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About me

Hi, I’m Niko, a software engineer and designer living in Seattle. I love building digital products that are easy and enjoyable to use. My career has taken me through both frontend development and product design, where I’ve had the chance to connect design with technology, driven by a curiosity to solve real problems. I’m excited about creating solutions that are not just innovative but also practical and meaningful.

I got my start in nonprofit organizations, where I discovered how design can make a real difference in people’s lives. This experience sparked my passion for using technology to do good. With a bachelor’s in anthropology from the University of Notre Dame, I bring a unique perspective to my work, blending human insights with technical expertise. I’ve had colleagues lovingly refer to me as a “developer’s designer” because I work closely with my teams to make sure our designs are beautiful, precise, and ready to be built.

Outside of work, I’m an avid gravel and road cyclist, and I enjoy exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest with my son, Quincy. Whether it’s tackling a challenging project or conquering a new hill, I’m always eager to dive in and see what’s possible.

Work Experience

  1. 2022–Now

    1. Senior Software Engineer

    Blue Origin • Seattle, WA

    Realizing my childhood dream of working for a space company, I am building user-friendly tools and systems that support New Glenn’s engineering design data, analytics, and maintenance operations, making it easier for engineers and rocket scientists to build the road to space.

  2. 2021–2022

    1. Staff Software Engineer

    2. Senior Software Engineer

    Xpanse • Seattle, WA & Remote

    I led a small team of frontend engineers developing a digital mortgage app, where we were able to double borrower conversions. I took pride in building a company-wide component library and leading the transition to React and TypeScript, modernizing our CI/CD processes and speeding up development. My efforts didn’t go unnoticed, as I was quickly promoted to Staff Engineer.

  3. 2016–2021

    1. Senior Product Designer & UI Engineer

    Substantial • Seattle, WA

    During my time at Substantial, I learned to build web apps that were as functional as they were beautiful. Regarded as a “developer’s designer,” I earned a reputation for delivering practical designs that developers loved to build. Creating real-time collaboration tools and scalable UI design systems became my forte. I had the opportunity to work with incredible clients like IDEO, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Boston Consulting Group. One of the highlights was leading the design and product management for Hello Epics, which started as an internal hobby project and grew into a thriving business with $60k in monthly revenue. “Paid the rent,” as we liked to say.

  4. 2013–2016

    1. Interaction Designer

    2. Senior Production Designer

    3. Production Designer

    REI • Seattle, WA

    Earned my stripes at the co-op doing production design and building tools to automate marketing processes. Created interactive ad experiences inspired by the great outdoors. I was honored to be awarded “Best Costume” at the 2014 REI Halloween costume contest.

  5. 2011–2013

    1. Visual Designer & Frontend Developer

    Self-employed • Seatle, WA

    Striking out on my own, I embraced the freedom of freelancing and delivered design and development projects that balanced aesthetics with technical execution. I collaborated with clients like T-Mobile and Microsoft to develop marketing sites, brand identities, and print collateral. A valuable experience that would inevitably lead me to my first job with a 401(k).

  6. 2010–2011

    1. Media Services Coordinator

    Real Change • AmeriCorps VISTA • Seatle, WA

    Redesigned the weekly nonprofit newspaper, leading to a 17% increase in paper sales and supporting vendor income. This experience taught me the tangible impact design can have on business results while making a positive difference in people’s lives. I was honored to be recognized as a finalist for “Best Design” at the 2011 North American Street Newspaper Association awards.

  7. 2009–2010

    1. Community Organizer & Communications Designer

    Real Change • Jesuit Volunteer Corps NW • Seatle, WA

    I developed and executed a comprehensive communications strategy for fundraising campaigns while registering people to vote and leading vendors to lobby directly with state lawmakers in Olympia. I also took on the challenge of redesigning the organization’s homepage, significantly improving content discoverability and reader engagement.