Michael Castor

About Michael Castor

I’m a full-stack engineer with a front-end focus, building AI-powered product features using React and Node.js.At CivilTalk, I design and develop applied AI products that help teams and organizations strengthen emotional intelligence, foster civil dialogue, and align leadership. My work focuses on integrating artificial intelligence into real-world workflows to enhance collaboration, insight, and decision-making for our users.Tech Stack:Applied AI Product DevelopmentOpenAI API (chat completions, structured output, streaming)React / ReduxNode.js / ExpressAWS (EC2, Cognito)MongoDB / PostgreSQLTypeScript / JavaScriptI thrive in collaborative and async work cultures where self-starters take ownership and build with purpose. Let’s connect—I’m always exploring opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow.

Experience

1. Software Engineer

   Civiltalk

   Sep 2019 — Present · Seattle, WA, US

   Engineered the integration of the OpenAI API with chat completions and responses endpoints into a modular Node.js/Express backend, powering multiple AI-driven features and positioning CivilTalk as a platform for emotionally intelligent teams amplified by AI• Architected a “Pulse Report” feature by integrating OpenAI’s chat completions (GPT-4o) with a React/Redux interface and a streaming Node.js/Express API, enabling real-time AI-generated summaries enriched with emotion and topic tagging to surface deeper community insights and discussion patterns• Led the development of an “Enhance Prompt” feature using OpenAI’s chat completions (GPT-4o), integrating structured AI responses into a React/Redux frontend and Node.js/Express backend API, enabling emotionally intelligent content generation at scale• Designed an AI-guided course setup wizard using the OpenAI API in a React app, including custom prompt engineering and structured output design to help instructors generate high-quality learning outcomes• Owned full-stack development at CivilTalk, leading React-based frontend architecture, REST API design, database modeling, and admin dashboard development, which reduced administrative task time by 30%• Built over 200 secure REST API endpoints using Node.js, Express Middleware, and AWS SDK, improving developer productivity and standardizing authentication, validation, and authorization processes• Architected a secure authentication system leveraging AWS Cognito, supporting standard and enterprise (SAML) login flows, significantly reducing user sign-up friction by 80%• Drove an accessibility (a11y) sprint that refactored 40+ React components to meet WCAG 2.0 AA standards; passing an external client audit, expanding usable reach to screen‑reader and keyboard‑only users

Education

• Formation

  Software Engineering Fellowship

• Code Fellows

  Software Development Certification

  2018

• University of Maryland Baltimore County

  Bachelor's degree, Music Performance and Recording

Skills

• College Recruiting
• University Relations
• Talent Acquisition
• Recruiting
• Government Contracting
• Program Management
• Leadership
• Information Technology
• Technical Recruiting
• Applicant Tracking Systems
• Onboarding
• Taleo
• Internet Recruiting
• Sourcing
• Java
• Screening
• Job Fairs
• Management
• Project Management
• New Hire Orientations
• Interviews
• Dod
• Computer Security
• Screening Resumes
• Talent Management
• Information Assurance
• Training
• Temporary Placement
• Human Resources
• Benefits Negotiation