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full Software EngineeringEmbedded / HardwareIT / Desktop SupportContent / Media

(ale)xander pickering

Computer Science Student & Developer

Edmonton, AB ajamespickering@gmail.com linkedin.com/in/alexjpickering

About

Computer Science major with Business Management at MacEwan University, bringing over a decade of hands-on development experience. A passionate software developer with a hunger to learn and a strong foundation in both software design and business strategy.

Education

Computer Science Bachelor's Degree MacEwan University · Edmonton, AB
Expected Graduation 2027
  • Introduction to Software Engineering: collaborated with three other developers to build an Android employee scheduling application while studying team-driven development and Agile/Scrum methodologies.
  • Introduction to Game Design: collaborated with three other developers to create a fully-functional, 4K rhythm game in Godot.
  • Programming Methodologies: collaborated with another developer to build a text-based action-adventure RPG using C and ncurses.
Diploma (with honors) Ross Sheppard High School · Edmonton, AB
Graduated June 2021
  • Maintained a steady, above-average GPA to graduate with the honors distinction in the class of 2021.
  • Wrote zip-nukes on the school network, got caught, cited StackOverflow + a VBA forum.

Employment Experience

Desktop Support Specialist Alberta Pensions Services Corporation · Edmonton, AB
May 2026 – Present (expected August 2026)
  • Operated the service desk alongside a team of support specialists, taking phone calls and rapidly closing tickets/incident reports to keep up the pace of org-level activities and ensure every employee had a usable work environment.
  • Worked fully on-site daily, handling on-the-go hardware tasks: provisioning new workstations, PXE-booting enterprise Windows onto evergreened corporate machines, and maintaining human-first client relations.
  • Managed internal inventory auditing and compliance/regulatory concerns during downtime.
  • Learned enterprise backend infrastructure hands-on: Active Directory, Azure + federated ID, privileged identity management, internal payroll software, printer networks, SCCM, and ServiceNow.
Code Sensei Code Ninjas · Edmonton, AB
September 2024 – October 2024
  • Instructed students aged 8–11 in coding fundamentals through interactive sessions using Minecraft and Roblox.
  • Guided students in creating and modifying their own games and virtual worlds, fostering creativity and practical application of coding skills.
  • Taught basic programming concepts in an engaging environment tailored for younger learners.
Content Coordinator & Strategist Stony Plain Road Business Association · Edmonton, AB
May 2024 – August 2024
  • Developed and executed social media content strategies, increasing organic engagement by over 200%.
  • Managed the association's accounts: scheduling posts and engaging the community to enhance brand visibility.
  • Conducted in-person interviews with local businesses to drive traffic and give owners their own voice.
  • Edited video and photo for social media campaigns, including the interviews above.
YouTube Content Creator YouTube · Edmonton, AB
October 2019 – April 2023
  • Grew a channel of over 19.5K subscribers through strategic content planning, SEO, and engaging video production.
  • Generated over $6,000 in revenue via ad revenue and affiliate marketing.
  • Designed, edited, and produced content using DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Premiere Pro that consistently exceeded viewership expectations.
Sales Associate Canadian Tire · Edmonton, AB
August 2019 – June 2021
  • Kept the store well-stocked by restocking shelves and facing aisles regularly so customers always had access to the products they needed.
  • Collaborated with team members to keep stock palettes and carts organized and accessible.
  • Used strong product knowledge and customer service skills to help customers find the products that best suited their needs.

Projects

Hardware-Integrated Vehicle Telemetry (University Capstone) MacEwan University
2025
  • Designed and implemented a hardware-software bridge between a 2011 VW Jetta dash cluster and the BeamNG.drive simulation platform.
  • Engineered a real-time telemetry interface using custom firmware and microcontroller integration to mirror in-game vehicle data onto physical automotive hardware.
  • Achieved millisecond-level latency and seamless synchronization between digital and analog systems for an immersive physical driving experience.
  • Demonstrated practical application of embedded systems, CAN bus communication, and real-time signal processing.
  • Recognized as one of the top capstones in the department for its innovation and technical complexity.
ChatGPT-powered TI-84 Calculator Personal Project
2026
  • Soldered a Pico W wireless mainboard to a headphone cable to bridge a TI-84 to a remote server.
  • Engineered a real-time interface with custom firmware to mirror calculator state to the server bidirectionally.
  • Implemented a custom wire protocol (bit-banging the DBUS of the 2.5mm aux port) with negligible transport time, keeping responses on pace with the web version of GPT.
  • Scored 83% on a mock pure-mathematics exam; roasted my mom's cooking when prompted.

Community & Volunteer Leadership

App Help Desk Associate Festival of Trees · Nisku, AB
November 2018 – December 2018
  • Staffed a technology help desk, assisting festival visitors with the proprietary software used for the event.
  • Provided technical support and troubleshooting for software-related issues.
  • Assisted visitors with information on upcoming events and donation options.
Tutor Independent · Edmonton, AB
January 2018 – March 2020
  • Tutored children aged 8–12 in English, Math, and Science.
  • Built custom study plans with parents to help kids reach their academic goals.