alexander.d.macey@gmail.com
https://github.com/theinfamousmrmeow
Alexander specializes in high-risk technical initiatives where requirements are unclear, systems are complex, and delivery matters.
Across multiple AAA studios and platform providers, he has led teams responsible for social systems, matchmaking, player identity, analytics, and platform integrations.
His work ranges from rescuing troubled projects near launch to designing entirely new service architectures, including initiatives that reduced operating costs by hundreds of thousands of dollars annually while improving reliability and developer experience.
He is particularly effective in environments where technical, product, and business concerns must be balanced simultaneously.
Technical Director and Senior Software Engineer with a strong background in backend systems, platform services, client integration, and technical leadership. Experienced in consulting environments that require rapid onboarding, clear technical judgment, engineer mentorship, stakeholder alignment, and production-focused delivery. Skilled at modernizing complex systems and designing practical service architectures. Combines hands-on engineering depth with a track record of leading teams through ambiguity and delivering measurable business impact.
Technical Director / Senior Software Engineer
2022–Present
Served as a technical leader across a high-volume client services environment, contributing to projects spanning backend systems, SDKs, live operations, tooling, client integration, and production delivery.
Led engineers through system design, implementation, integration support, debugging, release coordination, and delivery across complex client engagements.
Drove execution in ambiguous project environments by rapidly onboarding to unfamiliar systems, identifying technical constraints, aligning implementation plans, and guiding teams toward production-ready outcomes.
Led and contributed to backend modernization efforts, including the replacement of cost-prohibitive third-party messaging and social infrastructure with custom service layers, SDKs, and scalable messaging backplanes.
Helped re-architect social and multiplayer-adjacent systems supporting presence, chat, groups, friends, invites, and related platform services.
Served as Technical Director for a major Wizards of the Coast social platform overhaul, replacing a multi-million-dollar PaaS-backed message bus and saving the client over $700,000 in annual messaging costs.
Designed a replacement MQTT-based messaging infrastructure and coordinated a zero-downtime migration from the legacy system to the new backend at approximately 71,000 concurrent users.
Led a team of five engineers on TopSpin 2K25, including onboarding three new engineers and guiding the team to successful delivery.
Mentored engineers and technical leads through architecture discussions, complex debugging, project execution, 1:1s, and career development.
Partnered with business development, production, and client stakeholders to translate technical capabilities into plans, estimates, case studies, and engagement strategy.
Software Engineer
November 2021–February 2022
Served as engineering lead on Innovation Lab projects focused on rapid prototyping, technical exploration, and minimum viable product development.
Led greenfield prototypes and helped recover abandoned or nonfunctional legacy projects.
Mentored junior developers while they prepared for placement on client contracts.
Built and maintained software using Agile/Scrum practices, Docker-based deployments, CI/CD pipelines, AWS environments, and Atlassian tooling.
TechOps Team Lead / Software Developer
February 2019–November 2021
Contract: Defense Forensics and Biometrics Agency
Served as team lead and lead developer for long-term internal software projects in a mission-critical environment.
Designed and developed software to integrate with existing system architecture or replace legacy systems where appropriate.
Developed Java tools to replace legacy Bash scripts and C# programs, updated existing C# applications, and modernized Java 1.8 code where possible.
Worked with customers to capture user stories, clarify requirements, and develop internal proofs of concept for process and system improvements.
Developed biometrics-focused software using open-source technologies including OpenCV for facial detection and recognition workflows.
Supported code quality through code review, SonarQube analysis, and team development standards.
Implemented Git-based version control using a locally hosted GitLab instance, including merge workflows, branch review, CI/CD pipelines, and GitLab Runner configuration.
2018–Present
Wizard’s Age Studios
Developed, shipped, and maintained an Android mobile game using Java and Google APIs for metrics and services.
Mega Cat Studios
Wrote C and 6502 assembly code for Nintendo Entertainment System game development.
Collaborated with artists, designers, and other engineers on retro console software projects.
Senior Network Infrastructure Technician
August 2015–February 2019
Supported helpdesk, network operations, and infrastructure services across 18 remote sites, more than 1,000 staff members, and more than 10,000 students.
Designed, implemented, and managed alerting and monitoring systems using SolarWinds and custom Slack integrations for real-time infrastructure visibility.
Developed Python tools to automate common network administration and analysis tasks, including workflows involving legacy equipment over serial connections.
Managed, configured, and troubleshot network switches and related infrastructure.
System / Network Administrator
2013–2015
Provided helpdesk, network operations, and system administration support while deployed in Afghanistan.
Worked as part of a six-person team providing phone and data services to more than 3,000 American and coalition users.
Satellite Communications Operator / Maintainer
2010–2012
Operated and maintained quad-band satellite antenna equipment supporting voice and data services in tactical environments.
Served as a team leader responsible for mentoring, training, discipline, and accountability of soldiers.
Bachelor of Science, Computer Science
Western Governors University
Associate of General Studies
Central Texas College
Microsoft Software and Systems Academy
Central Texas College, May 2015
Microsoft Technology Associate: Software Development Fundamentals
Warrior Leader Course
7th Army Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Grafenwoehr, Germany
Satellite Communications Course
Fort Gordon Signal School
Certifications
CompTIA Network+
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA Project+
ITIL 4 Foundation