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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) |
| 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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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 |
| Accounting Fundamentals – Bookkeeping & Financial Reporting | ||
| 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 IB Java | ||
| Arcadia High School | 2019-05-01 |
| Career Skills Certificate: Computer Programming II Java | ||
| Arcadia High School | 2019-05-01 |
| 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
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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.
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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.
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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 |