# Mia Balsamo

> Software Engineer

Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/miabalsamo

Full stack software engineer with 7+ years of experience building scalable web applications using Ruby on Rails, React, JavaScript, and Ember. I began my development career at JP Morgan Chase, where I honed my technical skills in a fast-paced financial environment. Currently at Mars, I combine my passion for software engineering with my love for pets, creating technology that makes a meaningful impact.

My journey into tech was unconventional—I transitioned from teaching middle school mathematics to software development, bringing with me strong problem-solving abilities and a knack for breaking down complex concepts. This unique background, paired with my technical expertise, allows me to approach challenges with both analytical rigor and clear communication.

Whether leading team initiatives or diving deep into individual projects, I thrive on continuous learning and staying current with emerging technologies. I'm driven by the opportunity to build solutions that matter and work alongside teams that share a commitment to excellence.

## Work Experience
### Software Engineer, Mars Science & Diagnostics @ Mars
Jan 2023 – Present | San Francisco Bay Area
Mars Science & Diagnostics - world-class diagnostics, science, technology and data to advance pet health

### Software Engineer @ Kinship
Jan 2021 – Jan 2023 | San Francisco, California, United States

### Associate Software Engineer @ J.P. Morgan & Chase
Jan 2018 – Jan 2021 | Columbus, Ohio Area

### Ruby On Rails Developer @ AIC
Jan 2018 – Jan 2018 | Columbus, Ohio

### Full Stack Web Developer @ Flatiron School
Jan 2017 – Jan 2018
An intensive training program designed to equip students with the skills necessary to launch careers in web development. This program includes over 800 hours of coursework, encompassing  lessons, labs, study groups, individual and pair programming projects, code challenges, portfolio project presentations and more.

• Studied a variety of web development languages, frameworks, and libraries in-depth, including Ruby, Rails, Sinatra, Javascript, React, Redux, SQL, ActiveRecord, Git, HTML, CSS and Bootstrap

"A Good Read"
An app that allows you to add, review, and comment on popular book choices
• Uses Javascript frontend utilizing React.js and Ruby on Rails backend which handles data persistence
• Applies Redux middleware to respond to and modify state change
• Incorporates Bootstraps and custom CSS for styling found throughout the application

"Best Dog Parks"
An interactive app to keep track of all the dog parks you like to visit with your canine friend
• Renders features using jQuery and an Active Model Serialization JSON backend
• Utilizes Ruby on Rails to create a user interface with Omniauth and Bcrypt Authentication 
• Includes ActiveRecord to represent and store data collected through the application

"Foodie Cookbook"
App that allows a user to create a personal cookbook to store all their favorite recipes 
• Uses Sinatra to build an app that allows a user to create, read, update, and destroy (CRUD) data
• Applies ActiveRecord for storing information and model associations in a database 
• Ensures that a user can only modify their own content through user validations and error messages

"Foodie Recipes"
Uses a Command Line Interface to view recipes from a popular food blogger website
• Utilizes a Command Line Interface to interact with the application 
• Pulls data from an external food blog website using Nokogiri 
• Implements both list and details view options within the application

### Math Teacher @ Glasgow Middle School
Jan 2015 – Jan 2017
I collaborated weekly with fellow Math 8 teachers to unpack standards, create assessments, lessons, and activities to support students with a range of academic abilities. During my two years at Glasgow I team-taught with a special education teacher and an ESOL teacher to support a range of learners in the classroom. Due to the varying levels of math I taught, I also differentiated lessons to fit the needs of all students in Math 8 and Math 7 Honors.

### Student Teacher @ Scottwood Elementary
Jan 2014 – Jan 2015
With the assistance of my mentor teacher, I help facilitate daily lessons and activities within a fifth grade classroom in the Columbus City School District. I co-plan and co-teach lessons, help with classroom management, and assist with other routine school activities.

### Assistant Teacher @ Mini University
Jan 2012 – Jan 2013


## Education
### Full Stack Web Development
Flatiron School

### Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Middle Childhood Education
The Ohio State University

### Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Human Development and Family Science
The Ohio State University


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/mia-balsamo-b30727a1

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Source: https://flows.cv/miabalsamo
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/miabalsamo/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-03-30