I’m a seasoned software developer with 25+ years of experience delivering scalable, full-stack applications across fintech, media, entertainment, and travel. I’ve rescued struggling projects, built high-performance teams, and architected systems that stand up to real-world demand. My work spans mobile and desktop, web APIs, GraphQL, and cross-platform tooling, with a strong focus on pragmatic design and delivering value to users and business stakeholders. I’m passionate about mentoring junior developers, translating complex business requirements into clean technical solutions, and fostering collaborative, outcomes-driven teams. I enjoy solving tough problems, refining architectures for maintainability, and helping organizations ship reliable software at speed.

Ray Parker

I’m a seasoned software developer with 25+ years of experience delivering scalable, full-stack applications across fintech, media, entertainment, and travel. I’ve rescued struggling projects, built high-performance teams, and architected systems that stand up to real-world demand. My work spans mobile and desktop, web APIs, GraphQL, and cross-platform tooling, with a strong focus on pragmatic design and delivering value to users and business stakeholders. I’m passionate about mentoring junior developers, translating complex business requirements into clean technical solutions, and fostering collaborative, outcomes-driven teams. I enjoy solving tough problems, refining architectures for maintainability, and helping organizations ship reliable software at speed.

Available to hire

I’m a seasoned software developer with 25+ years of experience delivering scalable, full-stack applications across fintech, media, entertainment, and travel. I’ve rescued struggling projects, built high-performance teams, and architected systems that stand up to real-world demand. My work spans mobile and desktop, web APIs, GraphQL, and cross-platform tooling, with a strong focus on pragmatic design and delivering value to users and business stakeholders.

I’m passionate about mentoring junior developers, translating complex business requirements into clean technical solutions, and fostering collaborative, outcomes-driven teams. I enjoy solving tough problems, refining architectures for maintainability, and helping organizations ship reliable software at speed.

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Experience Level

Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Team Lead / Architect / Project Manager at GetMeA, Grafing Productions
January 1, 2026 - Present
Designed and built a full-stack musician-to-musician networking platform (mobile, web, API, admin) and managed production deployments across CloudFlare, AWS, and app stores.
Founder / CEO at Master Branch Software
January 1, 2026 - Present
Founded a software development consultancy; created traditional consulting services and team-based project staffing; developed and launched a mentorship program for junior developers.
Application Developer (Contract) at Open Workspace, LLC
January 1, 2025 - Present
Engineered a cross-platform C++ abstraction layer for OpenWorkspace; implemented portable business logic and cross-machine desktop transfer via a single file.
Lead Application Developer at Game View, LLC
January 1, 2025 - Present
Leading development of a Qt/C++ desktop application for proprietary 3D video tech; enabling immersive scene navigation across VR headsets and consoles.
Mentor / Lead Developer / Project Manager at Empowered for Excellence
January 1, 2024 - Present
Launched a pilot mentorship program; built Rails API/GraphQL server paired with a Qt/C++ desktop application for a client.
Senior Rails Developer (Contract) at Cilutions / Hughes Media
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2023
Sole backend developer migrating the backend to a GraphQL API; designed and built a generic data ingestion server with a GraphQL interface.
Senior Rails Developer (Contract) at Indywork / Pole Position
January 1, 2019 - January 1, 2020
Led backend development for a scheduling application; implemented a GraphQL interface for mobile and web clients; evaluated migration to AWS with Chef.
Senior Rails Developer (Contract) at Medidata
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2018
Overhauled and stabilized the test suite on a large Rails application; upgraded data-access classes to use strong_parameters with per-endpoint messaging.
Developer at Nibble and Byte Software
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2017
Built a calendar synchronization platform with Google Calendar integration; templated social media workflows and bulk event distribution.
Senior Rails Developer (Contract) at GoWatchIt
January 1, 2015 - January 1, 2015
Implemented a caching strategy and a reusable List module for ActiveRecord-based search; mentored junior/mid-level developers.
Senior Rails Developer / Team Lead (Contract) at LendKey
January 1, 2015 - January 1, 2015
Led a development team delivering API-driven products; advanced TDD/BDD adoption and collaboration with product owners.
Rails Guild Lead / Architect / Team Lead at Magnetic
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2014
Led the Rails Guild across two teams; increased test coverage from near zero to 80%+; designed a new Rails API application.
Lead Developer / Architect at CAN Capital
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2014
Led RESTful JSON API development; instituted Agile with BDD; designed a JSON transformation library with validation.
Lead Developer / Architect at ICapital Network
January 1, 2013 - January 1, 2013
Built a customer-matching service evolving to a RESTful API for Angular front ends; hired and managed developers.
Lead Developer / Technical Liaison at Sherman’s Travel Media
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2013
Developed new products with a distributed team; established Agile requirement gathering and LOE estimation workflows.
Senior Rails Developer at Sony Music Entertainment
January 1, 2011 - January 1, 2012
Maintained and enhanced a skinnable e-commerce store for Sony-owned labels; led Rails upgrades and CI adoption; supported high-traffic infrastructure.
Contract Programmer at Curious Brain
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2010
Developed a Ruby on Rails backend content server; built a Finite State Machine in C++ for guitar analysis.
General Development at Mediatek
January 1, 2006 - December 31, 2006
Web and database development using MS SQL Server, .NET/C#, and Ruby on Rails; database design and interface work.
Application Programmer at Bernard L. Madoff, Inc.
January 1, 1999 - January 1, 2001
Developed enterprise-wide applications including market-trading simulation; cross-platform messaging server; high-throughput trading systems.
Applications Programmer at OmniSource
January 1, 1998 - January 1, 2000
Developed departmental applications using Borland C++ Builder, Delphi, and Oracle on Windows; Crystal Reports integrations.
General Consulting / Network Tech at RHI Consulting, Xerox Connect, Intellimark
January 1, 1998 - January 1, 1999
Contract work including programming, OS rollout leadership, and Y2K consulting.
Application Programmer (C++) at Bernard L. Madoff, Inc.
January 1, 1999 - December 31, 2001
Developed enterprise-wide applications including market-trading simulation software and a cross-platform messaging system. Built a 24/7 server handling messages from Stratus mainframes (sockets) and PC platforms (COM/sockets). Engineered high-throughput trading systems processing 5,000 rows/second with sub-2-second delivery to 250 traders. Created scriptable data conversion tools for cross-platform file format translation.

Education

at Luther College
January 1, 1991 - January 1, 1994
Studies in Computer Science and Advanced Computer Science at Luther College
January 1, 1991 - December 31, 1994

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Software & Internet, Media & Entertainment, Financial Services, Travel & Hospitality, Professional Services