Bishop Zareh: Dev Contributor Profile

[bishopZ]

Introduction

Hi, I'm Bishop Zareh. I'm a software engineer with a background spanning frontend and backend development, motion design, and emerging technologies. I've spent most of my career in the private sector, including my current role as an embedded expert at Amazon, but I'm drawn to Open Austin's mission of using technology to solve real problems in our local community.

I recently built UTLectures.org—a site that aggregates publicly available lecture information from UT—and realized how much I enjoy working on projects that make information more accessible to people. I'm excited to contribute to civic tech projects where I can apply my skills alongside others who share a passion for improving Austin.

What I know

• Frontend: React, Next.js, TypeScript, design systems
• Backend: Node.js, GraphQL, RESTful APIs, PostgreSQL, AWS services, Neo4j
• Visualization & motion: D3.js, THREE.js, Greensock, animation libraries
• Product & delivery: Agile methodologies, technical writing, mentorship
• AI tools: Prompt engineering, AI-assisted development workflows

What I want to know

I'd love to learn more about the specific challenges Austin faces and how Open Austin approaches civic tech problems. I'm particularly interested in:

• Data scraping and working with open government datasets
• Collaborating with community stakeholders and understanding their needs
• How to balance technical ambition with accessibility for diverse users
• Contributing to projects that have meaningful, measurable impact on our city

Looking forward to working with you all!