# Joshua Darron Phillips, Full Profile

> Founding engineer at RocketRide, an open-source AI runtime. I build the developer-facing surface in TypeScript, Python, and C++.

## About

Joshua Darron Phillips is a founding-team engineer at RocketRide AI Inc., based in California. He owns the developer-facing surface of an open-source MIT-licensed AI runtime: the TypeScript and Python SDKs, the MCP server, the VS Code extension, and the workshop tooling.

He also built Pulsar, a market intelligence agent running internally across finance, HR, and marketing at RocketRide, which launches as a featured app on RocketRide Cloud. He works in TypeScript, Python, and C++, and writes about what he builds. Two of his recent pieces have been published in Level Up Coding.

## Skills & Technologies

- Languages: TypeScript, Python, C++, JavaScript, Go
- Backend: Node.js, REST APIs, Data Streaming, Pipeline Architecture
- AI Tooling: MCP servers, AI Agents, AI Runtimes, OpenAI, Claude, Ollama
- Databases: Postgres, Neo4j (Graph Data Science), MySQL, MongoDB, MSSQL, ArangoDB
- Frontend: Next.js, React, Vue.js
- Cloud & DevOps: AWS, Docker, Linux
- Other: Salesforce, Agile/Scrum, Vim

## Experience

### RocketRide AI Inc., Founding Engineer (2026 - Present)
Location: San Francisco, CA

Founding-team engineer on an open-source MIT-licensed AI runtime. Owns the developer-facing surface: TypeScript SDK, Python SDK, MCP server, VS Code extension, and workshop tooling. Built Pulsar, a market intelligence agent running internally across finance, HR, and marketing at RocketRide, which launches as a featured app on RocketRide Cloud.

Key Highlights:
- Built and published the RocketRide TypeScript and Python SDKs on npm and PyPI
- Developed the RocketRide MCP stdio server for streaming local files to the runtime
- Built the RocketRide VS Code extension for in-IDE pipeline development
- Designed the workshop launchpad: cross-platform tool that resolves runtime versions, downloads OS-specific binaries, and boots UI plus API plus runtime with one pnpm dev
- Built Pulsar end-to-end (Next.js, Postgres, Neo4j with Graph Data Science, Claude Sonnet, RocketRide pipelines), adopted internally across finance, HR, and marketing
- Contributed to the open source RocketRide server and authored the official platform documentation

Technologies: TypeScript, Python, C++, Node.js, MCP, Postgres, Neo4j, Docker, REST API

### Aparavi Software AG, Software Engineer (2022 - 2026)
Location: Santa Monica, CA

Led major initiatives to design and ship new features for the data intelligence automation platform using Node.js, SQL databases, and React.js. Worked closely with product managers, designers, and engineers to ensure features met customer needs. Helped improve team process and workflow by identifying bottlenecks and proposing solutions to increase efficiency. Contributed to the development of data management and protection solutions helping organizations worldwide optimize and safeguard their data.

Key Highlights:
- Designed and implemented new platform features end-to-end across the full stack
- Collaborated cross-functionally with product, design, and engineering to deliver customer-driven features
- Identified process improvements and proposed workflow changes to increase team productivity
- Managed tasks independently using Agile methodologies, delivering on time and within scope
- Built solutions for data classification, protection, and compliance at enterprise scale

Technologies: Node.js, React, SQL, AWS, TypeScript, Agile

Projects:
- Aparavi: Data intelligence automation platform (Node, React, SQL, AWS), https://www.aparavi.com/

### HOTB Software, Software Engineer (2020 - 2022)
Location: Irvine, CA

Built enterprise-grade full-stack software using Linux, Node.js, MSSQL, ArangoDB, PostgreSQL, React, and AWS. Developed internal systems for order entry and management, conversion and revenue reporting, and production workflow tracking. Designed custom REST APIs in Node.js and managed Linux server deployments with Docker and AWS. Led development of a government assistance application facilitating COVID-19 financial relief with transactions up to $15,000 per household.

Key Highlights:
- Built order management, revenue reporting, and production tracking systems used across departments
- Designed and implemented custom REST APIs in Node.js for internal and external integrations
- Deployed and maintained Linux servers and virtualized environments using Docker and AWS
- Developed a government COVID-19 financial assistance platform handling transactions up to $15,000 per household

Technologies: Node.js, React, MSSQL, PostgreSQL, ArangoDB, AWS, Docker, Linux, Knex.js

Projects:
- Georgia Rental Assistance: Government assistance platform (Node, React, SQL, AWS), https://georgiarentalassistance.ga.gov/
- CoreCompli: Compliance platform (Node, SQL, AWS), https://hotbsoftware.com/corecompli/

### Nihon Kohden, Software Engineer (2020 - 2021)
Location: Irvine, CA

Architected and implemented data streaming APIs to receive continuous data flows from medical monitoring equipment, storing results in Microsoft SQL for further analysis. Built Node.js APIs to query and serve data to frontend applications, and designed Vue-based interfaces for displaying real-time data streams. Assisted with building infrastructure for a data warehouse implementation and participated in daily Scrum meetings for project coordination and troubleshooting.

Key Highlights:
- Architected streaming APIs for continuous ingestion of medical monitoring data into MSSQL
- Built Node.js APIs to query and deliver data to frontend applications
- Designed and developed Vue.js frontend for real-time medical data visualization
- Assisted with data warehouse infrastructure planning and implementation
- Participated in daily Scrum meetings for project analysis and blocker resolution

Technologies: Node.js, Vue.js, MSSQL, REST API, Data Streaming

Projects:
- NK Lab: Medical data waveform visualization (Node, Vue, SQL), https://www.nkdhs.com/products.pl?waveform=true

### Rogue Cloud, Software Engineer (2019)
Location: San Juan Capistrano, CA

Automated business processes for enterprise clients using the Salesforce cloud platform. Developed enterprise-grade software to improve operational agility in competitive markets. Provided training to junior engineers on programming concepts and mentored student interns on career development. Facilitated daily Scrum meetings to analyze project status, troubleshoot issues, and coordinate directly with the development team across all project phases.

