Future Career Planning & Summary - Reflecting on SupTech, What’s My Next Step?

Introduction

At SupTech, I played a dual role as both an app developer and ad-hoc project manager, constructing two cross-platform mobile applications (Consumer and Technician) from scratch. Beyond the codebase, I took on tasks ranging from UI/UX design, AI integrations, backend bridging, to seemingly unrelated chores like handling HR tasks, scheduling business errands, and assisting with high-level product decisions.

This broad involvement taught me two critical lessons:

Technical Mastery & Adaptability
Handling front-end, backend integrations, AI, and advanced mobile functionalities not only showcased my coding capabilities but forced me to rapidly learn new technologies and architectural decisions.
Project Management & Leadership
Building the apps from zero demanded strong communication, stakeholder alignment, and iterative agile planning. I ended up spearheading scope documentation, release notes, and cross-department communications.

In this post, I’ll outline:

My Achievements at SupTech
Lessons Learned: Tech & Management
Future Directions: Deeper specialization, bigger tech challenges, or new environment?
Personal Brand: How to transform my experiences into an impressive portfolio

SupTech: A Quick Recap

End-to-End App Development

Consumer App for customers and Technician App for service providers, both built with Flutter and integrated with a new MySQL/Java backend. These apps serve a unified pipeline:

Real-time location tracking, geospatial queries
AI-based fault diagnosis (AI Repair) using GPT-like LLM
Stripe for secure payments and scheduled disbursements
Localization in English & Chinese
UI/UX with creative design patterns and code-sharing

AI Integration: GPT-based Repair Chat

I integrated a ChatGPT-like AI chatbot to help users self-diagnose common issues. The GPT integration gave customers a guided Q&A flow:

Interactive debugging: Step-by-step cause identification
Self-service solutions with recommended parts & instructions
Seamless fallback to technician dispatch if the user decides to request a pro service

Project Management & More

From writing product requirement documents (PRD) and drawing mind maps to daily standups and sprint retros, I led scope clarifications and architecture decisions. Meanwhile, I found myself tackling administrative tasks like shipping company packages, reorganizing HR schedules, or even tutoring the boss’s kids—situations typical of a lean startup environment.

Lessons Learned

Full-Stack Mobile Expertise
In building iOS/Android apps with Flutter, hooking into Node/Firebase first, then bridging to MySQL/Java:
- Mastered cross-platform app dev in Flutter with advanced state management (Riverpod/Provider).
- AI integration (OpenAI GPT-like LLM).
- Payment with Stripe: PaymentIntents, Connect accounts, scheduled transfers.
- Real-time geolocation using geospatial queries, push notifications via FCM.
Leadership & PM Skills
- Owned the entire dev cycle: Requirements → Architecture → Release.
- Documented tasks, mind maps, and timelines. Acted as the bridging point between dev, design, and stakeholders.
- Balanced multiple roles under intense deadlines, validated solutions quickly, pivoted as specs changed.
Adaptability & Problem-Solving
- Frequent shifting priorities demanded fast context switching—one moment coding AI chat flows, the next debugging a location-based service, or stepping into design review calls.
- Mentored junior devs, set up code reviews, and implemented agile-like sprints.
Personal Growth
- Developed advanced debugging under pressure (one-person dev team for months).
- Gained resilience and communication prowess, bridging business logic with technical feasibility to keep the project on track.

Future Directions

Deeper Specialization vs. Broader Tech
- Option A: Join a high-level app development team or SaaS company, diving deeper into performance optimizations, architectural patterns, or specialized AI-driven features. Possibly iOS (SwiftUI + Combine) or React Native advanced.
- Option B: Continue wearing multiple hats at a startup with big tech challenges, focusing on AI integration, large data sets, or building robust cross-platform systems.
Environment & Collaboration
- I’m seeking a workplace with mentorship and code quality standards, plus a strong engineering culture.
- Eager for larger-scale collaboration: code reviews, TDD, refined CI/CD pipelines, and well-structured product management.
Bigger Tech Challenges
- Keen to integrate advanced AI/LLMs, push the boundaries in fields like AR/VR or real-time streaming.
- Open to tackling large concurrency issues, robust microservice ecosystems, or sophisticated user analytics.

Conclusion

Working at SupTech was both exhausting and transformative. I proved my ability to architect, implement, and ship real-time AI-driven mobile apps under intense deadlines—while also juggling unplanned operational tasks. This intense experience shaped me into a more self-sufficient, detail-oriented developer and manager.

As I look ahead to new opportunities, I want to:

Join a more specialized team or environment that fosters quality engineering and bigger technical challenges.
Bring my unique full-stack plus AI integration background, enabling robust, cutting-edge apps.
Continue building a personal brand around advanced app dev, strong problem solving, and leadership.

If you’re seeking a developer who can tackle complex app problems from scratch, integrate AI, manage cross-functional teams, and handle unexpected tasks with resilience—I’d love to connect and explore what we can build together.

Get in Touch

Email: tongzemao@gmail.com

I’m open to discussing opportunities related to app development, AI integration, or even general full-stack roles. Feel free to reach out if my experience aligns with what you’re building. I appreciate you reading through my reflections and look forward to the next big challenge!