title: About Me
description: Learn more about my journey as a Florida-based Back-End Developer, my engineering philosophy, and my passion for crafting robust, performant systems.
content: |
  Hi, I'm **Nick Kalar**, a back-end software engineering from California, currently living in Florida. For the past seven years, I've been immersed in the world of digital product creation, focusing on building experiences that are not just functional, but genuinely intuitive and engaging for users.
  My path started when I started my first IT job as a Mobile Device Administrator for Aera Energy LLC. Aera was transitioning to a more mobile forward approach. The expansion of tablet computing led Aera to investigate using tablets to handle monitoring, maintenance, and asset management in the field. As the Mobile 
  Device Administrator, I was at the forefront of this transition, building the processes and systems of support, training field engineers and workers, and managing the small army of mobile devices deployed across the company's operations. This role ignited my passion for technology and problem-solving, leading me 
  to pursue further my education.  After leaving Aera, I decided to go back to college at **California State University, Bakersfield** (Go Roadrunners), where I earned a Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science - Information Systems. It was there I discovered my love for coding and development. I spent countless 
  hours honing my skills in various programming languages and frameworks, collaborating with other students to learn and grow with.
  
  ### My Engineering Philosophy
  My engineering philosophy is rooted in **collaboration**, **humanity**, and **curiosity**. I believe great software starts with people coming together and understanding the 'why' - the problem(s) at hand, the advantages and drawbacks of the available technology, and the systems needed to solve the issues. 
  I use research, iterative prototyping (often starting with a language like Python and moving to something faster later), and Test Driven Development to ensure the solutions I build are truly effective. My goal is to create systems that can grow and be maintained easily; a fusion of function and simplicity. 
  Whether I'm building microservice APIs in the cloud or writing designing and coding a fullstack system, my target is always on creating value for the end-user.

  ### What Drives Me
  The thing that keeps me going is the joy of solving complex problems and seeing ideas come to life. I love collaborating with people who are passionate about making a difference through technology. Every project is an opportunity to learn something new, push my boundaries, and contribute to something meaningful.

  ### Beyond the Screen
  When I'm not coding, I like to explore bookshops for interesting reads, drink coffee at local cafes, and spend quality time with my pets and my partner, Michelle. 
  Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to browse my [projects](/projects) or [get in touch](/#contact) if you'd like to collaborate!
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#   - src: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1744877478622-a78c7a3336f6?q=80&w=1587&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D
#     alt: My coffee workspace