About
Hi, I’m Bradley Matera. I’m a Full Stack Software Engineer and a student at Full Sail University, working toward my B.S. in Web Development (expected October 2025, GPA ~3.8).
I build practical, user-centered applications and focus on cloud, DevOps, and full-stack development. I enjoy building reliable tooling and thoughtful user experiences.
Before tech, I served as a combat medic in the U.S. Army and later worked in security, case management, construction, warehouses, and animal rescue. Those experiences shaped how I approach problem-solving, teamwork, and building projects that actually work.
My Mission
I believe technology should make life easier, not harder. My goal is to create tools and applications that are straightforward, reliable, and accessible—whether it’s a polished portfolio site, a scalable backend system, or an AI-driven platform that solves a real problem. Good software should feel natural to use, and I aim to build with that in mind.
Skills & Expertise
Technical Skills
- Languages: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript (ES6+), SQL, Python, TypeScript (learning)
- Frameworks & Libraries: React.js, Next.js, Node.js, Express.js, Gatsby, Tailwind CSS
- Cloud & Infrastructure: AWS (EC2, S3, RDS, DynamoDB, Lambda, CloudFront, IAM, Secrets Manager), Docker, GitHub Actions
- Databases: MongoDB, MySQL
- Tools: Git, Docker, Postman, Netlify, Vercel, Heroku, Jest
- Focus Areas: Cloud support, cost optimization, responsive design, accessibility, API integration, testing, DevOps basics
Soft Skills
- Leadership: Developed through Army service and case management, where clear decisions under pressure were necessary.
- Problem-Solving: Applied daily, from field medicine and logistics to debugging and optimizing cloud systems.
- Collaboration: Comfortable working across diverse teams and contributing in community and open-source projects.
Education
B.S. in Web Development
Full Sail University | Aug 2023 – Oct 2025 (Expected)
GPA: ~3.8
Relevant coursework and labs include frontend development (React, JavaScript), backend systems (Node.js, Express), databases (MongoDB, SQL), AWS cloud labs, accessibility, and testing.
Internship Highlights
Completed Cloud Support Associate Internship, Amazon (Seattle, WA · On-site) — May 2025 to Aug 2025
Key Verified Completions
- AWS Cloud Quest — Cloud Practitioner (12 hrs), Solutions Architect (27 hrs)
- Amazon Bedrock Getting Started; Amazon Q Business Getting Started; AI for Medical Diagnosis (SimuLearn)
- Essentials of Prompt Engineering; Developing Machine Learning Solutions; AWS Foundations (Cloud Essentials)
Recognition
- Extra Mile Awards for Learn and Be Curious; Are Right, A Lot; Bias for Action
- Active participation in AWS community groups during the internship
Skills Gained
- AWS architecture fundamentals; troubleshooting at scale; customer-focused support workflows
- Bedrock and Q Business AI tooling; HIPAA/ASA compliance exposure; hands-on lab problem solving
Experience & Background
- Completed Cloud Support Associate Internship, Amazon AWS | Summer 2025 — Worked on real AWS services, dashboards, and troubleshooting while learning cost optimization and customer support at scale.
- Combat Medic, U.S. Army | 2011–2014 — Emergency medical care under pressure; developed adaptability, focus, and resilience.
- Case Manager, Veterans/Drug/Mental Health Court | 2022 — Helped people build plans and goals, teaching me how to design solutions that meet real needs.
- Volunteer, Mason County Kitten Rescue | 2020–2022 — Team-based logistics and care work that built discipline and coordination skills.
- Other Roles: Security, construction, warehouse, and roofing—each shaped how I approach systems, resilience, and problem-solving.
Licenses & Certifications
- AWS Certified AI Practitioner — Issued Aug 2025 — View credential
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate — Issued Jul 2025 — View credential
- freeCodeCamp — Foundational C# with Microsoft (Jan 2025) — View
- freeCodeCamp — JavaScript Algorithms and Data Structures (Dec 2024) — View
- freeCodeCamp — Responsive Web Design (Dec 2024) — View
- LinkedIn Learning — Creating Your Personal Brand (Sep 2024)
- LinkedIn Learning — Getting Things Done (Sep 2024)
- LinkedIn Learning — Interpersonal Communication (2020) (Sep 2024)
- LinkedIn Learning — Professional Networking (Sep 2024)
What Sets Me Apart
- Real-World Approach: I build projects meant to work in practice, not just on paper.
- Diverse Background: My military and civilian jobs give me a pragmatic way of tackling unexpected issues.
- Always Learning: Expanding into TypeScript, AWS, and infrastructure while keeping sharp in frontend, APIs, and testing.