Matt Howell

Senior Software Engineer

I’m an experienced engineer with over 13 years of helping brands grow through fast, engaging, and SEO-optimized websites. I’m also passionate about mentoring other developers and sharing knowledge about building for the modern web.

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About

I started building websites in the early 2010s and quickly realized that thoughtful engineering and design can make or break a brand’s success online. Over the years, I’ve helped businesses across industries improve their web presence through performance-focused development, scalable architecture, and user-first design. My experience spans modern frameworks, SEO strategy, and the full web development lifecycle—from planning to deployment.

In addition to building for the web, I love sharing what I’ve learned. I’ve mentored engineers, contributed to internal documentation and onboarding processes, and enjoy writing about development best practices. Whether it’s optimizing Core Web Vitals or designing system architecture, I’m always looking for ways to build better systems—and help others do the same.

Education

  • The University of Texas at Arlington
    Aug 2007 · May 2012
    Bachelor of Arts in Communication Technology
    The University of Texas at Arlington
    At UTA, I built a strong foundation in software engineering, web development, and system design—guided by dedicated faculty and inspired by driven peers.

Work Experience

  • LinkSquares
    May 2023 · Apr 2025
    Senior Software Engineer
    LinkSquares
    At LinkSquares, I led the system architecture and migration of linksquares.com from WordPress to Next.js and Contentful. Using these tools, I optimized load times, SEO, and marketing composability. I also streamlined the deployment process with an on-demand preview environment, developed custom features, improved caching, and integrated third-party tools and APIs. Throughout my time, I collaborated with cross-functional teams and mentored junior developers, aligning technical solutions with business goals to create a scalable platform.
  • The University of Texas at Arlington
    Feb 2020 · May 2023
    Senior Marketing Web Developer
    Covenant Eyes
    At Covenant Eyes, I managed multiple WordPress websites, migrated build systems from Gulp to Webpack, and developed custom tools and themes. I also supported junior developers, helped manage Jira workflows, and integrated various third-party MarTech tools, ensuring smooth deployment and optimized performance.
  • Tidal Media
    Sep 2017 · Feb 2020
    Software Engineer
    Tidal Media - Self Employed
    As a freelance Software Engineer, I developed and managed 25+ WordPress websites, building custom themes and plugins, optimizing performance by over 100% in many cases, and streamlining databases for improved speed and efficiency. I utilized page builders as necessary for client-friendly handoffs and managed hosting for multiple agencies, ensuring seamless operations.
  • The University of Texas at Arlington
    Mar 2013 · Sep 2017
    Web Application Developer II
    Qualbe Marketing Group
    At Qualbe, I led key platform migrations and performance improvements—most notably rebuilding 1dental.com from ExpressionEngine to a custom PHP setup, then to a modern Node.js architecture—while managing AWS infrastructure, build systems, and WordPress sites across the board.