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Mobile & Full-Stack Engineer leveraging HCI and AI to craft intuitive, high-impact apps that empower users and drive innovation.

Basics

Name Tongze Mao
Label Mobile App Developer & Full-Stack Engineer (HCI & AI)
Email tongzemao@gmail.com
Url https://t-mao.github.io
Summary Full-stack engineer specializing in robust, user-centric mobile applications, with proven expertise in Swift, React, Flutter, Python, and MySQL. Graduated CUM LAUDE from UC Irvine, earning dual degrees in Computer Science and Informatics plus a minor in Statistics, and achieved the Dean’s Honor List for 10 quarters. Adept at Agile methodologies, bridging UI/UX design with efficient back-end architectures, and leveraging AI insights to create intuitive, high-impact solutions. Seeking to drive innovation and solve real-world problems through intelligent systems and engaging user interfaces.

Work

  • 2025.09 - Present
    Associate Software Engineer in Test - Infrastructure
    Veeva Systems
    Build and expand automated test coverage for Vault core infrastructure (Durable Queue Framework, FileManager/FSA, Configuration Framework), improving release confidence and platform reliability.
    • Design white-box tests, reusable harnesses, and tooling to exercise critical paths and edge cases.
    • Improve CI/CD gates and code coverage; reduce flakiness via deterministic fixtures and idempotent teardown.
    • Validate behavior across deployment lifecycles, HA/DR scenarios, performance, and scalability.
    • Partner with platform/SRE on observability, alerting, and failure injection to raise reliability.
    • Author docs, runbooks, and examples to help engineers adopt frameworks safely and quickly.
  • 2024.04 - 2025.04
    Software Developer & Team Lead
    SupTech
    Led a four-engineer team that shipped SupTech’s first self-service Consumer & Technician apps (Flutter + Firebase). Introduced a Node.js micro-service layer, WebSocket gateway, and TDD culture, cutting customer-support workload by 85 %.
    • Architected horizontally-scalable socket gateway (10 k concurrent) and drove real-time latency below 150 ms.
    • Built state-machine order workflow with FCM push; dispatch SLA improved 70 %, manual Excel trackers eliminated.
    • Integrated Stripe Connect (instant payout / escrow), geo-search (Haversine), multilingual UI, and AI repair assistant.
    • Implemented RSA-2048 handshake + AES-GCM channels → 100 % PCI-DSS & SOC 2 compliance, boosting customer trust.
    • Automated Fastlane + GitHub Actions releases; mean time-to-release = 2 days across 14 sprints (98 % on-time).
    • Raised Dart monorepo coverage to 96 % (≈500 tests) and scheduled nightly regressions via CI matrix.
  • 2024.01 - 2025.08
    Founder & Principal Engineer
    TZAppify
    One-person indie studio creating data-driven productivity & lifestyle apps in SwiftUI. Shipped 8 native iOS titles; flagship DoneTodo hit #18 Productivity, with two follow-ups landing in the Lifestyle top-200 within 10 days.
    • Solo-ideated, designed, coded, and released 8 SwiftUI apps; repeatable product–market fit validated by App Store charts.
    • Reusable Swift packages (iCloud sync, 50-level undo/redo, Swift Charts analytics) cut new-app effort ≈80 %.
    • Firebase Analytics + event funnels lifted D7 retention by 23 % through onboarding A/B tweaks.
    • 1-click Fastlane pipeline (GitHub Actions → TestFlight → notarization) enables <48 h commit-to-release.
  • 2023.06 - 2023.08
    Research Intern – Stereo 3D Reconstruction
    The Chinese University of Hong Kong
    Optimized an 80 GB endoscopic stereo-video pipeline and explored NeRF/point-cloud methods for medical imaging research.
    • Automated frame alignment, disparity maps, and COLMAP pose extraction—pipeline 65 % faster than prior flow.
    • Maintained concise wiki + weekly briefs; enabled five new researchers to reproduce results within 24 h.

