Hi, I'm Jesse.

About Me

Why DoiT

What I Bring

AI-Native Builder

I use Claude Code every day — not as an experiment, but as my primary development environment. I've put over 2 billion tokens through it in recent weeks. I've shipped full projects end-to-end with AI-assisted development: a game engine with marketing site and platform integrations, real estate prototyping tools, real-time monitoring dashboards, and the entire component-driven application system behind this website. I understand the capabilities and limitations of LLM APIs because I live in them daily.

The posting asks for someone who stays current with weekly AI stack changes — that's not a chore for me, it's how I spend my time. I'm deeply invested in this space because I've seen firsthand how it changes what a single engineer can ship.

Strong Software Fundamentals

I have 8+ years of production software engineering at Equitable, one of the largest financial services companies in the U.S. I've led enterprise CMS migrations, driven platforms through multiple major version upgrades (Sitecore 9.1 through 10.3, then to Adobe AEM), built React and Java customer portals, and architected the separation of content from code across complex systems. I write TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, and Java. I've worked with CI/CD pipelines, REST APIs, GraphQL, and cloud platforms daily.

This foundation is what makes me effective with AI tools. I'm not prompting and hoping — I'm making real engineering decisions about architecture, data modeling, and system design. The AI accelerates the implementation, but the engineering judgment is mine.

Extreme Empathy & Cross-Functional Partnership

The posting describes someone who can "translate business workflows into AI-driven solutions" — that's been my entire career. At Equitable, I work directly with business stakeholders to turn complex requirements into maintainable applications. I've scoped projects end-to-end, from requirements gathering through launch, for tools that generate thousands of daily views and hundreds of thousands of dollars in business.

At Hack Upstate, I took this further. I directed Careers in Code across 6 cohorts — not just the curriculum, but the entire operation. I built automation systems with Zapier, Pipefy, and Notion that handled admissions, student tracking, stipend distribution, and partner communications. I identified every workflow bottleneck and systematized it. That's the same muscle this role requires: embed in a department, understand the friction, and build AI-driven solutions that actually work.

Self-Direction

I don't need a playbook. At Equitable, I've consistently taken ownership of projects with minimal guidance — leading the Retirement Guide frontend efforts, architecting component patterns that the team adopted as standards, and creating documentation that reduced onboarding time. My manager's review: "Jesse's ability to think ahead, anticipate challenges, and devise effective solutions has been a driving force behind many of our successes."

Outside of work, I run Hack Upstate, co-founded a college hackathon that grew 137% in one semester, and built this entire application infrastructure in a with Claude Code. I thrive when given a problem and the autonomy to solve it.

Experience

Education

Rapidly Prototyped Projects

Recommendations

“What stands out about Jesse isn't just that he can build software — it's how he thinks. He has a rare ability to translate complex technical concepts to people who aren't engineers, which is something you can't really teach. I've watched him do it with students who came in with zero background and left with marketable skills and jobs. I've also watched his thinking evolve around AI over the years. He's living in it, building with it every day, and asking the right questions. The way he talks about what Claude Code has unlocked for him reminded me of how early Bitcoin engineers talked about what they were building.”

— Doug Crescenzi, Partner at Hack Upstate LLC · April 1, 2026

“Jesse approaches problems systematically. He doesn't look for quick fixes or gets distracted by complex solutions. Instead, he works through the problem methodically — mapping out options, weighing tradeoffs, and arriving at decisions that hold up when you actually have to engineer them. Beyond the technical side, Jesse has a rare ability to bring people together. This kind of role demands both — systematic reasoning and the ability to build trust across audiences. Jesse has spent years developing both. I recommend him without reservation. He'll make an impact quickly, and he'll do it by doing the hard work of understanding problems deeply and building the right solutions.”

— William Kennedy, Mentor · April 3, 2026, via LinkedIn

“Delivering a life-changing program like this takes a lot of vision, organization skills, and the ability to make quick decisions; Jesse handled all of it calmly and always had his eye on student outcomes. What I appreciate most about him is his ability to get it all done and make it look effortless. Jesse's technical fluency and his ability to navigate complex program logistics while leading a team make him a rare asset in the coding world. I highly recommend working with him if you happen upon the chance.”

— Laura Thorne, Career Coach at Careers in Code · April 3, 2026, via LinkedIn

“I had the pleasure of working with Jesse at Equitable, where he consistently found innovative ways to improve our public and advisor-facing websites. While building our Cap Rate webpage, he handled changing specs and requirements with ease—never complaining, always quickly pivoting to an effective solution. He is a master problem solver with a true can-do attitude and was an absolute pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend him to any team looking for a driven, adaptable, and results-oriented technologist.”

