Grant Kinney
JavaScript Engineer at Automattic
Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Summary
🤩
Rockstar🎓
Top SchoolGrant Kinney is a JavaScript engineer with 11 years of experience building delightful, user-focused web applications from Madison, Wisconsin. Currently at Automattic, he contributes to high-profile WordPress projects like Jetpack and Gutenberg, shipping both front-end UI enhancements and back-end API work. Previously he led engineering at Exygy, where he balanced hands-on development with team building, project planning, and client-facing scope negotiations. He brings a holistic, collaborative approach—mixing curiosity and creativity with meticulous attention to detail—to complex product problems. Unusually for an engineer, his background in spiritual care and religious studies informs a calm, human-centered perspective when designing user experiences and steering teams. Active in open source, he’s comfortable moving between React-driven interfaces and PHP/API design to improve real-world publishing workflows.
11 years of coding experience
7 years of employment as a software developer
Bachelor of Arts, Religious Studies, Bachelor of Arts, Religious Studies at Alma CollegeMaster of Divinity (MDiv), Art and Religion, Master of Divinity (MDiv), Art and Religion at Pacific School of Religion
Github Skills (16)
wordpress10
json10
uid10
php10
javascript10
api10
front-end-development10
ui-design10
apidoc10
gutenberg10
react10
redux10
plugin-development9
css9
testing8
Programming languages (13)
Github contributions (5)
Automattic/wp-calypso
Aug 2018 - Dec 2022
The JavaScript and API powered WordPress.com
Role in this project:
Front-end Developer
Front-end DeveloperContributions:271 reviews, 99 commits, 219 PRs in 4 years 4 months
Contributions summary:Grant primarily focused on front-end development, specifically within the WordPress.com ecosystem. Their contributions involved modifying React components and related state management, as well as refactoring and adding new features, such as the ability to expand and collapse sections within the sidebar. The user also made changes to the signup flow, including modifying the steps and UI components related to plans and import functionality. Overall, the user's work enhanced the user interface and functionality of the WordPress.com dashboard and signup process.
apireactwordpressjavascriptes6
Automattic/jetpack
Oct 2019 - Jan 2023
Security, performance, marketing, and design tools — Jetpack is made by WordPress experts to make WP sites safer and faster, and help you grow your traffic.
Role in this project:Back-end Developer
Back-end DeveloperContributions:186 reviews, 130 commits, 126 PRs in 3 years 3 months
Contributions summary:Grant primarily contributed to the back-end functionality of the Jetpack plugin, focusing on API endpoints and core logic. They modified the Sites API endpoint to use the `created_at` value from WordPress.com. Furthermore, they addressed issues related to the Sites API and podcast player. This included returning site options and managing data, demonstrating proficiency in PHP and API design within the WordPress ecosystem.
reactexpertswordpressphpsecurity
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