Education

  • 2023.06 - 2023.08

    Hong Kong

    Research Internship (GPA: 4.0)
    The Chinese University of Hong Kong
    Dataset Engineering & Stereo 3D Reconstruction
    • Data Pipeline & Preprocessing: Developed scripts to split stereo frames, generate depth via disparity estimation, and organize large-scale endoscopic datasets for real-time 3D analysis.
    • Pose & Registration: Explored classical SfM (COLMAP) and neural-based 3D alignment techniques, merging camera parameter outputs with NeRF-based coordinate systems for robust pose estimation.
    • Technical Literature & Collaboration: Conducted reviews on NeRF, point cloud registration, and non-rigid alignment algorithms, summarizing findings for the research team and ensuring swift onboarding for new members.
  • 2020.09 - 2024.06

    Irvine, CA

    Bachelor of Science (GPA: 3.94 / 4.0, CUM LAUDE)
    University of California, Irvine
    B.S. in Computer Science & Informatics | Minor in Statistics
    • Double Major & Specializations: Completed Computer Science and Informatics (Human-Computer Interaction, Intelligent Systems).
    • Core CS & Software Engineering: Mastered fundamentals (Boolean Logic, Data Structures, System Design) and progressed to advanced ML/AI projects (COMPSCI 178, 175) and user-centric design (IN4MATX 131, 133).
    • Full-Cycle Development: Oversaw requirements, coding, and testing in team projects; led subteams and maintained agile workflows.
    • Statistics Minor: Strengthened data analysis skills (STATS 110, 111, 120A–C), integrating hypothesis testing and regression modeling.
    • Leadership & Communication: Authored comprehensive documentation (I&C SCI 139W), conducted code reviews, and managed team sprints.
  • 2018.02 - 2020.06

    Arcadia, CA

    High School (GPA: 3.97 / 4.0, Salutatorian)
    Arcadia High School
    High School Diploma
    • Salutatorian Honor: Graduated as Class of 2020 Salutatorian, recognized for consistent academic excellence, leadership, and strong community engagement.
    • Rigorous STEM Focus: Completed AP Computer Science A, AP Physics C, and AP Calculus AB alongside Honors-level math courses, reinforcing strong computational and analytical skills.
    • Coding & Programming Club: Gained hands-on experience developing mini-games (e.g., classic “Snake” in Python) and tackling coding challenges, strengthening problem-solving abilities.
    • Community & Mentorship: Developed apps and small software projects to engage younger students in educational games (math drills, learning-based mini-games), reflecting a passion for using technology to inspire and teach others.
    • Design & Art Initiatives: Won the Speech & Debate Team Poster Contest from hundreds of submissions; Created the official poster for the Annual Art Exhibition and had a digital collage selected for display.

Certificates

QA Innovation Certificate
Veeva Systems 2025-10-09
SQL Certificate
ed2go | Education To Go 2025-09-05
QuickBooks Certificate – Accounting & Bookkeeping
ed2go | Education To Go 2025-07-31
Java Development Certificate
ed2go | Education To Go 2025-07-31
Game Development Certificate
ed2go | Education To Go 2025-07-31
Certificate in Depression
ALLEGRA Learning Solutions (ANCC-accredited) 2025-06-17
Career Skills Certificate: Computer Programming I
Arcadia High School 2019-05-01

Skills

Mobile & Full-Stack Development
Swift (iOS, SwiftUI, Concurrency)
React / React Native
Flutter (Dart)
JavaScript (ES6+)
HTML / CSS / TypeScript
Shell Scripting (Bash, Zsh)
Agile / Scrum Practices
Programming & AI
Python (NumPy, scikit-learn)
C++ / C (Systems & OOP)
Java (OOP & Data Structures)
MIPS (Assembly)
MATLAB (Data Analysis)
R (Statistical Computing)
Machine Learning Fundamentals
Algorithmic Complexity
Databases & Cloud
Firebase (Firestore, Auth)
MySQL (Relational Schema Design)
MongoDB (NoSQL)
Node.js / Express (REST APIs)
Postman (API Testing)
API Integrations & Webhooks
Design & Collaboration
Figma (Wireframing, Prototyping)
Adobe Photoshop / Illustrator
MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
Jira (Agile Project Tracking)
GitHub (Version Control & Code Review)
UI/UX Research & Design Principles

