About / Full Stack Engineer
Backend depth, with the product context kept intact.
I am Jerome Gao, a full-stack engineer with more than ten years of product delivery across China, Malaysia, and New Zealand. Node.js is my primary line; .NET, Python, Java, modern web, mobile, data, and cloud work complete the delivery path.
Bachelor's degree in Information System Engineering, followed by a Master of Information Technology (Applied Computing) at the University of Waikato.Career path
The frontend has often been the most visible part of my work, but the recurring responsibility has been broader: understand the business flow, establish service and data boundaries, then deliver a usable product.
- 2011-2016
Full-stack foundations
Node.js and Express, Java, PHP, MySQL, CMS products, mobile web, live streaming, and WebRTC.
- 2017-2020
Pintec
Express API/BFF work with React web, mobile web, and React Native investment and commerce products.
- 2021-2023
Carsome
Public Nuxt platform, CMS micro-frontends, shared packages, and a NestJS vehicle inventory service.
- 2024-present
New Zealand and independent products
Applied Computing study, local product collaboration, and end-to-end delivery of Mealway and other independent products.
Engineering principles
Start with boundaries
Authentication, contracts, validation, data ownership, side effects, and failure behaviour should be clear before the UI starts hiding complexity.
Keep evidence close
Tests, logs, migrations, health checks, and deployment configuration belong with the product, not in a vague later phase.
Design for operators too
Admin workflows, support visibility, recovery paths, and safe changes matter as much as the primary customer journey.
Use the simplest durable shape
I prefer explicit flows and established platform patterns over abstraction that only looks sophisticated.
Current direction
I am focused on Full Stack Engineer roles where backend and product engineering meet: Node.js/NestJS or .NET services, PostgreSQL and cloud infrastructure, with React/Next.js or React Native clients. I also use Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor as engineering tools while keeping architecture, review, testing, and accountability human-owned.
Bilingual collaboration
I work in English and Mandarin. That helps when product context, technical decisions, and stakeholder communication cross teams in China, New Zealand, or distributed remote environments.