Me - Patrick McAvoy

Table of Contents

Overview

Hello!

I’m Patrick McAvoy a computer scientist, software engineer, and lifelong learner with a passion for building technology that helps people. I enjoy exploring software development, mathematics, engineering, networking, and the ideas that connect them.

I believe great software starts with understanding people. Whether I’m designing an application, mentoring developers, or solving complex problems, my focus is on creating thoughtful solutions that are clear, maintainable, and built with purpose.

I’m always learning, always building, and always looking for better ways to solve problems. Through Programming Pat, I share what I’ve learned in the hope that it helps you write better software—and your own story.

I love what I do.

Job Experience

Centene (2023 - Present)

Lead Application Development Engineer (2025 - Present)

  • Provides technical guidance, mentoring, and code reviews while fostering a collaborative, high-performing engineering culture by creating openness among every
  • Champions software quality by establishing and promoting maintainable integration, unit and end-to-end testing practices, improving application reliability and long-term maintainability
  • Partners with product managers, architects and engineering teams to align technical design with business objectives, while improving documentation, aligning communication and on-time delivery
  • Drives architectural discussions and technical decision-making to deliver scalable, resilient, and maintainable software solutions
  • Promotes engineering best practices, including clean code principles, peer reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives across the development organization
  • Architects and coordinates the development of 23 Nodejs APIs supporting a microservices ecosystem, ensuring high availability, scalability, and reliable integrations for frontend applications
  • Defined and implemented Git branching and release strategies for a stable non-production environment that improved deployment stability and streamlined software delivery to production environments

Senior Application Development Engineer (2023 - 2025) - Apex Systems Contractor

  • Enhanced mobile design to go from about 20% mobile users to almost 70%
  • Developed and maintained Node.js APIs supporting the event-driven processing of assessments, referrals, and tasks
  • Improved the accessibility of member contact information by implementing WCAG-compliant features in React applications
  • Built and enhanced three React single-page applications (SPAs) supporting the Nurse Advice Line, clinical notes, and care plans
  • Implemented and maintained role-based access controls to ensure case workers and members had secure access to the resources they needed
  • Optimized Nodejs APIs by enhancing pagination and query performance, reducing response times across multiple SPAs
  • Improves software quality by developing automated tests and promoting best practices for code quality and test coverage
  • Promoted to Team Lead within six months, leading a team of four software developers
  • Led development efforts to redesign the member homepage for Medicare and Marketplace plans
  • Partnered with product managers, business stakeholders, and analytics teams to drive continuous improvements to the member homepage experience
  • Designed and developed a Serverless Nodejs API using AWS Lambda to enable Medicaid programs to review services provided by school districts
  • Developed two new products, including Serverless Nodejs APIs and Nextjs applications, enabling case workers to review member eligibility history and Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) information

Slalom (2017 - 2022)

Senior Consultant (2020 - 2022) - Software Engineer / Team Lead

  • Developed and enhanced a React and TypeScript application that streamlined field product testing workflows for agricultural growers
  • Built intuitive user interfaces using React and Redux, enabling users to evaluate the cost-benefit and performance of products under real-world field conditions
  • Mentored a team of 6 developers on writing effective tests, React, and Redux best practices, while coaching them to solve problems independently and strengthen their technical decision-making
  • Implemented reusable, maintainable front-end components that improved application scalability and user experience
  • Developed automated unit and component tests using React Testing Library to ensure application reliability and maintainability
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to translate business requirements into efficient, user-focused software solutions

Consultant (2017 - 2020) - Software Engineer

  • Designed and developed full-stack solutions for enterprise clients across the insurance, retail, and mobile industries
  • Contributed to the architecture and development of a risk analysis platform that enables insurance providers to assess applicant risk and make informed underwriting decisions using React, Java with Spring Boot and Postgres
  • Decomposed complex business requirements into scalable, maintainable software components, collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality solutions using automation with Cypress
  • Built responsive React and TypeScript applications using Redux, webpack, Jest, and Testing Library to deliver modern, testable user interfaces
  • Developed and maintained Spring Boot APIs backed by Postgres, leveraging Gradle for builds and AWS for cloud-hosted infrastructure using EC2
  • Implemented infrastructure and deployment automation using Terraform and monitored application health using Sumo Logic
  • Developed the front-end purchase experience for a large enterprise client, creating a streamlined buy flow supporting consumers, direct sales representatives, and additional customer channels
  • Built and maintained React and Redux applications with comprehensive automated testing using Mocha and Chai
  • Developed features for an enterprise iOS application using Swift and RxSwift, integrating with Salesforce-backed APIs to deliver sales performance dashboards, route planning, and real-time employee check-in capabilities
  • Led architecture discussions, code reviews, agile planning, and the full software development lifecycle to deliver scalable, maintainable enterprise applications

