Santiago Avila

Senior Software Engineer with 15+ years of experience working with US-based companies, specializing in React-driven frontend systems with strong Node.js backend foundations.

I focus on building product-driven, scalable web applications, translating business requirements into maintainable technical solutions with clear technical trade-offs.

I’ve worked end-to-end on modern web platforms, contributing to system design, performance optimization, API integrations, and architectural decisions within distributed teams.

My strength lies in frontend-leaning full-stack engineering, bridging UI, backend, workflows, and infrastructure considerations without unnecessary complexity or over-engineering.

More recently, I’ve been exploring AI-enabled workflows and conversational systems using OpenAI APIs, structured outputs, tool/function calling, and state-driven orchestration patterns to build reliable automation layers around LLMs. My interest is focused on practical AI integration in production systems — especially around workflow reliability, semantic interpretation, validation layers, and handling non-deterministic behavior safely.

Some Specific Technologies Experience:

React / Next.js / GraphQL Experience

• I have worked on public projects like ipsy.com using Next.js, React, and GraphQL as the main stack. At IPSY, I contributed to the LATAM platform from the ground up, and also worked on the US platform within the Payments and Commerce teams, improving features and performance for a platform serving approximately 4 million users.
• Strong experience building frontend architectures with React, component-driven systems, state management patterns, reusable UI libraries, and GraphQL integrations for scalable consumer-facing applications.
• Experience working with distributed frontend/backend teams integrating GraphQL APIs, performance optimizations, and product-oriented development workflows.

Node.js / Backend / Integrations

• Extensive experience building backend services and integrations using Node.js, including API orchestration, authentication flows, webhook handling, and third-party platform integrations.
• Experience integrating external systems such as HubSpot, Twilio, and other SaaS APIs to support workflow automation, CRM synchronization, communication systems, and operational tooling.
• Familiarity with event-driven architectures, asynchronous processing patterns, and backend orchestration for scalable web applications.

Fintech / Python Experience

• Fintech industry experience developing loan checkout processes and reusable UI systems using Vite integrated as a library within Next.js applications, leveraging both server-side and client-side rendering patterns to improve performance, scalability, and security.
• Experience working with Python-based backend workflows and integrations in fintech-related environments, including API communication, data processing, and automation-oriented services.
• Comfortable working across mixed Node.js + Python environments depending on infrastructure and business requirements.

VTEX / E-Commerce Experience

• Experience developing and maintaining e-commerce platforms using React and Node.js within VTEX ecosystems.
• Worked on storefront customization, checkout experiences, reusable commerce components, and integrations with external commerce-related services and APIs.
• Familiarity with performance optimization and scalable frontend architecture for high-traffic e-commerce environments.

OpenAI / AI Workflow Experience

• Experience integrating OpenAI APIs into backend workflows using structured outputs and function/tool calling patterns.
• Building state-aware conversational workflows where LLMs are used as semantic interpretation layers rather than uncontrolled chat systems.
• Familiarity with handling probabilistic model behavior through deterministic validation layers, fallback flows, and orchestration logic.
• Exploring event-driven AI architectures integrating APIs, webhooks, queues, and workflow state management for production-oriented automation systems.

Supabase

• Experience working with Supabase authentication and relational database features for projects in the pharmaceutical and education industries.
• Strong familiarity with relational database systems including PostgreSQL and MySQL, covering schema design, queries, and backend integration patterns.

Firebase

• Experience using Firebase Authentication, primarily Google Auth integrations for authentication workflows and session management.