JOEL MILLS

Software Engineer  ·  Startup Founder

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Joel Mills
Joel Mills
Software Engineer · Startup Founder

ABOUT

I'm a Software Engineer at Lyft passionate about developing altruistic software. I'm particularly interested in autonomous systems, robotics, healthcare, and building at scale. I also love working for and founding startups.

When I'm not building, I'm playing guitar, going to the gym, running, travelling, hiking, watching sports, cooking, spending time with family, reading fiction, skiing, playing chess, or doing many of these things at the same time.

PythonGo JavaTypeScript C#SQL ReactFlask AWSDocker PostgreSQLMongoDB GitMCP REST APIsgRPC

EXPERIENCE

Software Engineer

July 2026 - Present

Lyft · Full-Time · Toronto, ON

  • Return offer to the same team.

Software Engineer Intern

June - September 2025

Lyft · Toronto, ON

  • Improved customer reliability by developing an automated service to clean up stuck rides.
  • Designed a sparse DynamoDB GSI that reduces query range from 5B base items to ~50k indexed items.
  • Unlocked real-time observability into all active rides for the first time at Lyft through the GSI and a new gRPC endpoint.
  • Recognised for exceeding T3 (entry-level) expectations and meeting the majority of T4 expectations.

Software Engineer Intern - AI Deployment and Evaluation Lab

May - August 2024

Trillium Health Partners · Toronto, ON

  • Developed an open-source AI monitoring dashboard using Python, Flask, and React for models across three hospitals.
  • Built an ETL pipeline processing 5,000 monthly records using MongoDB, PostgreSQL, and RESTful APIs.
  • Used Prefect to orchestrate workflows with built-in error handling and automated retry logic.
  • Containerised the application with Docker, ensuring consistent deployment across environments.

Frontend Developer Intern

May - June 2023

SueApp · Tel Aviv, Israel

  • Led a team of 4 interns using React.js and TypeScript to develop a website for filing online claims in 5 weeks.
  • Managed tasks and timelines using Jira to ensure smooth collaboration and on-time project delivery.
  • Wrote onboarding documentation covering Git workflow and best practices for future intern teams.

PROJECTS

PatchLine

  • Built a plugin-based framework integrating LLM vulnerability detectors and fixers via a standardised abstraction layer.
  • Improved code patch quality using structured, constraint-driven prompt design over naive pipelines.

Guava - