Michael McGrain

Software Engineer - MERN Instructor - AI Builder

Dare to Dream

Conversation creates clarity, and technology adapts to people.

I build accessible full-stack applications, AI-assisted workflows, and secure web systems with the kind of visual polish clients remember.

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  • Clean Code
  • Technical Instructor
  • AI Explorer

Selected Work

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Candidate Assessment Platform

Certification-style testing suite with randomized questions, timing, completion reporting, and attention monitoring.

  • JavaScript
  • HTML5
  • CSS3
  • GitHub Pages
Project Details

Built as a certification-style testing station for student practice and assessment.

Randomizes 100-question sessions across multiple learning pathways.

Supports new assessments by adding a structured JSON file of questions, answers, and scoring data.

Tracks progress, timing, completion state, and final scoring.

Records attention events such as tab or window changes during a session.

Uses Google Apps Script with Sheets integration to collect and review submitted results.

Hosted on GitHub Pages for easy access and live demonstration.

Dare to Dream

Immersive, scroll-driven studio website with interactive storytelling, clear service paths, and responsive project inquiry.

  • Interactive Design
  • 3D
  • Responsive UI
  • GitHub Pages

Bloomflight: A World in Bloom

A seven-scene, scroll-scrubbed fantasy journey where a glowing fairy leads visitors through a single world awakening into bloom.

Live cinematic experience — desktop recommended; scroll slowly to follow the fairy through the full reveal.

  • Scroll Experience
  • Higgsfield
  • Cinematic UI
  • Responsive Design

CodeCraftsMan: The Digital Forge

A continuous, scroll-driven cinematic journey through a digital forge and strategy chamber, built to turn systems thinking into an immersive visual story.

Desktop recommended — use a full-size browser and scroll slowly for the complete effect.

  • Scroll Experience
  • Cinematic UI
  • 3D Art Direction
  • GitHub Pages

Oceanside Property Care

Responsive coastal property-care website focused on local trust, clear services, and quote generation.

  • Responsive Design
  • HTML5
  • CSS3

8001 Nails & Spa

Responsive salon website built around polished service presentation, customer trust, and frictionless booking actions.

  • Local Business
  • Responsive Design
  • Conversion UX
  • GitHub Pages

The Paw Spa — Ahwatukee

Warm, responsive dog-grooming website focused on gentle care, local trust, clear service information, and appointment requests.

  • Local Business
  • Responsive Design
  • Booking UX
  • GitHub Pages
Website demos
WebsitesDemo

About Me

I'm a Full-Stack Software Engineer and Technical Instructor with more than 17 years of experience across software development, systems engineering, networking, infrastructure, and secure technology operations.

I build modern, accessible web applications using the MERN stack, with a focus on clean architecture, responsive design, RESTful APIs, WCAG 2.2 accessibility, and secure development practices. My work includes authentication and authorization, input validation, API security, CI/CD workflows, and deployment in Linux-based environments.

I also use AI-assisted development tools to improve productivity, accelerate problem-solving, and build practical solutions. I'm a strong advocate that AI is not a crutch nor replacement for our code, but a peer programmer. As an instructor and mentor, I enjoy helping others grow their technical skills while creating technology that supports businesses, learners, and meaningful community impact.

  • Phoenix, Arizona
  • JavaScript / MERN
  • AI-focused builder

Skills

Languages
JavaScript ES6+TypeScriptPythonHTML5CSS3
Frontend
React.jsNext.jsTailwind CSSResponsive UIReduxContext API
Backend
Node.jsExpress.jsRESTful APIsJWT AuthenticationMongoDBPostgreSQLSocket.io
DevOps & Tools
GitGitHubDockerLinuxCI/CD Pipelines
Accessibility
WCAG 2.2 AATitle II ADA Compliance
AI & Automation
GitHub CopilotOpenAI CodexClaude CodeHermes Agent HarnessPrompt Engineering
Security & Infrastructure
Web SecuritySecure AuthenticationAuthorizationInput ValidationREST API SecurityNetwork SecurityLinux EnvironmentsSystems EngineeringNetworking

Let's turn your dreams into a reality

Have a project in mind, a role to discuss, or a system that needs a stronger shape?

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