Monsanto (2015 - 2017)

Software Developer - SyllogisTeks Contractor

  • Developed and maintained full-stack applications using Java with Spring Boot, and Node.js for backend services and business logic
  • Built responsive, single-page web applications using React, Backbonejs, Ramdajs, and webpack to deliver modern, maintainable user experiences
  • Designed and implemented RESTful APIs and backend services to support web and mobile applications
  • Developed reusable front-end components and optimized application performance for scalability and maintainability
  • Deployed and maintained cloud-native applications using Cloud Foundry and Amazon Web Services (AWS)
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams, including product owners, designers, and software engineers, to deliver new features and resolve production issues
  • Contributed to iOS application development using Objective-C and Swift, implementing new functionality and maintaining existing mobile applications
  • Participated in all phases of the software development lifecycle, including requirements analysis, development, testing, code reviews, and deployment

Busy Event (2015)

Full Stack Developer

  • Developed and maintained full-stack web applications using the Symfony 2 PHP framework and AngularJS
  • Built responsive, user-friendly interfaces with HTML5, CSS, and AngularJS to improve the user experience across desktop and mobile platforms
  • Developed cross-platform mobile applications using Apache Cordova
  • Designed and implemented backend APIs to enable business logic using Sympfony 2, and database integrations to DynamoDB to support core application functionality, such as a live Voting / Polling during presentations using websockets
  • Deployed and maintained cloud-hosted applications and services using Amazon Web Services (AWS)
  • Collaborated with stakeholders to translate business requirements into scalable technical solutions
  • Diagnosed and resolved application defects, improving performance, reliability, and overall user experience

Blue Cross Blue Shield (2014)

Information Systems Intern – Cyber Security

  • Collaborated with Information Systems administrators to support day-to-day cybersecurity and infrastructure operations
  • Authored and maintained the organization’s Incident Response Policy, Incident Response Plan, and supporting procedures to improve security preparedness
  • Assisted in monitoring network and security systems, identifying potential threats and providing recommendations to strengthen detection and response capabilities
  • Participated in technical compliance initiatives by reviewing systems against organizational security policies and industry best practices
  • Contributed to cybersecurity risk assessments by identifying vulnerabilities, documenting risks, and recommending mitigation strategies
  • Worked with cross-functional teams to improve security documentation, operational procedures, and incident response readiness

Apple (2009 - 2011)

Retail Sales - Specialist

  • Managed Genius Bar appointments, diagnosing customer issues and coordinating technical support
  • Assisted with floor support by answering product questions, troubleshooting issues, and helping maintain smooth store operations
  • Delivered a consistently high-quality customer experience through attentive service and clear communication
  • Resolved customer and team challenges by applying strong problem-solving skills and product knowledge
  • Drove sales through solution-based recommendations, ranking among the top three sales performers in the store during the summer and holiday seasons

Career Skills

  • Analytical Problem-Solving
  • Software Development Life Cycle
  • Automated Software Testing and Debugging
  • Algorithm Design and Data Structures
  • Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery
  • Automation and Scripting
  • Systems Administration
  • Cybersecurity Fundamentals
  • Self-motivated and able to work independently
  • Strong organizational and time management skills

Educational Experience

University of Missouri, Columbia, MO

  • Computer Science BS, December 2014

Academic Experience

My academic journey taught me that great software is never built alone. Through team-based projects, I learned the value of; collaboration, version control, and accomplishing a goal together.

My education didn’t just teach me how to write code—it taught me how to think like an engineer, collaborate with others, and build software with purpose. Those lessons continue to shape how I approach every project today.

Certificates

  • Certified SAFe Scrum Master