Summary
Justin Michaliga is a contract software engineer based in New York with roughly 15–18 years of experience building full-stack JavaScript and TypeScript applications, often paired with Java backends. He blends front-end UX sensibilities—rooted in a Master’s in UX Design—with deep WebKit/HTTP knowledge and a strong focus on developer experience and typography. Justin has led engineering teams and product delivery across startups and enterprise engagements, including architecting real-time security consoles and steering engineering at a venture studio for FinTech, HealthTech, and Web3 initiatives. At Smartnode he’s been the go-to contractor for Node APIs and SPA frontends since 2015, combining hands-on coding with project management. Colleagues rely on him for thoughtful UX-driven engineering decisions and pragmatic system design that prioritize usable, maintainable interfaces. An avid fractional-CTO mindset means he frequently operates at the intersection of technical strategy, developer ergonomics, and product design.
14 years of coding experience
10 years of employment as a software developer
BS, BA, Computer Science, Art, BS, BA, Computer Science, Art at Salisbury University
Master's degree, UX Design, Master's degree, UX Design at Maryland Institute College of Art
French