Projects

  • 2024.08 - Present
    DoneTodo – Visual Time-Planning & Tracking App
    A SwiftUI-based scheduling solution that lets users literally paint their day in color-coded tasks—contrasting planned vs. completed time. Built single-handedly, from UI/UX design to code architecture, local storage, advanced gestures, and App Store release.
    • Engineered a 24×6 interactive grid with 10-minute blocks. Tapping or dragging applies two color layers (Plan vs. Done) to reflect scheduled vs. actual usage.
    • Implemented a robust undo/redo system storing entire day snapshots—giving users 50+ levels of reliable change rollback.
    • Developed calendar-based navigation with vertical swipes to jump seamlessly between dates, all while preserving custom color-coded data and local JSON persistence.
    • Designed and built an analytics suite with pie/bar charts to reveal time distribution and highlight discrepancies between planned and actual activities.
  • 2024.01 - Present
    ThreeCalc – Triple-Calculator iOS App
    An all-in-one SwiftUI calculator with three distinct calculators in one interface, each possessing its own scrollable history and interactive result reuse. Single-handedly created to handle finance, tipping, and day-to-day calculations without losing track of progress.
    • Architected three calculators within a PageTabViewStyle to keep every calculation thread separate—no more mixed results or confusing histories.
    • Crafted a Decimal-based expression evaluator to minimize floating-point inaccuracies, crucial for precise financial/engineering tasks.
    • Integrated an interactive history feature: users tap past results to insert values into new expressions, or long-press to copy/delete them.
    • Executed the entire product pipeline independently: conceptual design, coding, debugging, SwiftUI layout, App Store deployment, and version updates.
  • 2025.03 - Present
    FontMate – iOS Font Explorer & SwiftUI Snippet Generator
    A SwiftUI-powered iOS app for quickly previewing every native system font. Automatically generates SwiftUI font code, including size, weight, and color parameters. Solely developed from concept to App Store release.
    • Displays real-time previews for any system font, letting designers and developers compare typefaces at various sizes, weights, and colors.
    • One-tap SwiftUI snippet generation: user picks the font, weight, color, and the app produces code for easy copying into Xcode.
    • Enables saving favorite fonts for quick reference; all data persisted locally with JSON and @AppStorage for user-friendly retrieval.
    • Singlehandedly managed the end-to-end process: design, architecture, Swift/SwiftUI coding, testing, marketing, and iterative version updates.
  • 2025.03 - Present
    SparkDays – Habit Tracking & Reward System
    A gamified habit-tracker built in SwiftUI. Users earn coins for completing daily tasks and redeem them in an in-app store. Entirely designed, coded, and maintained by a single developer.
    • Implemented a daily check-in system with dynamic coin rewards—harder tasks earn more coins, and streaks earn bonus coins.
    • Introduced a personal in-app store with tiered items and experiences. Users spend accumulated coins to motivate consistent progress.
    • Devised a robust SwiftUI architecture with local JSON persistence, ensuring tasks, store data, and user settings stay in sync.
    • Oversaw every production step: conceptualization, UI/UX design, data modeling, coding, release, and ongoing iteration.
  • 2025.03 - Present
    WayLater – Self-Developed iOS Time-Capsule App
    A solo-built SwiftUI app that lets users write letters to their future selves. Each letter stays locked until a chosen date, complete with photo attachments, comments, and local JSON storage. I coded every feature from concept to deployment.
    • Created a date-gated letter mechanic—letters remain sealed until their receive date, then automatically unlock for reading or commentary.
    • Engineered the SwiftUI architecture, employing local JSON for reliable data persistence, user privacy, and offline usability.
    • Developed a built-in prompt system to spark writing ideas, encouraging deeper self-reflection and consistent letter creation.
    • Single-handedly drove the project: ideation, UI design, coding, local testing, iteration, and final submission to the App Store.
  • 2025.03 - Present
    Flipperly – Solo-Developed iOS Flashcard App
    A feature-rich flashcard application built entirely in SwiftUI, blending spaced-repetition logic, local JSON data storage, a 3D flipping animation, and user-friendly undone/redo capabilities—all crafted by a single developer.
    • Authored every line of code: from data models (Flashcard, Deck) to SwiftUI’s 3D flipping animations, delivering a polished user experience.
    • Implemented a dynamic spaced-repetition system where ‘remembered’ cards reappear less often, optimizing learning efficiency.
    • Devised a custom undo/redo stack that reverses or replays incorrect reviews with a single tap—preventing accidental resets.
    • Handled all phases independently: concept, design, coding, QA, user feedback, and App Store publication, showcasing full-stack iOS expertise.
  • 2024.06 - 2024.10
    HowDidI App – Paid Résumé-Sharing Platform
    An iOS app allowing professionals to upload résumés for monetization, enabling readers to purchase passes and access first-hand application materials.
    • Served as PM & technical lead for a 3-person university team, utilizing Swift and Firebase for real-time content synchronization.
    • Instituted Agile sprints with continuous requirement refinement, progress demos, and stakeholder feedback loops.
    • Mentored junior developers on comprehensive app-building processes: front-end design, back-end integration, user testing, and release management.
