About
I am Software engineer with many years of experience programming in Python. I have developed many web applications using Django and PostgreSQL in the backend. I have also done frontend work using Vue.js and GraphQL. I have been writing spiders to crawl the web for open data using Scrapy, selenium and BS4.
I have worked in startups, middle-sized companies, open source projects, and also I have done a lot of pro bono work with Peruvian journalists. I have helped them gather, sort, parse and organize public information from congress candidates in Peru. I created tools that journalists have used to uncover cases of corruption and lobbying.
Before that, I have been formally educated as a biologist. I started studying the taxonomy of Neotropical butterflies. Then, I used DNA sequences to infer the evolutionary relationships of butterflies and got a PhD in Evolutionary biology for this. Eventually I got interested in bioinformatics. After that I started working as software engineer.
Fullstack Developer.
I have experience developing Front-end and Back-end applications.
- City: Lima, Perú.
- Degree: PhD in Animal Ecology
- Email: mycalesis@gmail.com
- Freelance: Available
Resume
Summary
Carlos Peña
Software developer with more than 7 years of experience in tech companies. Skills in Python, Django, PostgreSQL, Vue.js, GraphQL, Scrapy, Selenium, AWS services, among others.
- Lima, Perú
- mycalesis@gmail.com
Education
AWS Lambda, Python & Serverless - Udemy Course
2024
Course on building Serverless Apps with Lambda, Python (Boto3) and AWS services.
Doctor of Philosophy, Animal Ecology
2004 - 2009
Stockholm University, Sweden
Studied the evolutionary relationships of Neotropical butterflies using DNA sequences.
Bachelor of Science in Biology, Major Zoology, Entomology
1997 - 2002
Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
Professional Experience
Software Engineer - Company: Personas
Nov 2016 - Dec 2023
Remote - San Francisco Bay Area, California
- Backend, FrontEnd development. Architecture of distributed systems.
- Developed web applications from scratch composed of backend in Django + PostgreSQL and frontend using vue.js.
- Backend of applications were heavily integrated with other web applications and 3rd party distributed systems integrated via APIs.
- Frontend GUI in typescript were interactive and aimed for our customer base via web apps, browser extensions for desktop and mobile usage.
- Extensive optimization of PostgreSQL queries for fast delivery of data on demand to our customers via our Frontend systems.
- Developed Chrome extensions connected to our backend and frontend applications to augment the productivity of our customer base.
- Skills: Vue.js, Django, Distributed Systems, TypeScript, Docker, JavaScript, PostgreSQL, Python, Amazon Web Services, AWS Lambda, Front-End Development, Apollo GraphQL Back-End Development, Scrapy, Selenium, BS4, Celery, Redis, Nginx
Software Engineer Company: Zyte
Jan 2016 - Aug 2016
Remote, Cork, Ireland
- Developed spiders to crawl public websites for open data using Python, Javascript and Lua.
- Updated, improved and maintained many of the thousands of scraping spiders developed by the company.
- Wrote blog posts for the company, in which I explained how some spiders that I created to scrape government data from Peru helped journalists expose lobbying and corruption in the Peruvian government. One of the posts was well received and reached 1st position in hacker news:
https://www.zyte.com/blog/how-web-scraping-is-revealing-lobbying-and-corruption-in-peru/
Postdoctoral Researcher
Feb 2011 - Dec 2015
On site: University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Diversification in Lepidoptera. Next Generation Sequencing and data analysis.
- Google Scholar citations:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=y4uTyvsAAAAJ&hl=en
Services
As a seasoned Full-Stack Software Engineer with a decade of experience across diverse domains, I offer a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet the evolving needs of clients in today's dynamic digital landscape. From architecting scalable web solutions using technologies such as Django, Celery, Python, Vue.js, and TypeScript, to harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and data science techniques for innovative AI-driven applications, my expertise spans the full spectrum of modern software development. With a strong foundation in web scraping, AI chatbots, DevOps, cloud infrastructure management, and bioinformatics, I provide clients with custom-tailored solutions that address their unique challenges and propel their businesses forward. Whether it's crafting robust web applications, extracting valuable insights from data, optimizing cloud infrastructure, or consulting on best practices, I am committed to delivering excellence and driving tangible results for every project.
Full-Stack Web Development
I utilize expertise in backend technologies like Django, Celery, and Python, as well as frontend technologies such as Vue.js and TypeScript, to develop robust and scalable web applications from scratch.
AI and Data Science Solutions
I leverage knowledge in data scraping, machine learning, and deep learning techniques to offer services in AI-driven solutions. This could include developing chatbots, data analysis, predictive modeling, natural language processing (NLP), and recommendation systems.
Web Scraping and Data Extraction
I offer web scraping services to extract data from various public sources, ensuring data integrity and accuracy. You could provide custom solutions for clients needing specific datasets for analysis or business intelligence purposes.
DevOps and Cloud Infrastructure
I use my experience in DevOps practices and cloud platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Digital Ocean, and provide services in setting up, managing, and optimizing cloud infrastructure for clients. This could involve continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), containerization, and infrastructure as code (IaC) using tools like Jenkins and Docker.
Consulting and Mentoring
I use my experience working in diverse domains and roles to offer consulting services to startups or organizations. This could include architectural guidance, best practices in software development, and mentoring junior developers.
Custom Software Development
I provide custom software development services tailored to clients' specific needs. This could involve building custom applications, APIs, or integrations to streamline business processes or solve unique challenges.
Bioinformatics and Phylogenetics Solutions
I offer specialized services in bioinformatics and phylogenetics, leveraging my experience developing the VoSeq web application. This could involve developing custom tools, databases, or analysis pipelines for researchers or organizations in the life sciences.
Civic Technology Solutions
I apply my experience in civic hacking and collaboration with journalists to offer solutions aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, and civic engagement. This could include developing applications for data visualization, citizen engagement platforms, or tools for open government initiatives.