Luke McDonald

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Staff Software Engineer | Tech Lead | React, TypeScript, Design Systems

Staff Software Engineer and tech lead with 15+ years delivering scalable, accessible web applications. Specialized in React, TypeScript, and design systems, with strong backend flexibility in Node.js, GraphQL, PHP, and SQL

Led org-wide adoption of a 150+ component library, developed a skip-logic funnel framework that cut delivery time by 80%, and improved mobile page load times by ~40% in high-traffic purchase flows. Known for mentoring engineers, establishing best practices, scaling solutions across startups and enterprises, and aligning product goals with technical execution.

Skills

  • React
  • JavaScript
  • TypeScript
  • HTML5
  • CSS3
  • Accessibility (a11y)
  • GraphQL
  • PHP
  • Node.js
  • Design systems
  • Component Libraries

Experience

  • ZenBusiness — Staff Software Engineer / Tech Lead

    Present | Remote

    ZenBusiness is a Public Benefit Corporation for business formation, compliance, and growth; served 850k+ entrepreneurs; raised $200M Series C.

    • Guided engineering on checkout, payments, and experimentation, aligning Core Platform and Growth teams to accelerate funnel delivery and improve reliability.
    • Architected and launched ZUI, an MUI-based library, in 3 months; drove 90% adoption across 150+ engineers and 10+ designers, cutting duplicate UI by 60% and halving delivery time.
    • Developed skip-logic funnel framework that reduced flow delivery from 6 weeks to <1 week; shipped 20+ flows and saved ~100 developer-weeks.
    • Optimized purchase funnel performance by ~40% (LCP/TTI) through Webpack tuning, bundle optimization, and deferred scripts.
    • Scaled consistency and quality through i18n rollout, LaunchDarkly experiments, and mentorship; created best practices and PR review rules to align teams.

  • Fellowship of Christian Athletes — Senior Software Engineer

    | Remote

    FCA is a global nonprofit sports ministry active in 100+ countries; ~$280M annual revenue (2024).

    • Delivered an internal tool on a new Snowflake data lake two weeks early.
    • Migrated React codebase to strict TypeScript, improving type safety and maintainability.
    • Introduced shared design system with Tailwind and WordPress for consistent app branding.

  • ZenBusiness — Senior Software Engineer

    | Remote

    ZenBusiness helps entrepreneurs start, run, and grow their businesses with company formation, compliance, and tools.

    • Drove development of reusable React components, accelerating delivery and reuse.
    • Integrated a chatbot microservice (React, Dialogflow CX, GraphQL) for support automation.
    • Designed microservice database schema to strengthen API clarity and performance.
    • Partnered with design to unify branding across properties, delivering account review page two weeks early.
    • Modernized legacy components for accessibility and responsiveness; mentored peers on UI best practices.

  • Blazer Six, Inc — Owner, Full‑stack Engineer

    | Remote

    Blazer Six is an Independent web studio and product shop; built WordPress themes/plugins for musicians; scaled to 12k+ customers and $2.5M+ revenue.

    • Co-founded AudioTheme and Cedaro; scaled to 12k+ customers and $2.5M+ revenue, sustaining a decade-long WordPress.com partnership.
    • Built AudioTheme.com, 15+ commercial WordPress themes, and dozens of plugins.
    • Developed full product lifecycle—development, design, marketing, sales, and support.
    • Automated deployments and support workflows to increase delivery speed and reliability.

  • CELTIC7 Studio — Owner / Developer

    | Monticello, IA
    • Operated independent web development studio delivering client work across industries.
    • Delivered custom sites and apps with HTML, CSS, PHP, and WordPress; earlier projects included Flash.
    • Served notable clients from the University of Iowa, University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, Iowa Wrestling, U.S. Olympic Trials, NFL, and Outdoor Channel.

Awards & Accomplishments

  • Hackathon Team Lead – CMD+K menu — ZenBusiness (2023-11)
  • Hackathon Winner – Salesforce integration (Vue 3) — ZenBusiness (2022-10)
  • Hackathon Runner-up – Support ticket automation — ZenBusiness (2022-02)

Education

  • B.S. Graphic Communication & Multimedia — Minnesota State University, Moorhead, MN
  • General Studies Computer Information Systems — University of Mary, Bismarck, ND

Personal

  • High school wrestling coach and FCA study leader
  • Homeschooling parent
  • Grew up attending a one-room schoolhouse
  • Former shepherd