Rachel Clara Smith

About Rachel Clara Smith

I’m a Senior Full Stack Engineer and engineering leader with 10+ years of experience building scalable, customer-facing software products from the ground up and improving complex systems already in production. I help teams ship ambitious software products by combining hands-on technical execution with strong product judgment and calm leadership. My background spans React, TypeScript, Ruby on Rails, Node.js, GraphQL, PostgreSQL, and cloud infrastructure. I’ve led initiatives ranging from AI-powered customer service platforms and real-time outage maps to high-traffic consumer applications serving millions of users. What sets me apart is my ability to operate across the full stack while also leading teams through ambiguity, fast growth, and high-pressure delivery timelines. I enjoy turning messy problems into clear systems, helping engineers do their best work, and building products that are both powerful and intuitive. I’ve worked in startups, scale-ups, and established product teams, and I’m especially energized by opportunities involving AI, civic impact, infrastructure, education, or mission-driven work. I also bring an uncommon academic background with Master’s degrees in Physics and Secondary Education, which shaped how I approach problem-solving, communication, and continuous learning. I’m currently exploring new opportunities where I can contribute as a senior individual contributor, tech lead, or engineering manager.

Experience

1. Co-founder and Technical Advisor

   Squareoffs

   Feb 2022 — Present

   While I am no longer actively involved with SquareOffs, I continue to provide occasional support in an advisory capacity. SquareOffs is a social polling platform used by online publishers and brands to promote meaningful conversations, increase engagement, and create new revenue.

Education

• Pittsburg State University

  Master's degree, Secondary Education and Teaching

  2013 — 2014

• University of Missouri-Kansas City

  Bachelor's degree, Physics

  2006 — 2009

• University of Missouri-Kansas City

  Master's degree, Physics

  2009 — 2013

Skills

• Html5
• Labview
• Google Maps Api
• Heroku
• Mongoose.js
• Chemistry
• Mongodb
• Api Development
• Graphql
• Kanban
• Ruby on Rails
• C++
• Solidworks
• Json
• Restful Architecture
• Css
• Scrum
• Bootstrap
• Physics
• Relational Databases
• Agile Methodologies
• Html
• Sql
• Amazon Web Services (Aws)
• Scss
• Jira
• Jenkins
• Sidekiq
• Angularjs
• Teaching
• Reactjs
• Jquery
• Fortran
• Research
• Test Driven Development
• Wordpress
• Docker
• Cloud Computing
• Public Speaking
• Git