KEVIN SHIN

KEVIN SHIN

ABOUT

I'm a software engineer with 6+ years of experience building distributed systems, data infrastructure, and large-scale software platforms. I design high-throughput systems that ingest, process, model, and serve data for product features, operational analytics, and AI-powered applications.

I like work that connects engineering execution to measurable outcomes: stronger reliability, lower infrastructure cost, higher platform adoption, faster product delivery, and clearer business impact. Most of my technical work sits across distributed processing, data modeling, pipeline platformization, and observability.

I use AI-assisted development tools daily, including Claude Code and OpenAI Codex. I see them as part of a production engineering workflow: faster iteration, strong test harnesses, clear review loops, and continuous verification from prototype through production.

I graduated from Macalester College with majors in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Philosophy. My senior thesis explored how theoretical research, especially algebraic and topological methods, can generate new approaches to AI and high-dimensional data analysis. That background shapes how I approach software systems where code, data, models, and production behavior increasingly overlap.

Focus Areas
Distributed Systems, AI Data Infrastructure, High-Throughput Analytics Platforms, Data Modeling, Pipeline Platformization, Observability, Reliability, Performance
Programming
Python, Java, Scala, Go, Rust, TypeScript/JavaScript, SQL, PySpark, Bash
Data Infrastructure
Spark, Airflow, Kafka, Flink, Iceberg, Trino/Presto, dbt, Ray, Arrow, Parquet
Infrastructure
Kubernetes, Docker, Terraform, Helm, OpenTelemetry, CI/CD, AWS, GCP, Azure

EXPERIENCE

CURRENT

Software Engineer
Datadog

Design, build, and operate distributed systems for large-scale data ingestion, processing, and storage. Develop core platform components for high-throughput data pipelines across product features, analytics, and AI-powered applications. Reduce operational ambiguity through stronger reliability, performance, and observability primitives.

PAST

Senior Software Engineer
LiveRamp

Lead engineer on Activations, a full-stack group developing the customer-facing application and data pipelines that powered LiveRamp's data enablement platform. Owned service architecture, Kubernetes-based infrastructure, REST APIs, asynchronous workflows, and customer-facing product UI. Connected enterprise workflows to the platform services customers used to activate, manage, and monitor data across destinations.
Software Developer (Associate Consultant)
Concord

Delivered scalable software for business-critical systems with analysts, project managers, and engineers. Implemented REST APIs, CI/CD pipelines, testing suites, and maintainable application architecture across client-facing delivery work. Turned ambiguous business requirements into technical plans, shipped software, and repeatable delivery practices for cross-functional teams.
Teacher's Assistant
Macalester College

Guided students through computer science, mathematics, and logic coursework through assignment grading, review material, office hours, and student mentoring.

Courses: Theory of Computation, Software Design and Development, Advanced Symbolic Logic, Differential Equations, Object Oriented Programming and Abstraction, Applied Multivariable Calculus III.
Software Engineering Intern
Otrafy

Built REST API services connected to cloud computing services for automated data transfer, maintenance, and user workflows. Developed React interfaces with asynchronous HTTP calls and state-based user flows for backend interactions. Created data cleaning and conversion modules that improved API request and response quality, and evaluated machine-learning cloud tools for faster data analysis.
Analyst Intern
Analysis Group

Audited code repositories and statistical models for expert analysis, algorithmic improvements, and key findings. Led quantitative comparisons of financial models to identify material differences and inform future parameters. Evaluated macroeconomic projection methods for economic growth forecasts.
Tech Development Intern
Homi

Debugged and tested front-end code to isolate website issues and improve core product functionality. Converted user-interface feedback into concrete changes for a new website design. Supported expansion strategy, event coordination, outreach, and market analysis.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

  • Member, Phi Beta Kappa (Inducted Spring 2020)
  • Roger K. Mosvick Endowed Prize (Spring 2020)

    Prize Description, Macalester College Philosophy: "Awarded by the permanent faculty of the Philosophy Department to a senior majoring in philosophy who has demonstrated academic excellence in the fields of critical thinking, argumentation and logic."

  • Wagon Competition Prize (Spring 2020)

    Prize Description, Macalester College Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics: "[Award] given by the department to honor a student majoring in mathematics or computer science who has demonstrated the spirit of teamwork, creativity, cooperation, and a striving for excellence."

  • Jakob Laub Prize (Spring 2019)

    Prize Description, Macalester College Philosophy: "The Jakob Laub Prize is awarded to an advanced Macalester student for an exemplary paper in the history or philosophy of science (including mathematics)."

  • Scholar All-American, College Swimming Coaches Association of America (2019)
  • MIAC All-Conference Academic Award (2018)
  • Dean's List (all semesters)