Ala Arab
Full-stack developer who owns the whole stack: data model, UI, and the servers under it.
Mostly TypeScript and Python these days, across web apps, developer tooling, and audio software. Based in Los Angeles.
About
Most of my career has been spent building software for companies that serve the energy industry: thirteen years at ADM Associates, an energy consulting firm, a retrofit program in Maryland with Matrix Energy Services, and now systems architecture at Qualus.
Along the way I built the internal ERP that ran ADM for a decade, the data tools engineers and analysts depended on, and the servers, databases, and SOC 2 environment underneath them.
I studied computer science at UC Santa Cruz and finished my B.S. at UC San Diego in 2011. These days I also build open-source tools for AI agents and for my own music.
Experience
Systems Software Architect
Qualus Corp, Los Angeles, CA
2025 to present
Architecting database management systems for client portfolios, plus the internal tools and automation that move data across the company: CRM through APIs into Power BI and Tableau reporting. Stack is Node, React, and Angular sitting on top of the databases.
IT Engineer, then Systems Software Engineer
ADM Associates, Inc., Sacramento, CA
2012 to 2025
Thirteen years, starting in IT and moving into systems software. Built and ran a stack of internal apps: Intranet (the project-based ERP that replaced Deltek Vision, on PostgreSQL + Rails), EMV (MongoDB), and an Equipment Tracker (PostgreSQL + Node), plus most of the company's web presence. Stood up the data science infrastructure so analysts could deploy R workloads to R Server and ship Shiny apps. Ran the Linux fleet, the multi-database backend (MongoDB, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MS SQL), and the SOC 2 environment underneath all of it. Helped grow the engineering team and stood up CI/CD on GitHub Actions.
IT Consultant
Greater Sacramento Pediatrics Association, Sacramento, CA
2019
Proposed and implemented system enhancements while documenting existing and new processes for the IT support team. Migrated the domain and email to Office 365 and ran the server fleet in a VMware environment.
IT Engineer
Matrix Energy Services, Inc., Sacramento, CA
2012 to 2013
Worked alongside project managers to lead web application development for a retrofit program in Maryland. Built iPad apps, Ruby on Rails services, and Excel-based tooling for migrating data between systems and databases. Wrote and ran the test procedures, and redeveloped the company website.
Computer Science Developer
UC San Diego TIES, Town and Country Learning Center, San Diego, CA
2011
Designed and built the web interface for a Garden Sensor Network that turned incoming JSON sensor readings (light, temperature, moisture) into something the Learning Center could actually act on. Also extended a UCSD Music Video Game written in Processing. Worked across CS, electrical, and mechanical engineering teams to bring inventive ideas into the center.
Campus Marketing, Advertising, and Technical Support
Dell, Santa Cruz, CA
2008 to 2009
Dell's on-campus presence at UC Santa Cruz. Provided technical support to students and parents on the Dell product line with a sales goal, and ran on-campus marketing strategies with a partner.
Education
University of California, San Diego
B.S. in Computer Science ยท graduated December 2011, 2008 to 2011
University of California, Santa Cruz
Computer Science and Engineering, 2006 to 2008
Relevant coursework
- Object-Oriented Programming
- Data Structures and Object-Oriented Design
- Computer Systems and Assembly Language
- Algorithms and Abstract Data Types
- Discrete Mathematics
- Systems Programming
- Advanced Data Structures
- Design and Analysis of Algorithms
- Software Engineering
- Theory of Computability
- Programming Languages: Principles and Paradigms
- Database System Principles
- Online Database Analytics Applications
- Computer Architecture
Active projects
2026, active
A React data grid with spreadsheet features built in: sorting, filtering, pagination, cell editing, range selection, copy/paste, and the fill handle.
2026, in active development
Rewrite of the project-based ERP I built and ran at ADM for a decade, this time as a multi-tenant SaaS: projects, timesheets, invoicing, expenses, HR, and reporting on Bun and React.
2025 to present, active
Crypto and stock alpha in your Discord: real-time charts, contract lookups, and trending-token alerts, with a marketing site and a server-owner dashboard.
Things I've made
2026, stable
Multi-tenant ticketing on Bun, Hono, and Postgres, with a local-first desktop frontend that mirrors every ticket to disk as markdown and an MCP server, so the same queue lives in the browser, your editor, and your agents.
At ADM Associates
2013 to 2023, primary company ERP for a decade
The project-based ERP I built and grew into ADM Associates' system of record, then licensed to outside clients.
2014 to 2025, shipped at ADM
An internal MongoDB-backed app built at ADM Associates for a workflow that fit a document store better than a relational one.
2018 to 2025, shipped at ADM
An internal app for tracking equipment, on PostgreSQL and Node.
Client and school work
2012 to 2013, shipped
Web applications, iPad data-entry tools, and migration tooling for a retrofit program based in Maryland.
2011, shipped
A web interface for a learning-center garden wired up with light, temperature, and moisture sensors.
Interests
codemusicsynthesizerscoffeeclimbingtravelingfans