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Alfie Renn
Software Engineer

About

Hi! I'm Alfie: physics graduate, toki pona speaker, and software engineer. I love to make beautiful things with code (mainly using HTML/CSS/JavaScript and Python), including websites, apps, and graphs. With all my work I create good quality, robust, and well-tested code, as well as powerful automation and well-organised git repositories, empowering collaboration. Do check out my website and GitHub!

Work Experience

Freelance Software Engineer
https://alfierenn.dev/
March 2023 – Present
Highlights
  • Co-maintaining [**gspread**](https://github.com/burnash/gspread), an open-source **Python** API for Google Sheets with over 8 million downloads per month, demanding a high level of future-planning and project management.
  • Developed new code and tests in **JavaScript** for a new expansion for [keyteki](https://github.com/keyteki/keyteki), an online card game, working in a fast-paced and highly collaborative environment ahead of the new expansion's release.
  • Developed a mod for the video game Factorio in **Lua**, involving a low-level partner-plugin for the voice chat client Mumble, written in **C**. Released on Windows and Linux.
  • Interfaced with an electronic dot-matrix display discarded from a bus station, using **C**, requiring an involved knowledge of electronics and low-level communication protocols.
ByteSnap Design
https://www.bytesnap.com/
August 2022 – March 2023
Software Engineer
Highlights
  • Utilised **Vue** and **TypeScript** to create an intuitive, user-friendly web application, using robust design patterns and best practices to ensure optimal functionality and user experience.
  • Designed and developed a responsive, feature-rich web application using **Flutter** and **Dart**, incorporating a range of views and user-friendly interfaces for maximum ease of use.
  • Employed **WPF** and **C#** to create a high-performance application, using **SQL** and an MVC architecture to facilitate the viewing, manipulation, and analysis of data.
  • Streamlined the deployment process of complex code with multiple dependencies, using **Docker** and **GitLab** CI to optimise the development process and improve productivity.
Durham University Physics Department
https://www.dur.ac.uk/qlm/
June 2021 – August 2021
Solar Physics Research Student
Researching novel telescope imaging techniques using quantum gases
Highlights
  • Developed robust code with **Python** for fabricating and analysing images from a solar telescope.
  • Performed deep literature review to justify techniques used in the creation of said telescope.
  • Discussed and acted upon desires and needs of telescope engineers, theorists, and observationalists.
Viper RF
https://www.viper-rf.com/
August 2019 – September 2019
Design Engineer Intern
Programmed and debugged a real-time optimisation algorithm on a microcontroller with **C**. This was used to minimise power losses for a microwave generator, to be used in an ion thruster for space satellites, improving both industry knowledge and personal skills.

Awards

  • July 2019

    Durham University

    Florence Nightingale Award for Graphical Excellence

    Awarded for the optimal presentation of quantitative data to illustrate a Helmholtz coil. Used Python for graphing.

Volunteer

gspread - Simple interface for working with Google Sheets
https://github.com/burnash/gspread/
June 2023 – Present
Open-source Maintainer
Maintaining an open-source Python library for interacting with Google Sheets, including adding new features, fixing bugs, and responding to user issues.
British Heart Foundation
https://www.bhf.org.uk/
March 2023 – Present
Electrical Tester
Testing electrical equipment for sale in charity shops.

Contact

Sheffield UK
alfie@alfierenn.dev
https://alifeee.co.uk
Blog
https://blog.alifeee.co.uk
LinkedIn
alfierenn
GitHub
alifeee

Education

  • 2018 2022

    Durham University

    https://www.durham.ac.uk/

    MPhys Physics

    Grade: 1st (77%)

    Courses
    • Masters Project: Using Machine Learning to Optimise Quantum Optics Experiments
  • 2011 2018

    Cottingham High School and Sixth Form College

    https://www.cottinghamhigh.net/

    A Level, GCSE

    Grade: A* A* A* (A Level), 6A*, 4A, 2D* (GCSE)

    Courses
    • A* Physics
    • A* Mathematics
    • A* Further Mathematics
    • (GCSE) A* Mathematics, A English
    • (GCSE) + 5A*, 3A, 2 Dist*

Skills

Data Analysis
Python Statistics Jupyter
Web Development
HTML CSS JavaScript Vue
Git/Project Management
Pull requests Git issues Open source maintainer GitHub Actions
Great development practises
Test-Driven Development API Design Reliable documentation
DevOps
Docker Git Continuous Integration Continuous Deployment

Interests

Electronics
PC building Arduino (microcontroller and circuit boards)
Open-source
Contributing to open-source projects

References

[... W]e were very impressed with [Alfie]'s outstanding contribution to our business in a relatively short period. He demonstrated extremely high intelligence, organisation, good technical communication skills, work ethic, and a positive attitude. [Available on request.]

"This is very neat thank you for this contribution."

"Thanks @strib and. @alifeee - very good team work!!!!"

[Available on request.]

[Available on request.]