Summary
John Barden is a software engineering manager with a decade of experience building full-stack solutions across React, Node, C#, SQL, and cloud environments, currently leading engineering at Hy-Vee after progressive senior roles. He combines hands-on development with people leadership, mentoring engineers and partnering with product and stakeholders to deliver user-focused, production-quality software. His background spans large enterprise healthcare and finance tech at Cerner and C2FO as well as digital agencies, giving him fluency in both fast-moving product teams and complex regulated systems. Comfortable in Linux and Windows, he has a curiosity for new languages and platforms and a track record of moving between individual contribution and management without losing technical depth. Based in Kansas City, he brings a practical engineering-first approach to team growth and architectural decision-making that emphasizes reliable delivery and continuous learning.
10 years of coding experience
8 years of employment as a software developer
University of Missouri