The best software doesn't start with code. It starts with connection.
Who's pouring
Every project begins with a person, an idea, and a reason that idea matters. I'm Noah Vandervelden, and I believe the strongest software solutions come from understanding the people behind them: their goals, their challenges, and the vision they're trying to bring to life. I want to take that vision, understand the ask, and craft something thoughtful, intuitive, and built to last.
I'm a full-stack software engineer in Kansas City. I studied software development in college and have been writing software professionally since 2019, currently as a senior engineer at Cox Automotive.
But coding has never just been a career for me. It's been a hobby, a creative outlet, and a constant source of curiosity. I'm happiest where clean engineering meets thoughtful design, creating applications that feel effortless to use and enjoyable to interact with.
Kansas City, MO
Est. 2019
- 1Day job
- Senior engineer, Cox Automotive
- 1Years Coding
- 7+
- 2Focus
- Full-stack
Web design - 2Philosophy
- Understand the Ask
Keep It Simple - 1Daily Special
- Custom Solutions
Who I work with
I love working directly with clients because every project starts with the same thing: someone has an idea they're excited about. So far that's meant work in financial planning, fitness, and professional photography. Different industries, same underlying problem: what they could buy off a shelf doesn't fit how they actually work.
I especially enjoy working with startups and younger businesses, where the budget is real and the job is finding something affordable that genuinely solves the problem rather than the most expensive thing that might. I want the process to feel collaborative and personal, not like handing a set of requirements to someone and hoping for the best.
The long way around
Most of my career has been spent at a large company, working on systems at a scale that teaches you things nothing else can. It also puts a lot of layers between you and the person who actually uses what you built. I missed that part. Sitting down with a business owner, hearing about the thing that's been slowing them down for two years, and handing back something that fixes it is the part of this work I've never gotten tired of.
Working at scale also changes what you think is worth doing. On a big team there's a specialist for every concern: one for reliability, one for security, one for the thing that pages someone at three in the morning. A smaller business has none of that, so the decisions have to be simpler and sturdier from the start.
Most of what I bring to a smaller project isn't the fancy version of anything. It's knowing which corners cost you later and which ones genuinely don't matter.
Passing it on
One of my favorite parts of this industry is sharing what I've learned. I enjoy teaching others how to code, talking through problems, and being open about the mistakes that shaped how I build today. Great software comes from curious people who never stop learning, and I try to bring that mindset into every project.
Off the clock
When I'm away from the keyboard, you'll usually find me running, cycling, swimming, playing sports, or finding ways to connect with and contribute to my community.
If you're looking for someone who values thoughtful communication, well-crafted software, and a collaborative process from the first conversation to the final launch, I'd love to hear what you're building. If you'd rather see how I run a project before we talk, the house rules are all written down.