— Tom Dominic, Colleague at Equitable · April 2, 2026, via LinkedIn

“I've worked with Jesse for several years at Equitable on our digital annuity tools, and he's one of the best partners I've had the pleasure of working with. He's someone you can rely on both in building solutions and when challenges come up. He consistently brings creative ideas, communicates clearly, and stays calm under pressure. He brings a positive attitude to everything he does and makes the team better.”

— Nick Ronan, Colleague at Equitable · April 3, 2026, via LinkedIn

“I had the pleasure of working with Jesse at AXA Equitable, where we built several projects together both at work and on the side. Jesse has a genuine passion for innovation and was always pushing us to try new technologies and experiment with ideas. His curiosity and critical thinking are contagious, and he naturally motivates the people around him. One thing that really stands out is his ability to explain complex technical concepts in a simple way that anyone can understand. He's a great teammate, a strong leader, and someone who brings positive energy to any team he's part of.”

— Paul Kwoyelo, Colleague at Equitable · April 6, 2026, via LinkedIn

“Jesse has an unwavering commitment to innovation and exploration in everything he does. As my first mentor, he taught me an incredible amount simply through his "let's-do-this" approach to complex, multifaceted problems. Jesse is an exceptional communicator who can bridge the gap between deep engineering and cross-functional stakeholders, creating a culture where ideas are vetted based on merit rather than hierarchy. The bottom line: Jesse cares. He is deeply mission-driven and solves difficult problems not just with a track record of success, but with a persistent optimism and genuine care for his colleagues. P.S. He also shreds on the guitar.”

— Max Gerlach, Program Manager at Careers in Code · April 3, 2026, via LinkedIn

“I have had the distinct honor of working with and being mentored by Jesse Peplinski. His deep skill set in web-based technologies and AI tools is clearly evident throughout his extensive resume, and I have witnessed his technical prowess firsthand while working with him at Hack Upstate and Careers in Code. Spending time around Jesse has led me to observe what is arguably his greatest quality: his unmatched thirst for technical knowledge. I have never met anyone who dives in as quickly to learn a new tool, framework, or technology.”

— Andrew Wladis, Mentee · April 1, 2026, via LinkedIn

“Jesse was my first true 'boss' and helped mentor me into the person I am today through our work together at Careers in Code, a coding boot camp. Even more than his warm, kind personality, Jesse's innate ability to lead by example, intelligently navigate complex issues and run projects with a solution-oriented mindset has been nearly unmatched in my career. I watched as he was able to spearhead a meaningful project with real impact on the community — an effort that similarly taught me the value of thoughtful communication, excellence in organization and problem solving both in the terminal and face-to-face with people. I'd highly recommend Jesse for any role — particularly one where his leadership skills can be put on full display.”

— Will Guisbond, Program Manager at Careers in Code · April 1, 2026, via LinkedIn

“Jesse is an incredibly smart and passionate developer. Jesse was organized, communicative, and very responsive to any questions that I or students had. He helped create and guide the full stack web development curriculum and managed a team of approximately 10 staff including instructors, TAs, and support staff. I highly recommend Jesse and believe that you will find him to be a hard-working, intelligent, and supportive team member!”

— Jason Scharf, Student Success Rep at Careers in Code · April 7, 2026, via LinkedIn

“I watched him develop from a sharp developer into a true systems thinker and someone who naturally steps up as a leader. Jesse has always stood out because he doesn't just fix the immediate issue — he steps back and looks at the bigger picture to understand why the problem happened in the first place. On top of his strong technical skills, Jesse is an excellent collaborator. He has a real talent for taking high-level business needs and turning them into clean, scalable code while keeping everyone on the same page. Jesse is a thoughtful problem solver, a generous mentor, and someone who sees the bigger picture.”

— Zachary Peck, Colleague at Equitable · April 7, 2026, via LinkedIn

“Jesse is a person with a 'can do' attitude who will not take no for an answer. He is unique in his determination to find an innovative way to get the job done. He also has a knack for teaching. He inspires those around him and works well collaboratively to help others succeed in their projects and endeavors.”

— Mark Wladis, Mentor · April 1, 2026, via LinkedIn

“I've worked at Equitable with Jesse for 8 years, and it's been incredible to see his evolution into such a strong and dependable software developer. He combines technical skill with a calm, strategic mindset, always taking the time to understand the "why" behind problems before jumping to solutions. His work with Careers in Code has always been something that I've admired about him and truly believe he has made a difference in some many peoples lives. He's not only someone you can count on to deliver when working on projects, but also someone who brings positive energy and motivates those around him. Any team would be lucky to have him.”

— Lizmarie Von Langen, Colleague at Equitable · April 15, 2026, via LinkedIn

The Meta