Lawrence, Kansas
  • Front End Developer and Designer: May, 2009 – October, 2011

Worked with a team of developers to design and implement user interfaces with Django templates, HTML, CSS and JavaScript—using Git for version control. Mediaphormedia is the home of the original and one of the largest Django web applications on the Web, and I gained extensive experience working as a front-end developer on a large-scale, high traffic web application. My work ultimately affected hundreds of thousands of users and I was constantly challenged to expand my abilities to deliver innovative solutions to difficult problems. Additionally, working with a team of highly skilled Python developers gave me experience in Python/Django best practices as well as developing and deploying large-scale Django web applications.

  • Kansas State University Web Technologies
  • Manhattan, Kansas
  • Senior Web Designer: June, 2006 – May, 2009

Senior front-end designer for the central web technology team at a major (25,000 students) University. Designed and implemented the user interface of several high-profile web applications using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Gave direction regarding standards-based web design on countless projects. Worked with stakeholders from many departments, with varying backgrounds, in order to effectively communicate and advocate K-State's web principals and strategy.

  • Kansas State University Division of Continuing Education
  • Manhattan, Kansas
  • Web Team Leader: February, 2005 – June, 2006

In charge of every aspect of the management of a large-scale web site at a prominent department within Kansas State University. Authored a plan for a complete redesign of the existing DCE web site, including drastic improvements to the information architecture, graphic design, and (X)HTML/CSS code. Created and implemented management procedures to increase efficiency. Supervised, trained and evaluated a team of workers to develop and maintain the DCE web site. Worked effectively within multiple committees to guide DCE’s web-based marketing efforts. Created (X)HTML/CSS templates for conference program web sites. Designed and edited countless web sites. Constantly delivered quality work under extremely tight deadlines.