Alex Shank's Story
Alex Shank is a Chicago-based Software Engineer building tools that make people more impactful.
I'm Alex Shank, a Senior Software Engineer at CapTech in Chicago. I specialize in backend systems for financial services clients, and I hold a master's degree in Computer Engineering from Purdue. The rest of this page is the longer story of how I got here.
I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, playing baseball, boating on Lake Erie, and
trying to ride my bike backwards. In high school, my dad showed me how to
build things in the garage, while my classes taught me formal science and
design. I enjoyed math and building more than most people do, so I enrolled
at Ohio State as an engineering student.
At Ohio State, I walked the line between Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. I took classes in circuit theory, power electronics, ASIC design, CAD, and project management, among others. I joined student project teams building sensor systems for endurance racing vehicles. I also interned at Lincoln Electric, where I built safety features for robotic welding arms.
I found myself writing and designing more and more software. At RoviSys, I interned on drone software that could identify oil and gas structures. My next internship was with CapTech, building a mobile application for managing COVID-era safety protocols at amusement parks. (I would go on to take a full-time position with CapTech after graduating from Ohio State.) This kind of work was energizing, so I focused on Computer Engineering.
I graduated from Ohio State in the fall of 2020, but felt there was more left for me at university. With mentorship from Professor Lee Potter at Ohio State, I explored my options for graduate school. I enrolled in Purdue University's part-time master's program, which allowed me to continue working while furthering my education.
While at Purdue, I continued to study advanced concepts in Computer Engineering. My courses had me build compilers, NLP neural networks, advanced graph algorithms, and more. Discrete math, statistics, and system design were particularly challenging, but I still find myself reading research papers and blog posts on these topics in my free time. These concepts shaped how I approach technical problem solving today. Data-driven systems with simple, extensible designs are a particular passion of mine.
Since finishing grad school, I have continued working at CapTech as a Senior Software Engineer. The majority of my client engagements have been with financial services companies, such as Goldman Sachs, Mission Lane, LPL Financial, and Capital One. I specialize in backend systems and application development, working heavily with Java, Kotlin, Python, and Golang. I have built APIs, data pipelines, web applications, and event-driven systems. These have involved relational and NoSQL databases, cloud services (AWS primarily), and containerization.
I'm interested in roles where I can work with talented people, solve interesting problems, and learn the business. Building, maintaining, and adapting a product throughout its life cycle is particularly exciting to me. I'm always open to discussing ideas, job opportunities, collaborations, technology, the perfect cup of coffee, or Ohio State football. Reach out to me on LinkedIn.