Nick Eby

Technology Leader

About

Make it work, then make it right.

I believe great software is built on three principles: understand first, master timing, and keep it simple. My process begins by solving the core problem end-to-end, validating with proofs of concept and internal testing, and only then refining and optimizing. I treat timing as both a technical and human discipline, knowing exactly what happens in the code at each moment, while also shaping the user’s experience through thoughtful pacing. Sometimes the best design reduces delays; other times, a carefully placed pause helps the user process and feel at ease. Balancing technical precision with human experience is both a science and an art.

I also hold strongly to the KISS principle, Keep It Stupid Simple, or depending on the day, Keep It Simple, Stupid. The best software is neat, organized, and lean. Complexity should only be added when absolutely necessary, and every developer should truly understand what their code is doing before relying on frameworks, tools, or AI. This ensures fewer errors, easier debugging, and a cleaner path to innovation. My philosophy is simple: understand first, then optimize.

That same philosophy extends to how I lead teams. When I became lead developer at Ulta, I inherited both iOS and Android teams and chose to first observe before making changes. I quickly saw inefficiencies from a reliance on offshore contractors: work took two to four times longer than needed, code lacked architectural consistency, and redundancy crept in across the codebase. By reshaping the team into a leaner, accountable group, two full-time engineers and one embedded contracto, we achieved higher quality and faster results than the previous eight-person offshore team. I’m not anti-contractor; I’m against structures where developers aren’t accountable, embedded, or empowered to own their work. My leadership approach is to build small, well-rounded teams, align strengths with responsibilities, foster strong business partner relationships, and use rapid proof-of-concepts to validate ideas before committing to solutions.

I also firmly believe that great software is always iterative. It begins with building a strong, reliable foundation and core features, then evolves through listening to customers, understanding their needs, and continually fine-tuning. The best products aren’t one-time launches, they are living systems that grow, adapt, and improve with every release.

Over the course of my career, I’ve partnered with leading companies including Airship, Apple, DoorDash, Google, Postmates, Pinterest, RetailNext, Salesforce, SweetIQ (UberAll), and Twitter. In every collaboration, my focus has been the same: build effective, efficient, and enduring products and experiences through clarity, simplicity, accountability, and iteration.

Sometimes I review watches for fun, but I mostly enjoy making the graphics - YouTube

Plan the work. Work the plan.

Skills

  • 3D Modeling

  • Adobe Creative Suite

  • Alexa Skills

  • AWS (Lambda)

  • Arduino

  • Augmented Reality

  • Barcode symbology

  • CSS

  • Debugging

  • Electron

  • Google Actions

  • Google Cloud Platform

  • HTML

  • iTunes Connect

  • JSON

  • JavaScript

  • MS Office Add-ins

  • NodeJS

  • Objective-C

  • Photoshop Extensions

  • Python

  • REST

  • Source Control

  • Swift

  • SwiftUI

  • Third-Party Integration

  • tvOS

  • Unreal Engine

  • watchOS

  • Xcode

Personal Highlights

  • • Launched 16+ apps to date

  • • Completed course: MIT Sloan Digital Business Strategy – Harnessing Our Digital Future – May 2021

  • • Ulta Beauty: Received Merchandising & Marketing - Do What's Right – Jun 2018

  • • Attended WWDC in San Jose – Jun 2018

  • • Ulta Beauty: Hosted an 'Everyone Can Code' event with Apple and Chicago Public Schools – May 22, 2018

  • • Published photo in Union Pacific railroad company calendar – 2015

  • • Attended WWDC in San Fransisco – 2015

  • • Ulta: Nominee of Champion of Champions Award – 2015

  • • Interviewed by the Wall Street Journal / CIO Journal – Jun 10, 2015

  • • Invited to Apple HQ in Cupertino – 2015

  • • Attended Grow with Google in New York – Oct 2014

  • • Attended WWDC in San Fransisco – Jun 2014

  • • Attended Developer Event @ Twitter HQ – Mar 2014

  • • Walgreens: Received Digital Engineering & Mobile Solutions MVP Award – 2014

  • • Walgreens: Received eCommerce MVP Award – 2013

Technical Patents (10)

  • • (US11593857B1) Systems and methods for improving a shopping experience within a retail store – Feb 28, 2023

  • • (US11157929B1) System and method for identifying mobile device users using a wireless communications device at an entity location – October 26, 2021

  • • (US11157596B1) Systems and methods for automatically accessing prescription status information over a network in response to scanning a barcode – Oct 26, 2021

  • • (US11049074B1) System and method for anticipating mobile device user needs using wireless communications devices at an entity location – Jun 29, 2021

  • • (US10430556B2) Location triggering for prescription ready notifications – Oct 1, 2019

  • • (US11386481B1) Systems and methods for facilitating enhanced device functionalities within a retail store – Feb 12, 2019

  • • (US10163150B1/US10929919B1) Seamless user retail experience based on location – Dec 25, 2018

  • • (US10068221B1) Using a mobile computing device camera to trigger state-based actions – Sep 4, 2018

  • • (US10817828B1) Drive-thru system implementing location tracking – Feb 27, 2018

  • • (US10467573B1) Gathering in-store employee ratings using triggered feedback solicitations – Nov 21, 2017

Photos