joel.software
I believe in well-architected software, great user experiences, and the Oxford comma.
about me
I've spent 15+ years turning ideas into scalable systems for startups, nonprofits, and Fortune 500s. What began in middle school selling 3D game assets online now finds me shipping code and guiding teams that serve millions.
I blend product vision with hands‑on engineering—sketching ideas, prototyping, and shaping the architecture that scales them. Whether as an individual contributor or engineering leader, I turn fuzzy goals into testable hypotheses and steer teams through discovery, delivery, and iteration.
Currently at Ibotta, I work at the intersection of AI/ML and user experience, developing solutions that transform how millions of users discover relevant content. My focus spans search and discovery systems, AI workflows, and intelligent automation that enhance both user experiences and content operations.
My toolkit spans full‑stack development, cloud architecture, and production AI systems.
In collaboration I prize thoughtful patterns, rapid feedback, and delightful user experience. Offline, you'll find me with my family, deep in a project, planting gardens, or sharing a good meal with friends.
work highlights
work spotlight
Case study with the Databricks team on transforming offer discovery for Ibotta Savers.
I led this project which included fine-tuning of embedding models, I built evaluation frameworks with LLM-as-a-judge, and deployed production vector search solution that has boosted engagement by 15% and reduced latency by 60% for millions of Ibotta Savers.
workshop spotlight
When Jake Knapp—creator of the Google Design Sprint and bestselling author—joined a design sprint bootcamp my friends at Wily hosted, we built a semi-robotic likeness using my Shaper Origin CNC, some IoT, and a few late nights.
watch videocontact
Interested in working together? The easiest way to reach me is through LinkedIn, a subtle quip or a well-trained carrier pigeon.
You can also send me an email, just be sure to include an anecdote about a missing Oxford comma so I know it's not spam.