Shayan Syed

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See my work

About Me

I’m a passionate software engineer and computer science student at the University of Waterloo (Honours Mathematics and Computer Science, expected graduation December 2026). My focus lies in building elegant, scalable solutions and crafting delightful user experiences. On this site you’ll find a curated selection of my projects, internship experiences and personal interests.

Location

Toronto / Waterloo, Canada

Focus Areas

Full‑Stack Development, UI/UX Design, Data‑Driven Products

Interests

Mechanical keyboards, cars & automotive projects, fitness & calisthenics, and small‑business entrepreneurship (Deska)

Experience

Software Engineering Intern – Shopify

Jan 2025 – Aug 2025

Led a comprehensive UI/UX overhaul for Shopify Markets that aligned with global standards and improved visual cohesion across complex merchant flows. Refactored custom components to reduce technical debt by 35 % and built a scalable flow using React Router and GraphQL. Spearheaded agile practices through pair programming and sprint planning, increasing estimation accuracy and delivery speed.

More details
  • Coordinated with product designers to translate high‑fidelity designs into accessible components.
  • Optimised GraphQL queries to reduce data over‑fetching and improve page load times.
  • Collaborated with the Markets team to prioritise features based on merchant feedback.

Software Developer Intern – CellRox

May 2024 – Aug 2024

Diagnosed and resolved over 100 software issues across multiple platforms. Applied SQLite optimisation techniques to reduce query times by 40 % and wrote automation scripts that improved service efficiency by 30 %.

More details
  • Implemented a ticket triage system that prioritised high‑impact issues.
  • Documented best practices for troubleshooting common problems.
  • Worked with QA engineers to improve regression test coverage.

Skills

Click on a skill to learn how I’ve used it.

Python
Java
JavaScript & TypeScript
React & React Native
SQL & GraphQL
UI/UX & Design Systems
Git & Collaboration
Node.js & Back‑End

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Projects

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Fashion Frenzy

A React Native mini‑app extension for the Shopify Shop app that lets users style outfits on a virtual avatar and interact through a social feed.

React Native • TypeScript • Polaris • GraphQL
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Matches.IO

A job matching platform that uses collaborative filtering to recommend roles for software engineers based on skills and culture fit.

Next.js • TypeScript • Supabase • Prisma
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MealTime

A web app that lets families sync grocery lists, manage recipes and schedule shared meals with real‑time collaboration.

React • Node.js • MongoDB • Socket.IO

Beyond Code

Mechanical Keyboards

I build custom mechanical keyboards and experiment with switches, keycaps and layouts. It’s a creative outlet that combines engineering precision with design aesthetics.

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Cars & Garage Projects

Outside of code, you’ll often find me under the hood tuning engines or restoring classic cars. Working on vehicles teaches patience and problem‑solving in the physical world.

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Fitness & Calisthenics

Training calisthenics and hitting the gym keeps me balanced and energised. Discipline and consistency in the gym reflect directly in my work.

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Deska

I co‑founded Deska, a small brand designing accessories for keyboard enthusiasts. From artisan wrist rests to innovative mounting solutions, we’re passionate about elevating the typing experience.

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Get in Touch

If you’d like to discuss a project, collaborate or just say hi, feel free to reach out.