Josh Levinson

Background

About

Results-driven Staff Software Engineer with over 15 years of experience in software development and technical leadership. Specialized in Ruby on Rails development with proven expertise in building scalable applications, mentoring teams, and driving technical initiatives. Track record of delivering high-value features and fostering collaborative engineering culture. Currently serving as President of NewHaven.IO, actively building the local tech community.

Work Experience

Staff Software Engineer, LinkSquares
Sep, 2021 - Present
Technical leader focused on delivering high-impact features and fostering engineering excellence.
- Led development of product features using Ruby on Rails and React, generating $2.3M in revenue and $770K ARR
- Designed and implemented critical API architecture for user impersonation and audit logging systems
- Enhanced system integrations with DocuSign and OnlyOffice, improving platform capabilities
- Conducted and managed 43 technical interviews, successfully contributing to 14 strategic hires
- Recognized with 2022 Coaches Award for outstanding mentorship and cultural impact
- Spearheaded cross-team knowledge sharing initiatives and technical documentation improvements
Software Engineer, Continuity
Nov, 2019 - Aug, 20211 year 9 months
Senior engineer focused on platform optimization and feature development
- Collaborated directly with CTO to optimize monolith Rails codebase for enhanced customer experience
- Architected and implemented new product features using Ruby on Rails and JavaScript
- Established robust test coverage protocols to ensure code reliability and maintainability
- Partnered with product managers to identify and prioritize system improvements
Senior Full Stack Engineer, Yale University
Jan, 2019 - Nov, 201910 months
Led technical modernization initiatives and custom software development
- Modernized legacy systems by upgrading Ruby and Rails versions to current standards
- Enhanced system reliability by resolving thousands of failing RSpec tests
- Improved documentation generation by refactoring and updating Ruby gem libraries
- Developed custom scheduling software for School of Architecture
Software Developer, Yale University
Jul, 2015 - Jan, 20193 years 6 months
- Upgraded Ruby and Rails versions from legacy to modern tooling
- Created automation scripts for 3D printing infrastructure management
- Developed and maintained critical administrative applications
IT Support Specialist Lead, Acuity Brands
Apr, 2007 - Jul, 20158 years 3 months
Technical team leader managing IT infrastructure and support teams
- Managed expansion of IT infrastructure during company growth from 50 to 250 employees
- Led SQA and IT Support teams while maintaining on-premise server infrastructure
- Implemented scalable IT solutions to support rapid organizational growth
Network Administrator, Acolyte Technologies
Jun, 2005 - Apr, 20071 year 10 months
Early career technical role focused on infrastructure and development
- Developed and deployed SOAP-based web service integration between Rails and Microsoft POS systems
- Managed Windows Server infrastructure and deployment strategies
- Initiated career specialization in Ruby on Rails development

Skills

Ruby on Rails
Web Development

API Design

Performance Optimization
Ruby
Testing

Automation

Gem Development
Debugging
Performance Analysis

Error Resolution

System Optimization
React.js
Frontend Development

Component Design
JavaScript
ES6+

Frontend Development
Amazon Web Services
Cloud Infrastructure

Deployment
Linux
System Administration

Shell Scripting
SQL
Database Design

Query Optimization
Architectural Design
System Design

API Architecture
Public Speaking
Technical Presentations

Community Leadership
Python
Scripting

Automation
C#
Backend Development

Education

Computer Science & Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering (BEng), University of Connecticut
Dec, 2001 - Dec, 2005

Awards

Coaches Award (2022) , LinkSquares
Awarded on: Jan 31, 2022
Recognized for exceptional mentorship, technical leadership, and positive cultural impact across the engineering organization. Award highlights contributions in code review quality, critical incident management, new engineer onboarding, and technical interviewing excellence.

Volunteer Work

President, NewHaven.IO
Jan, 2019 - Present
Lead organization dedicated to developing New Haven's tech community. Organize technical meetups, represent the organization at industry functions, and foster connections between local technology professionals and businesses.

Interests

Stand-up Comedy
Bike Riding
Hiking
Video Games
Urban Renewal

References

Jay Garmon -- Product Leader
Josh is the proverbial '10x engineer' -- just not in the way you'd expect. When you meet Josh, you'll be struck by how smart and how funny he is -- not a surprise, given he's a software engineer who moonlights as a stand-up comedian. But what you won't immediately see is what an amazing teacher and teammate Josh is. I've never seen anyone take more of an interest in nurturing and leveling up his fellow engineers, or making sure everyone is feeling well, doing well, and working well together. Josh is 10x both because of how good he is at software engineering and how much better he makes everyone around him. There isn't an engineering team on Earth that wouldn't be lucky to have him.
LinkStars (anonymous)
Josh is truly an anchor on the Hamburglar team. His initiative, affective communication, and eagerness to lend a helping hand are all traits that play a critical role in our achievements as a team. The jokes are pretty great too.
LinkStars (anonymous)
Josh is a king of cross-team communication and triage. He's always keeping the wider org in mind, looping in the right people, and ensuring that all stakeholders are heard and that their needs are empathetically considered. Just one of those (very important) day-to-day things that keeps things running smoothly but isn't always recognized.