Cole Hayden
Chicago
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Software Engineer
Lazer Logistics (EQT Private Equity)
Chicago, IL
01.2023 - Current
- First engineering hire brought in after EQT acquired Lazer Logistics (75th-largest U.S. logistics company). Led development of a greenfield SaaS Yard Management System (YMS) using C#, .NET, PostgreSQL, Angular, Azure, and a microservices architecture with CQRS + Clean Architecture.
- Architected and delivered core enterprise YMS functionality: real-time trailer tracking (RFID, GPS, machine vision inputs), dock scheduling, gate workflows, yard-driver task automation, KPIs/analytics dashboards, and integrations with WMS/ERP systems via domain events and external service processors.
- Built API foundations using FastEndpoints, API versioning, SignalR WebSocket hubs, middleware pipelines, and MediatR commands/queries with FluentValidation and custom pipeline behaviors.
- Solved critical cross-database latency and connectivity failures between two enterprise DB systems. Delivered a stable, high-throughput communication layer with DevOps, QA, and senior developers.
- Designed and implemented SendGrid/Twilio communication flows, Azure API Management policies, and Azure Workbooks/monitoring dashboards for observability, logging, and SLA tracking.
- Improved high-traffic query performance via database indexing strategies, read-model optimizations, and CQRS projections, dramatically reducing operational screen latency.
- Delivered full-stack features in the Sites microservice, modeling Sites, Locations, DockGroups, Clients, SCAC Codes, time zones, geospatial viewports (NE/SW coordinates), hierarchical locations, business units, and domain-driven business rules.
- Created infrastructure components: EF Core migrations, repository layer, background hosted services, value-object modeling, Azure Functions processors, and domain event handlers (e.g., dockGroupCreated → TaskOps).
- Established engineering standards through Playwright/Jasmine testing, architecture tests, rigorous PR reviews, and Clean Architecture enforcement across microservices.
- Platform stability and scalability contributed to doubling the number of business units and enterprise customer sites supported by the YMS within one year.
Software Engineer II
Daugherty Business Solutions
Chicago, IL
03.2021 - 01.2024
- Built and maintained multiple full-stack applications using React/TypeScript, C#, .NET Core, ASP.NET Web API, SQL, Jest, Dapper, EF Core, Swagger, and GraphQL for agriculture research workflows (ginning analysis, genome processing, breeding modernization).
- Delivered a major Cybersecurity Modernization project for Bayer, reaching 100% compliance with federal/government requirements using Azure AD, PAPI, Splunk, Serilog, and Ocelot API Gateway.
- Modernized Cigna’s legacy C++ pharmaceutical scheduling system into scalable C#/.NET Core, implementing async/multithreading, parallel processing, and SOLID principles, improving throughput and security.
- Raised automated test coverage to ~90% using xUnit, Moq, integration tests, and structured TDD practices.
- Modernized Home Depot’s internal equipment platform by converting legacy workloads to Microservices, Docker, and GKE, significantly reducing infrastructure spend.
- Built CI/CD pipelines with Jenkins and GitHub Actions, improving deployment reliability and incorporating linting, SonarQube scanning, Docker builds, and Cloud Foundry deploys.
- Integrated and configured SonarQube, resolving 100% of blocker/critical/major issues, improving audit readiness and maintainability.
- Maintained Bayer’s Android Scanmaster app (Kotlin/Java), resolving breaking API changes, tech debt, and functional issues with JUnit/Espresso.
- Delivered a greenfield Kotlin app (“Random Coffee”) using AWS Amplify, Jetpack Compose, API integrations, and unit/UI testing.
Software Engineer
Newmark
Chicago, IL
03.2019 - 03.2021
- Developed full-stack features for Newmark's commercial real estate SaaS platform using React, JavaScript, Sencha, MariaDB, Node.js, Core Java, Spring, Hibernate, SQL, and JUnit/Selenium.
- Built APIs and UI layers enhancing modules for compliance, asset management, building operations, preventative maintenance, and space planning.
- Served as lead developer for Discover, independently delivering features and generating new revenue by proposing and implementing custom solutions.
- Supported Archibus and Maximo teams by resolving JIRA tickets, stabilizing legacy features, and optimizing SQL queries.
- Only engineer contributing to three of four SaaS products, demonstrating adaptability and broad skill coverage.
Developer
Palmer Consulting
Chicago, IL
07.2018 - 03.2019
- Created and modified enterprise SQL solutions using Oracle PL/SQL, writing packages, triggers, stored procedures, views, and optimized queries for large production systems.
- Delivered all SOWs ahead of schedule, generating significant revenue and strengthening client relationships.
- Built Business Intelligence dashboards using Power BI and SQL, collaborating with senior DBAs to model enterprise-scale data structures.
- Enhanced ERP workflows by integrating large datasets and connecting complex back-end logic to front-end client requests.
Android Developer
Rand McNally
Chicago, IL
03.2018 - 06.2018
- Developed the Speech Recorder Android app (Java), delivering full production functionality for audio waveform testing in trucking environments.
- Reduced Road Atlas map download time 27% through performance tuning and Clean Code refactoring.
- Enhanced Notes app features (SQLite, file transfer) and fixed defects in the RV balancing tool.
- Customized Android UI layers to meet hardware-specific requirements for fleet devices.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Information Technology
University of Missouri
Columbia, MOSkills
Languages & Frameworks:
C#, NET Core, ASPNET Web API, Java, Spring Boot, React, Angular, TypeScript, JavaScript, Kotlin, Python, Nodejs, GraphQL, Dapper, Entity Framework, Hibernate, Sencha, Jest, xUnit, Moq, JUnit, Selenium, Playwright, Jasmine
Architecture & Patterns:
Microservices, Clean Architecture, CQRS, DDD, Event-Driven Architecture, SOLID, TDD/BDD, REST APIs, WebSockets, SignalR, MediatR, Domain Events, Repository Pattern
Cloud & DevOps:
Azure, AWS Amplify, Azure API Management, Azure Workbooks, GKE, Docker, Cloud Foundry, Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, SonarQube, Splunk, Serilog
Databases:
PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle PL/SQL, MariaDB, SQLite
Tools & Platforms:
Git, Postman, Swagger, Terraform (if applicable), Power BI, SSRS
Timeline
Senior Software Engineer
Lazer Logistics (EQT Private Equity)
01.2023 - Current
Software Engineer II
Daugherty Business Solutions
03.2021 - 01.2024
Software Engineer
Newmark
03.2019 - 03.2021
Developer
Palmer Consulting
07.2018 - 03.2019
Android Developer
Rand McNally
03.2018 - 06.2018
Bachelor of Science - Information Technology
University of Missouri