  • 2024.04 - 2024.04
    ThreeTodo App – Efficient Task Management
    Developed a highly intuitive task manager focused on minimal navigation and reduced UI overload, delivered under a tight five-day deadline.
    • Engineered draggable tasks, inline editing, and context-sensitive menus single-handedly.
    • Demonstrated user-centric design, receiving praise for clarity and practicality.
    • Showcased rapid development proficiency and Agile-style iteration, completing an MVP swiftly.
  • 2024.02 - 2024.04
    WriterCards App – Daily Creativity & Self-Reflection
    An iOS app fostering daily creative writing and introspection, developed using Swift.
    • Implemented Jira & GitHub tracking to avoid scope creep, ensuring an on-time and feature-focused release.
    • Owned the full development lifecycle—UI prototyping, coding, QA, and deployment—as a solo developer.
    • Elevated user engagement by promoting structured journaling habits, fostering personal growth and creativity.
  • 2024.01 - 2024.06
    Goshsha App – Future AR Interactive Shopping
    Revamped an AR-based shopping prototype for Gen Z by prioritizing UI/UX enhancements and stable cross-platform performance.
    • Utilized React Expo for a seamless iOS/Android experience, significantly increasing accessibility.
    • Conducted weekly stakeholder sessions to iterate designs based on direct feedback, improving satisfaction rates.
    • Refined database architecture and front-end responsiveness while strategically reducing AR complexity for broader user appeal.
  • 2024.01 - 2024.03
    LifeTune App – Streamlined Health Monitoring
    A health-tracking application distilling complex data into simple visuals, providing motivational nudges to reduce data overload.
    • Led user research, wireframing, and prototype development to validate core features.
    • Showcased aggregated dietary, fitness, and sleep metrics in a centralized, user-centric dashboard.
    • Employed iterative design sprints, applying feedback loops to elevate functionality and user satisfaction.
  • 2023.04 - 2023.06
    MyWellness App – iOS Health & Fitness Assistant
    An iOS app tracking and analyzing user fitness data, delivering personalized lifestyle recommendations through intuitive visuals.
    • Swift-based mobile development with integrated data visualizations for diet, exercise, and sleep patterns.
    • Implemented a recommendation engine for targeted health advice, boosting user adherence.
    • Designed comprehensive brand visuals to solidify product identity.
  • 2023.04 - 2023.06
    Canvas for Neurodivergent Students – Enhanced LMS Accessibility
    Enhanced LMS (Canvas) accessibility with Dark Mode, Text-to-Speech, and streamlined flows tailored to neurodivergent learners.
    • Facilitated in-depth user interviews to pinpoint accessibility pain points and drive design decisions.
    • Developed wireframes and prototypes for inclusive UI/UX features, showcasing improved usability and reduced cognitive strain.
    • Achieved higher user satisfaction across diverse student profiles in beta testing phases.
  • 2022.10 - 2022.11
    Spotify Browser - High-Performance Music Streaming Web App
    A high-performance Angular-based application replicating core Spotify features, featuring Node.js/Express and MongoDB on the back end.
    • Incorporated OAuth authentication and real-time data retrieval from Spotify's API.
    • Leveraged lazy loading and caching strategies to reduce load times and optimize user experience.
    • Engineered multi-user session handling to accommodate concurrent logins with stable performance.
  • 2022.09 - 2022.12
    CheckersAI – Intelligent Board-Game Strategy
    Developed an AI-driven Checkers agent to demonstrate high-level strategic decision-making in board games.
    • Algorithmic Depth: Implemented alpha-beta pruning and heuristic-based evaluation to efficiently explore move trees and prioritize high-value captures.
    • Dynamic Board Adaptation: Built a robust board-state architecture to handle king promotions, multi-jumps, and real-time state shifts.
    • Performance Tuning: Iteratively refined scoring parameters (e.g., rewarding aggressive play, penalizing risky moves), significantly improving win rates against baseline AIs.
    • Scalable Codebase: Leveraged modular design to support various board sizes and game expansions, illustrating strong architecture and maintainability.
  • 2022.08 - 2022.09
    Cancer Observer – Preventive Healthcare Tracking
    A WordPress-prototyped solution recommending timely cancer screenings based on personal health data and lifestyle factors.
    • Established brand identity and web design to encourage consistent screening habits.
    • Programmed reminder notifications, furthering user engagement and medical adherence.
    • Displayed UI/UX proficiency in shaping preventive healthcare experiences.
  • 2017.06 - 2017.10
    App Inventor Challenge (2017) – My First Android Prototype
    Built my first Android app with MIT App Inventor and participated in the 2017 National App Inventor Student Challenge. This experience kickstarted my path to mobile development.
    • Explored event-driven programming with blocks; implemented multi-screen navigation and basic data storage.
    • Learned to scope features, test on-device APKs, and present a working demo under a deadline.
    • Reflected on UX trade-offs that later influenced my SwiftUI projects.
    • Mini apps I built at the time:
    • 1. Competition Helper – quick calculators, multiple-choice quizzes, and a simple leaderboard (timers, score persistence).
    • 2. Anti-Theft Alarm – arms the phone; any movement triggers vibration + siren (accelerometer events, state toggles).
    • 3. Spider vs. Bugs – tap/drag to move a spider and eat randomly spawned bugs (sprite collisions, randomization).

