Zach Howard

Software Developer | Python, TypeScript & AI-Assisted Development

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

Summary

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

Languages & Tools: Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, SQL, REST APIs, Git, GitHub
Also Used: Additional languages used in past work and projects: C#, C++, C, PHP, Java
Automation: Playwright browser automation, API testing, test framework development, workflow automation
Scripting: Bash and PowerShell scripting
Infrastructure: Linux, Docker, Docker Compose, reverse proxies, networking, DNS, VPNs, monitoring with Grafana and Prometheus, Cloudflare, Tailscale, Authentik

March 2026 – present

ZachTech · Oshawa, ON area

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

March 2025 – March 2026

Eterio Realities · Victoria, BC

Built an automated Playwright test suite for the company's web application: 153 tests in 22 files (118 UI, 28 API, 7 visual) with 10 page objects, as of March 2026.
Developed internal tooling using Claude Code to improve product knowledge access and debugging workflows.
Worked directly with developers to integrate testing and quality practices throughout development.

March 2024 – June 2024

Electronic Arts · Vancouver, BC

Created and maintained QA test passes for Frostbite engine changes and validated new features and workflow changes.

April 2020 – March 2024

Keywords Studios · Vancouver, BC

Embedded QA on the Frostbite Build Tools team, working directly with software engineers on internal developer tools and workflows used across AAA game projects.
Validated changes to internal build systems and developer workflows and created testing strategies for complex engineering systems.

September 2018 – April 2020

Mountain West Studios · Vancouver, BC

Developed backend systems for automated video rendering and delivery, and automation for business workflows.

January 2016 – August 2018

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

Developed internal software tools and utilities for sales and operational workflows.
Automated product listing and order-processing workflows and managed online sales systems and integrations.
Delivered workshops on audio programming and Max/MSP.

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.

Built AIUsageMonitor (open source, v1.14.1): an ESP32 touchscreen desktop display with C++/Arduino firmware, fed over USB serial by a Python collector, showing AI subscription quotas and live system telemetry. github.com/zdhoward/AIUsageMonitor
Built and deployed tools.zachtech.ca: a Next.js and React portfolio with an MDX blog, a 13-theme engine and unit-tested client-side crypto and networking tools, on Cloudflare Pages with automatic deploys from GitHub. tools.zachtech.ca
Built an embeddable, zero-dependency TypeScript web component (Shadow DOM, Tailwind CSS) that gives real-time B2B automation quotes and validates lead capture. tools.zachtech.ca/projects/quote-calculator/
Founded ZXAudio (zxaudio.ca): VST3 audio plugins built in C++ with JUCE, including the PHASE//ZERO phaser, plus open-source DSP and UI component libraries. zxaudio.ca
Design and run multi-agent AI development workflows with Claude Code and Codex, assigning models to tasks by strength and managing context to keep output reliable.