Zach Howard

Systems Administrator | IT Infrastructure & Networking

Oshawa, Ontario, Canada · zachdhoward@proton.me · github.com/zdhoward · tools.zachtech.ca

Summary

Engineer with experience spanning software quality, automation, developer tooling, IT infrastructure, and backend systems, plus a self-directed Linux, container and networking background.

More than a decade of hands-on work across IT, custom development, QA and DevOps for multiple companies and studios (freelance since 2013).

Skills

Experience

Owner / IT Consultant

March 2026 – present

ZachTech · Oshawa, ON area

  • Founded ZachTech, a local IT services business, and am building its client base.

QC Lead

March 2025 – March 2026

Eterio Realities · Victoria, BC

  • Worked directly with developers to integrate testing and quality practices throughout development.
  • Developed internal tooling using Claude Code to improve product knowledge access and debugging workflows.
  • Coordinated QA testing activities with a team of 1-2 testers and assisted with QA hiring and onboarding.

Associate Quality Designer

March 2024 – June 2024

Electronic Arts · Vancouver, BC

  • Triaged defects, investigated issues with software engineers, and communicated technical findings across teams, including coordinating QA requests with Central QA.

QA Specialist, embedded at Electronic Arts

April 2020 – March 2024

Keywords Studios · Vancouver, BC

  • Validated changes to internal build systems and developer workflows and created testing strategies for complex engineering systems.
  • Wrote documentation, pioneered remote (work-from-home) technical support for the team, and helped onboard others while Central QA established official procedures.
  • Embedded QA on the Frostbite Build Tools team, working directly with software engineers on internal developer tools and workflows used across AAA game projects.

IT Coordinator

September 2018 – April 2020

Mountain West Studios · Vancouver, BC

  • Managed network planning, maintenance and recovery processes and supported internal technical operations.
  • Developed backend systems for automated video rendering and delivery, and automation for business workflows.

Systems Administrator & IT Specialist

January 2016 – August 2018

Saved By Technology (now Long & McQuade Pro) · Toronto, ON

  • Served as the company's computer specialist: repairs and support, including helping people with disabilities obtain computers through the company's ADP program.
  • Developed internal software tools and utilities for sales and operational workflows.
  • Fully in charge of the company's Amazon sales channel.

Earlier roles

  • Technical Analyst / Server Specialist at Aireus POS (2015): 24/7 emergency database contact for 400+ restaurants, QA testing and deployments.
  • Freelance since 2013: server deployment, database migrations, and custom Max/MSP audio tools for musicians.

Projects

Education