Awards

  • 2024.06.01
    UCI CUM LAUDE
    University of California, Irvine
    Granted upon graduation for exceptional academic performance across dual bachelor’s degrees (Computer Science & Informatics) and a minor in Statistics. Maintained a 3.94 GPA, demonstrating consistent dedication to rigorous coursework and research involvement.
  • 2024.06.01
    UCI Dean’s Honor List (10 quarters)
    University of California, Irvine
    Recognized for outstanding academic standing over 10 quarters in dual B.S. programs, reflecting steadfast commitment and excellence across a broad spectrum of technical and interdisciplinary courses.
  • 2020.06.01
    AHS Salutatorian
    Arcadia High School
    Earned Class of 2020 Salutatorian distinction with a 3.97 GPA. Demonstrated leadership in academics, maintained exemplary attendance, and upheld a strong disciplinary record throughout high school.

Volunteer

  • 2023.11 - Present

    Remote

    Founder & Organizer
    Infinite Horizons Learning Collective
    Established a self-directed study group encouraging daily learning, knowledge sharing, and consistent personal growth beyond formal academics. Members dedicate a minimum of 40 minutes each day to explore new subjects and share insights.
    • Created an accountability framework that led participants to collectively read over 200 books and deepen interdisciplinary understanding.
    • Developed and maintained a centralized progress-tracking platform, celebrating milestones and reinforcing long-term learning habits.
    • Fostered a diverse and supportive environment, promoting peer mentorship and collaborative problem-solving.
  • 2018.12 - 2018.12

    Los Angeles, CA

    Environmental Volunteer
    TreePeople
    Participated in a urban reforestation initiative, planting trees and cleaning communal areas to foster environmental stewardship.
    • Gained hands-on experience in sustainable tree planting methods and water conservation practices.
    • Collaborated with local residents to maximize community impact and promote a cleaner, healthier environment.
  • 2018.06 - 2020.03

    Arcadia, CA

    Volunteer (Theater & Event Support)
    Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation
    Contributed 46 hours in various capacities—such as ticket inspector, attendant, and cleaning staff—to ensure seamless theater productions and enhance attendee satisfaction.
    • Facilitated front-of-house operations and audience management, aiding the success of multiple school district events.
    • Strengthened communication skills by engaging with diverse patrons and providing quality customer service.
    • Ensured a well-organized venue, reflecting a commitment to enriching the community’s cultural and educational experiences.

Languages

English
Fluent
Mandarin
Native speaker

Interests

Digital Illustration & Sticker Design
Crocodile & fuzzy monster WeChat sticker sets (50k+ sends)
Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator artistry
Continuously experimenting with new mediums, color palettes, and digital art tools
Fine Arts & Exhibition
Future Art China International Competition (Top 100 of 10,000)
Arcadia High School Annual Art Exhibition poster design
Visual storytelling & conceptual painting
Writing & Literature
Daily practice in Chinese writing
4th place in classical Chinese writing contest
Working towards publishing my novels that blends tradition with contemporary storytelling
Performing Arts & Dance
Latin dancing & musicals
Orchesis Dance Company poster design
Enthusiastic about expressive movement and stagecraft