Hello!
My name is Nathan LaPré. I'm a software engineer looking to solve tough problems in technology.
Southern California
Software Engineer
Blizzard Entertainment
Summer 2019 - Now
Currently, I help build a custom in-house game engine in C++17 for an upcoming unannounced survival game. I've developed multiple fundamental editor systems, including a type system, an in-memory data storage and access system, an edit system, a tool system, and a terrain editor, all used for the upcoming AAA survival title. I work with game designers and incorporate their feedback into the product.
Previously, I worked on the Classic Games team as a systems engineer, maintaining five live games and working on the development of two remasters. I maintained and augmented a cross-platform library that abstracts OS-related functionality, such as performance monitoring, memory tracking, crash handling, windowing, file system access, etc. I managed and implemented integration updates of dozens of packages in live games.
Software Developer
ESRI
Spring 2017 - Summer 2019
Designed, implemented, and tested features of the cross-platform ArcGIS Runtime SDK. My work focused primarily on the core C++ layer of the codebase. Worked on a long-term project to support complex map symbology in 2D and 3D. Implemented support for ETC2 compressed textures when displaying objects in 3D scenes. Added hundreds of missing unit and functional tests for areas of the SDK. Led an initiative to push for improved documentation, and wrote documentation for multiple features.
Software Engineering Intern
ESRI
Summer 2016
Worked on the release team for the ESRI Runtime SDKs. Developed and automated functional tests in .NET and Xamarin Forms.
Software Freelancer
Self
Spring 2016
Created mapping-based web applications under the direction of a professional cartographer using HTML, CSS, jQuery, and Leaflet.
Software Engineering Intern
UCR CHASS College Computing
Spring 2014 - Spring 2017
Created, maintained, and updated web applications for the University. Assisted in research by setting up lab server software. Administrated systems for University staff and students.
This project is a from-scratch implementation of a software synthesizer that I've been toying with in my free time. The synthesizer aims for minimum possible latency, and supports the standard wave types (sine, saw, square, triangle), plus auto-faded level, pan, and frequency controls. The threading model is of special interest to me, as it is designed carefully for performance and safety.
My team and I made this fun Android app during a weekend hackathon at Esri. The game, inspired by the classic game Katamari Damacy, encourages people to explore the world. As you walk near real objects, your katamari grows. This app won the hackathon!
Visualization of tennis tournaments in 2016. Tournaments are plotted on a map, then filterable from the control panel on the left. Written in CSS, HTML, and JavaScript (with a lot of jQuery). With demap.
Decide where to eat! Deciduous helps groups figure out the best place around them to eat. Don't go back and forth anymore trying to figure out a place - Deciduous offers only two choices each time, which will narrow down a Google Places API query that will return three random options for where to eat. The options link to Google Maps, so you can get going quickly. Made in 12 hours in HTML, CSS, and node.js. Hosted on OpenShift.
Used the ESRI ArcGIS Geotrigger API, Firebase, and a Heroku instance running node.js to create an Android app that alerts the user when they walk into a UCR campus building. It tells the user which building they're in. Useful for campus tours or orientation. Created in ~36 hours at a hackathon.
ServerBot
ServerBot is a Slack bot that can automatically create, delete, and manage Heroku servers, including logging and multi-language support. With the bot, you can put server management in the same channel where you communicate. Done as a team for school, in a few weeks.
nathanlapre.com
This site is Jekyll-generated, then modified afterwards. It's hosted on DigitalOcean Ubuntu 18.04. LetsEncrypt provides the SSL. Fun!
AirPoll
Remake the costly student polling clicker system for mobile devices, as a web app. Done at a hackathon in 24 hours.
BSc Computer Science
UCR
Graduating 2017
Regent's Scholar at UCR. Rotary Scholarship, Scott and Jennifer Alden Scholarship recipient. Topics of study include: Data Structures and Algorithms, Operating Systems, Machine Organization and Assembly Language Programming, Automata and Formal Languages, Computer Security, Unix System Administration, and more.