Key Highlights:
- Automated business processes for corporations using the Salesforce cloud platform
- Developed enterprise-grade software to enhance operational agility for clients
- Trained junior engineers on programming concepts and mentored interns on career progression
- Facilitated daily Scrum meetings and coordinated with the development team across all project phases

Technologies: Salesforce, Apex, Lightning, JavaScript, Scrum

### AppMakersLA, Project Manager Intern (2016)
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Provided hands-on support in the facilitation of full-stack application development. Monitored project progress and maintained workflow by assigning tasks to developers. Actively participated in client meetings to discuss application requirements, review progress, and gather feedback.

Key Highlights:
- Assisted with facilitation and coordination of full-stack application development
- Monitored project progress, maintained workflow, and assigned tasks to developers
- Participated in client meetings to discuss requirements and review application progress

Technologies: JavaScript, HTML/CSS, Project Management, Agile

## Featured Projects

### Pulsar
Market intelligence agent built on RocketRide. Scrapes eight developer sources twice daily, runs them through pipelines for analysis, produces a trend report and content drafts across seven platforms. Adopted internally at RocketRide by finance, HR, and marketing. Launching as a featured app on RocketRide Cloud.
Stack: Next.js 15, Postgres, Neo4j with Graph Data Science (Louvain community detection, PageRank), Claude Sonnet, RocketRide pipelines.
URL: https://github.com/joshuadarron/pulsar

### RocketRide
Open-source MIT-licensed AI runtime. C++ core with Python and TypeScript SDKs. 2k+ stars on the org repo.
URL: https://github.com/rocketride-org/rocketride-server

### RocketRide Workshops
Hands-on workshop scaffolding for the runtime. Cross-platform launchpad tool resolves runtime versions, downloads OS-specific binaries, and boots UI plus API plus runtime with one pnpm dev.
URL: https://github.com/rocketride-org/rocketride-workshops

### rocket-reviewer
Multi-agent code review system.
URL: https://github.com/joshuadarron/rocket-reviewer

### godseye
Real-time global tracking system.
URL: https://github.com/joshuadarron/godseye

## Earlier Projects

### Aparavi
Data intelligence automation platform built with Node.js, React, SQL, and AWS.
URL: https://www.aparavi.com/

### Georgia Rental Assistance
Government assistance platform facilitating COVID-19 financial relief, built with Node.js, React, SQL, and AWS.
URL: https://georgiarentalassistance.ga.gov/

### CoreCompli
Compliance platform built with Node.js, SQL, and AWS.
URL: https://hotbsoftware.com/corecompli/

### MongoOQ
NPM package for MongoDB that simplifies query building.
URL: https://www.npmjs.com/package/mongooq

### NK Lab
Medical data waveform visualization application built with Node.js, Vue.js, and SQL.
URL: https://www.nkdhs.com/products.pl?waveform=true

### CSViewer
Chrome browser extension for viewing and working with CSV files.
URL: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/csviewer/khfkmjdhickeapmgolpnmebpppdjffnl

## Writing

Active on Medium at https://joshuadarron.medium.com/. Published in Level Up Coding and Generative AI. Recent topics:

- Observability for AI Pipelines: What to Trace and Why. (Generative AI) https://generativeai.pub/observability-for-ai-pipelines-what-to-trace-and-why-61e35b7f3ea9
- MCP Is the Connective Tissue Your Agent Stack Is Missing. (Level Up Coding) https://medium.com/gitconnected/mcp-is-the-connective-tissue-your-agent-stack-is-missing-318a3618bd35
- The Palimpsest Library. (Level Up Coding) https://medium.com/gitconnected/the-palimpsest-library-ddd7ec03a7d1
- Two Communities Are Building on MCP. They Think It Is Two Different Things. (Level Up Coding) https://medium.com/gitconnected/two-communities-are-building-on-mcp-they-think-it-is-two-different-things-1630021b373e
- The Full Stack Is One Layer Deeper. (Level Up Coding) https://joshuadarron.medium.com/the-full-stack-is-one-layer-deeper-youve-been-building-it-0be0ae1d0fdf
- I Tried to Use My Own Product for Everything. (Level Up Coding) https://joshuadarron.medium.com/i-tried-to-use-my-own-product-for-everything-59ce8ffcc32c
- I Expected Pulsar to Land on the Repo Shelf. It Didn't. (Generative AI) https://medium.com/generative-ai/i-expected-pulsar-to-land-on-the-repo-shelf-it-didnt-ef81909a73f3

## Services

- SDK & Tooling: TypeScript, Python, and Node.js SDKs, MCP servers, and VS Code extensions for an open-source AI runtime
- Full-Stack Engineering: End-to-end product work in TypeScript and Python: Postgres, Neo4j, Next.js, and the runtime layer underneath
- Data & AI Systems: AI agents, pipeline architecture, and graph data science
- Backend Systems: Data-intensive services, streaming APIs, and the runtime layer underneath the orchestration frameworks

## Contact

- Email: phillips@joshuadarron.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuadarron/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/joshuadarron
- GitHub: https://github.com/joshuadarron
- Medium: https://joshuadarron.medium.com/
- Website: https://joshuadarron.com