Academically and self-trained engineer with experience building full-stack web apps and multiplayer games. Strong foundation in JavaScript/TypeScript, C#, and Unity, with a passion for combining creativity and technical excellence to make fun products.

Jarrett Mao

Academically and self-trained engineer with experience building full-stack web apps and multiplayer games. Strong foundation in JavaScript/TypeScript, C#, and Unity, with a passion for combining creativity and technical excellence to make fun products.

Available to hire

Academically and self-trained engineer with experience building full-stack web apps and multiplayer games.

Strong foundation in JavaScript/TypeScript, C#, and Unity, with a passion for combining creativity and technical excellence to make fun products.

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Experience Level

Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Full Stack & Game Developer Intern at Playtoon IT
January 1, 2025 - Present
Built front-end and back-end features for a story editor and Tooney Race, a Unity-based multiplayer racing prototype. Implemented UI and backend systems to support branching narratives and interactive story creation. Collaborated closely with designers and engineers to improve scalability and overall user experience. Documented systems and proposed workflow improvements to streamline development
IT Support & Web Developer at Kwan Woo Ironworks
January 1, 2023 - Present
Led a team of three, increasing operational efficiency through documentation, training, and recurring system check-ins. Managed hardware setup, software troubleshooting, website development, and cross-department technical support in English and Chinese. Built and maintained internal servers and Excel-based systems for employee accounts and security access. Presented compliance and financial reports to AISC auditors
Software Engineer at Theta Studios
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2024
Served as engineering team lead, developing gameplay and UI features. Mentored two interns through version control best practices and weekly code reviews. Coordinated with cross-functional teams to meet milestones and deadlines
Coding Instructor at CodeFu
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2023
Taught object-oriented programming fundamentals to elementary school students. Adapted curriculum for varying skill levels, emphasizing problem-solving and creativity. Built strong one-on-one connections with students and supported conflict resolution
Grunt at Grunt (Personal Project)
January 1, 2025 - Present
Built a full-stack web app with self-drawn doodles and AI-powered “caveman” reviews to drive playful user engagement. Implemented JWT-based authentication and authorization for secure account and session management. Integrated Google Maps API for restaurant search and discovery. Connected a .NET backend with a MongoDB database to persist user accounts and reviews
Multiplayer Game Developer at Smash and Stab
January 1, 2024 - Present
Collaborated on a 9-person team to develop a multiplayer social deception game. Implemented networking support for 4–8 players. Built gameplay systems, including a limited field of view, interactive items, and player UI/controls
Underwater Temple Developer at Underwater Temple
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2022
Designed and developed a 3D underwater exploration game. Created custom hieroglyph assets in Blender and implemented dynamic lighting and particle effects. Implemented smooth camera controls and trigger systems using vector math and spatial detection
Co-President and Banquet Coordinator at USC Chinese Student Association
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2023
Led planning and execution for programs serving 200+ members, balancing timelines, resources, and stakeholder needs. Managed a 10-person leadership team, emphasizing communication, feedback, and team growth. Authored and presented proposals to sponsors, raising $5,000+ funds

Education

B.S. in Computer Science Game Design at University of California, Santa Cruz
January 11, 2030 - January 5, 2026

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Gaming, Software & Internet, Media & Entertainment