About Me

I'm a full-stack engineer at KQED who loves building things that are useful, accessible, and built to last. Over the past 3+ years, I've worked across the stack—from intuitive UIs to backend services, APIs, and cloud deployments.

Some of my favorite projects include rebuilding full-stack components of our Membership & Account platform, designing frontend features for our Voter Guide & Election Results during the 2024 Presidential Election and the LA Times–endorsed 2022 Midterm Election, and helping our Youth Media platform achieve WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility.

I've also mentored four interns, teaching them how to think like engineers—not just write code.

Recently, I've been diving deeper into AI: building a smart note-taking app with summaries, a Chrome extension for quick web digestion, an AI job search agent, and the occasional browser mini-game. I also collaborate with people who want fast, modern websites without the hassle.

When I'm not writing code, I'm probably enjoying cozy Nintendo Switch games, checking out a Golden State Valkyries game, hiking with friends, experimenting with new tea latte recipes, or hanging out with my golden retriever—who believes he's my pair programmer.

Professional Experience

Software Engineer — Full-Stack Focus

KQED

June 2025 - Present
  • Delivered end-to-end development for a Membership & Account platform rebuild using React, TypeScript, Node.js, Java, Spring Boot, and MongoDB
  • Improved donor and member experience through clearer account interactions and streamlined authentication workflows
  • Built backend APIs for authentication, profile management, and internal integrations
  • Deployed features through CI/CD pipelines using Docker and GCP
  • Collaborated with product managers and designers to create scalable, user-centered software
  • Mentored junior engineers and participated in architecture discussions and reviews
  • Developed full-stack AI applications including an OpenAI-powered chatbot and recommendation engine

Software Developer — Frontend Focus

KQED

June 2023 - June 2025
  • Engineered major features for Voter Guide & Election Results platforms supporting high-traffic election periods
  • Rebuilt the global navigation system for improved accessibility, clarity, and performance
  • Redesigned banner ad components and enhanced ad delivery integration
  • Integrated dynamic election APIs using React, Redux Toolkit, TypeScript, Sass, and Jest
  • Supported Youth Media's WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility achievement with accessible component patterns
  • Integrated WordPress as a headless CMS supporting editorial workflows

Junior Software Developer

KQED

June 2022 - June 2023
  • Implemented frontend and backend features using React, JavaScript, Python, and REST APIs
  • Contributed to foundational accessible UI patterns adopted across platforms
  • Translated product and design requirements into engineering tasks
  • Improved documentation and test coverage through QA collaboration and reviews

Featured Projects

Professional Work at KQED

KQED Voter Guide
Developed a comprehensive voter guide application that helps users make informed decisions during elections. Features include candidate information, ballot measures, and voting locations.
React
TypeScript
Node.js
MongoDB
View Project
Navigation System Redesign
Completely reinvented KQED's navigation menu system to improve user experience and accessibility. Implemented responsive design and performance optimizations.
JavaScript
TypeScript
Sass
Accessibility
View Project
Micro Websites
Built and maintained various micro websites for KQED, focusing on performance, SEO optimization, and user engagement. Each site tailored to specific content needs.
HTML5
Sass
TypeScript
SEO
View Project
User Account System
Revamped KQED's user accounts and login flow, implementing secure authentication, improved UX, and streamlined account management features.
Authentication
Security
UX Design
View Project

Personal Projects

Crittr
An AI-powered pet care platform built with Next.js & FastAPI. Features intelligent chatbot, health tracking, digital journaling, and Google OAuth. Deployed on Railway + Vercel with PostgreSQL database. Helping pet parents create lasting memories while monitoring their furry friends' wellbeing.
Next.js
FastAPI
PostgreSQL
TypeScript
Redux
Google OAuth
OpenAI API
View Project
AI-Powered Note Taking App
Built a sophisticated note-taking application that leverages OpenAI API for intelligent summarization. Features include smart categorization, automatic summaries, and search functionality.
React
TypeScript
Node.js
OpenAI API
PostgreSQL
View Project
Web Content Summarizer Extension
Developed a Chrome extension that provides instant AI-powered summaries of web page content. Helps users quickly understand lengthy articles and documents.
TypeScript
Chrome APIs
OpenAI API
Web Extensions
View Project
Interactive Mini Games Collection
Created a collection of engaging mini games with modern web technologies. Features responsive design, smooth animations, and intuitive gameplay mechanics.
TypeScript
HTML5 Canvas
Sass
Game Development
View Project
AI Job Search Agent
Developed an intelligent job search agent that uses OpenAI API to aggregate and analyze job postings. Provides personalized recommendations and insights.
Python
OpenAI API
Web Scraping
Data Analysis
View Project

Technical Skills

Frontend Development

TypeScript
90% proficiency in TypeScript
JavaScript
90% proficiency in JavaScript
React
85% proficiency in React
HTML5/CSS3
95% proficiency in HTML5/CSS3
Sass/SCSS
90% proficiency in Sass/SCSS
Responsive Design
90% proficiency in Responsive Design

Backend Development

Node.js
80% proficiency in Node.js
Java
85% proficiency in Java
Python
80% proficiency in Python
API Development
85% proficiency in API Development
SQL
90% proficiency in SQL
PostgreSQL
85% proficiency in PostgreSQL
MySQL
80% proficiency in MySQL
Database Design
75% proficiency in Database Design
System Maintenance
90% proficiency in System Maintenance

AI & Integration

OpenAI API
90% proficiency in OpenAI API
AI Integration
85% proficiency in AI Integration
Web Scraping
80% proficiency in Web Scraping
Chrome Extensions
85% proficiency in Chrome Extensions
Data Analysis
80% proficiency in Data Analysis

Leadership & Practices

Intern Mentoring
90% proficiency in Intern Mentoring
Code Review
90% proficiency in Code Review
Unit Testing
85% proficiency in Unit Testing
Technical Leadership
85% proficiency in Technical Leadership
SEO Optimization
80% proficiency in SEO Optimization

Get In Touch

Let's Connect

I'm always interested in discussing new opportunities, collaborating on projects, or just having a chat about technology.

csarkki.swe@gmail.com
LinkedIn Profile
GitHub Profile
San Francisco Bay Area
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