Senior Engineer · UX Specialist · Based in Nashville/Remote

Jacob
Barker

I build software that behaves beautifully — from architecture to the last pixel.

UX ENG
9+
Years Experience
5
Products Shipped
1000+
Happy Clients
React TypeScript Node.js UX Research Figma System Design Design Systems AWS Postgres Accessibility Prototyping React TypeScript Node.js UX Research Figma System Design Design Systems AWS Postgres Accessibility Prototyping

About

01 / 05

I live at the intersection where engineering rigour meets human-centred thinking. Most developers hand off a spec. Most designers hand off a mockup. I own the whole thing — from database schema to cursor hover state.


Nine years of shipping products taught me that the best code is invisible. The best interfaces answer questions before they're asked. The craft is in the gap between what a user expects and what they experience.

Location Nashville, TN
Currently at Marblekeepers, Inc.
Education BSc Computer Science, WGU
Focus areas Full-stack · UX · Systems

Expertise

02 / 05
Frontend Engineering

Component architecture, performance optimization, and state management at scale. I build UI that ships fast and ages well.

ReactTypeScriptNext.jsQtCSS JSCustomEmbeddedIoTCSS
UX Research & Strategy

User interviews, usability testing, journey mapping, and turning ambiguous problems into sharp product decisions.

ResearchTestingFigmaFlows
Design Systems

Scalable token-based systems that give teams velocity without sacrificing consistency. Docs, governance, the full stack.

TokensStorybookFigma Libs
Backend & APIs

Pragmatic API design, data modelling, and the distributed systems knowledge to not burn your future self.

Node.js TypeScript GraphQL Redis AWS / Lambda OpenTelemetry
Accessibility

WCAG 2.2 AA as a floor, not a ceiling. Accessibility baked in from design, not bolted on at launch.

ARIAWCAGScreen Readers
Leadership & Mentoring

IC at heart, but comfortable owning roadmaps, running critiques, and growing engineers from mid to senior.

Code ReviewRoadmapMentoring

Selected Work

03 / 05
2026
Binary Hydration
Research and Development · Backend Engineer
A short case study on a relocatable binary system design, with step by step narrative on how it was built from scratch. View the source on GitHub.
RnD · SaaS · Embedded
2024-2026
Rule Based Expert System
Lead Engineer
A Rule Based Expert System implementation in C#, currently being rewritten in c++ for performance reasons. View the source on GitHub.
Open Source · Tooling
2023
CurveMesher Brush Batcher
Product Design · Backend Architect
From zero state greenfield to full commercial release and long term support for two different blender add-ons. Custom 3D modeling workflow View the source on SuperHive
3D · Automation
2020-2023
Unity Developer
UX Designer - Backend Engineer - Game Designer
I had the honor of being a community manager for a growing addon in the large Unity eco system in the asset store. Unity was a daily driver for years before parting ways. 1 shipped mobile game.
Game Design · Community Management
2016
First Line Of Code Written
Curious Person
I am proud of everything I have had the honor to have had a hand in, including my first line of code, written nearly ten years ago. This was the start of a fun season of daily recreational programming led by pure curiosity.
Recreational · Hobby

How I Work

04 / 05
01
Understand

Before a single line of code: stakeholder interviews, competitive audit, user research. I need to know what problem we're actually solving.

02
Architect

Information architecture, data models, and system boundaries settled first. Expensive mistakes happen when you skip this step.

03
Prototype

High-fidelity prototypes over static specs. Real interactions reveal real problems. Test early, revise cheaply.

04
Ship & Iterate

Launch is the beginning. Instrumentation, feedback loops, and rapid cycles based on actual usage patterns.

Get in Touch

05b / 05

I'm selectively available for senior IC roles, design-heavy consulting, and the occasional project that's genuinely hard. Will also accept high-mid level roles with clear path to senior positions.