Aiden Kiefer
Software Engineer
systems • clarity • long-term thinking
I'm a systems-minded software engineer with a strong foundation in computer science and hands-on experience across web development, data science, and machine learning. I care deeply about clarity, thoughtful design, and building software that holds up over time.
Chicago-based · Computer Science (UIC) · SWE / SWE-adjacent roles
About Me
I'm a computer science graduate from the University of Illinois Chicago with a strong interest in systems, software design, and the intersection between theory and real-world engineering. I enjoy working on problems that are ambiguous, design-heavy, and require careful tradeoffs rather than purely mechanical execution.
My background spans core computer science topics like data structures, algorithms, databases, and systems programming, alongside applied work in web development, data science, and machine learning. Across all of it, I tend to gravitate toward understanding how things work under the hood and how individual decisions affect the system as a whole.
I value clarity, communication, and steady improvement. I'm especially motivated by work that rewards thoughtful design, long-term thinking, and collaboration with other engineers.
Work With Me
From AI chatbots to backend automation, I help startups and lean teams unlock growth with fast, effective web-based solutions. I offer individual services (chatbots, performance, SEO, automation, and more) as well as bundled packages below—all with transparent pricing and no long-term retainer.
Selected Work
A small selection of projects that represent how I think and work as an engineer.
N-2 Water: React & Next.js E-Commerce with Shopify Integration
A production e-commerce platform built with React and Next.js, integrating Shopify APIs and supporting real-world marketing and SEO constraints.
Database Design & Normalization: ER Modeling & SQL Implementation
An end-to-end relational database design project focused on modeling real-world requirements using ER diagrams, normalization, and SQL.
Tender Heart Website: Serverless JAMstack with Client-Side CMS
Full-stack serverless website with client-side CMS for a local vintage shop
Resume
For a concise overview of my background, experience, and skills, you can view or download my resume below.
Experience
I've worked on real-world software projects in both academic and professional contexts, including freelance and internship-style roles. My experience includes building and maintaining production websites, working with databases and analytics, and collaborating with non-technical stakeholders while maintaining engineering standards.
What I value most in these experiences is the opportunity to work on systems that have real users and real constraints. Whether it's optimizing a search campaign's performance, building a content management system that needs to scale, or designing database schemas that support complex business logic, I've learned to balance immediate needs with long-term maintainability. These projects have taught me that good engineering isn't just about writing code: it's about understanding context, making informed tradeoffs, and building systems that others can understand and extend.
How I Approach Engineering
When I work on software, I focus first on understanding the problem space and the constraints involved. I prefer to think through multiple possible approaches, weigh tradeoffs, and choose solutions that are simple, explainable, and maintainable rather than clever for their own sake.
This approach has served me well across different domains. Whether I'm designing a database schema, building a machine learning pipeline, or architecting a web application, I start by asking: What are we actually trying to solve? What constraints matter most? What will this look like in six months or a year? These questions help me avoid premature optimization and choose solutions that fit the context.
I enjoy learning new systems and technologies deeply, especially when they expose lower-level details or challenge my assumptions. When I pick up a new framework or tool, I read the documentation thoroughly, explore the source code when possible, and build real projects that require understanding internals, not just using the API. This depth-first approach means I compound knowledge over time rather than collecting surface-level familiarity with many tools.
I also place a high value on communication: writing clear documentation, explaining technical decisions, and making sure others can understand and build on my work. I've found that the best technical solutions are often the ones that are easiest to explain. If I can't clearly articulate why a design decision makes sense, that's usually a sign I need to reconsider the approach.
Get in Touch
If you're interested in my work or think I might be a good fit for your team, I'd be happy to connect. I'm particularly drawn to roles that involve systems thinking, thoughtful design, and collaboration with other engineers. Whether you're building new products, maintaining existing systems, or solving complex technical challenges, I'd love to hear about what you're working on.
I'm open to full-time opportunities, contract work, and conversations about interesting problems, even if there isn't an immediate role. Feel free to reach out via email or LinkedIn, and I'll respond promptly.