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Staff Software Engineer · 20 Years Experience

Jelani Asim Etienne

Professional Summary

Staff-Level Software Engineer with 20 years of experience building scalable, high-performance enterprise platforms serving millions of daily users. Expert in modern frontend architecture (React/JavaScript) and backend systems engineering using Java (17–20) to design resilient APIs and cloud-native services on GCP that reliably power customer-facing applications. Led full-stack platform initiatives including VALET (SLO-driven reliability dashboard reducing errors and support tickets by 60–70%) and Canary (consumer interaction analytics platform enabling data-driven frontend optimization). Strong focus on API contract integrity, performance engineering, observability, and long-term system scalability.

Career

Professional
Experience

Home Depot
SR Software Engineer
02/2011 — 01/2026
Atlanta, GA
  • Architected and delivered full-stack, high-traffic web applications for HomeDepot.com, serving millions of daily users using React, modern JavaScript (ES6+), and Node.js.
  • Designed and developed backend services in Java (17/18/19/20), building scalable RESTful APIs that powered React frontends with clean API contracts, optimized payload delivery, and resilient service orchestration.
  • Engineered and maintained backend-to-frontend integrations ensuring structured, performant data flow across distributed systems.
  • Designed and implemented VALET (Volume, Availability, Latency, Errors, Tickets) — an SLO-driven observability dashboard built on GCP, integrating production telemetry, logging pipelines, and BigQuery analytics.
    • Reduced production errors and support tickets by 60–70%
    • Improved SLA adherence and significantly reduced MTTR
  • Created Canary, a backend-powered analytics platform leveraging BigQuery to capture component usage, user interaction flows, and engagement metrics across HomeDepot.com.
    • Enabled data-driven frontend optimization and experimentation
    • Improved rollout confidence and visibility into feature performance
  • Designed and deployed cloud-native services on Google Cloud Platform (GCP), integrating logging, monitoring, and scalable analytics pipelines.
  • Leveraged BigQuery for operational intelligence, performance modeling, and consumer behavior analysis to inform engineering decisions.
  • Reduced production defects by ~60% through API contract enforcement, defensive error handling, expanded automated testing (JUnit), and improved CI/CD validation.
  • Optimized frontend performance, improving page load times by 30–40% through rendering optimization, bundle tuning, and delivery strategy enhancements.
  • Enhanced CI/CD pipelines (Git/GitHub-based workflows) to improve release stability, deployment safety, and rollback efficiency.
  • Mentored engineers on scalable system design, API architecture, observability engineering, and cloud-native best practices.
ReactJavaScript (ES6+)Node.js Java (17–20)REST APIsGCP BigQueryCI/CDGit/GitHub Observability EngineeringSLO Governance Cloud-Native Architecture
Poopa's Farm Products and Services Ltd.
Shareholder & IT Advisor
09/2017 — Present
Roseau, Saint George Parish, Dominica
  • Act as shareholder and strategic technology advisor, helping guide long-term digital and operational strategy for a Caribbean agribusiness
  • Advise leadership on technology architecture, digital systems, and process improvements to optimize production, inventory, and operational workflows
  • Evaluate and recommend technology solutions, vendors, and system modernization initiatives aligned with business growth objectives
  • Provide technical and strategic insight to leadership, supporting scalable operations, risk-aware decision making, and long-term operational efficiency
IT GovernanceTechnology RoadmappingIT AdvisoryDigital TransformationIT Strategy
PrimeTime IT Solutions
Lead Web Developer
03/2005 — 03/2013
Atlanta, GA
  • Lead end-to-end delivery of client web projects, from requirements gathering and architecture through development, launch, and ongoing support
  • Own technical direction, UI/UX design, and database architecture across multiple concurrent projects with varied technology stacks
  • Design and build database-driven websites and e-commerce platforms supporting diverse client business operations
  • Manage project intake, prioritization, and execution to ensure on-time delivery and consistent quality standards
HTML5/CSS3ASP.NETPHP Database DesignUI/UXAI Tools
UCB Pharma
Web Developer
10/2007 — 08/2009
Atlanta, GA
  • Designed, implemented, documented, and supported web-based data-driven applications across the full SDLC
  • Developed frontend and server-side components using ASP, HTML, CSS, and RedDot CMS
  • Optimized intranet, internet, and database systems for performance and reliability while providing end-user support
ASPRedDot CMSOracleWebTrends
UPS
Web Specialist
06/2006 — 10/2007
Alpharetta, GA
  • Supported enterprise intranet and internet platforms for UPS Professional Services and Strategic Accounts divisions
  • Designed and developed scalable, secure web applications using ASP, ASP.NET, HTML, CSS, and PHP
  • Collaborated with business analysts and architects to translate functional requirements into technical solutions
ASP.NETPHPOraclePhotoshop
Capabilities

Core
Competencies

⚡
Frontend Architecture & Performance
React.js, Angular, modern JavaScript (ES6+), HTML5, CSS3, component-driven architecture, rendering optimization, SEO strategy, Core Web Vitals tuning, scalable design systems
🔧
Backend & API Engineering
Java (17–20), Node.js, RESTful services, GraphQL, API contract design, service orchestration, payload optimization, backend-to-frontend data delivery, distributed systems
☁️
Cloud-Native & Data Platforms
Google Cloud Platform (GCP), cloud architecture design, BigQuery analytics, logging and monitoring pipelines, scalable service deployment, data-driven performance modeling
📊
Observability & Reliability
SLO/SLI definition, error budget governance, production telemetry analysis, MTTR reduction, incident trend modeling, reliability dashboards (VALET), consumer analytics platform (Canary)
🧱
Full-Stack Systems Development
End-to-end application delivery, frontend/backend integration, SQL (MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle), system scalability, concurrency considerations, performance-aware architecture
📦
Content & Platform Engineering
Headless CMS (Contentful), CMS integrations, structured content modeling, WordPress, RedDot CMS
👥
Engineering Leadership
System design, architectural decision-making, technical mentorship, code quality standards, CI/CD automation, cross-functional collaboration, Agile/SDLC
🧪
Quality, Testing & Optimization
JUnit, automated testing strategy, cross-browser validation, debugging, performance monitoring, A/B testing frameworks, defect reduction strategy
Academic

Education

2004
DeVry University
Bachelor of Science — Computer Information Systems
Atlanta, GA · Epsilon Delta Pi President / Vice President
Beyond Code

Interests

Web Development & Design
Emerging Technologies
Team Sports
Motorsports & Automotive
Cooking
Music & Gaming
Film & TV