Alfie Renn

Software Engineer

Summary

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!

Experience

March 2023 - Present
  • 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

August 2022 - March 2023

Software Engineer

  • 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

June 2021 - August 2021

Solar Physics Research Student

Researching novel telescope imaging techniques using quantum gases

  • 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

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.

Education

Durham University

September 2018 - July 2022

MPhys Physics

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

Cottingham High School and Sixth Form College

September 2011 - July 2018

A Level, GCSE

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

Volunteer

gspread - Simple interface for working with Google Sheets

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

March 2023 - Present
Electrical Tester

Testing electrical equipment for sale in charity shops.

Awards

Florence Nightingale Award for Graphical Excellence

Durham University

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

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.]
— Jim Mayock, Viper RF. Matthew O'Keefe, PhD, MBA, Viper RF.
"This is very neat thank you for this contribution."
— Alexandre Lavigne, open-source pull request.
"Thanks @strib and. @alifeee - very good team work!!!!"
— Romano Silva, open-source pull request.
[Available on request.]
— Prof. Ifan Hughes, Durham University
[Available on request.]
— Graeme Wintle, ByteSnap Design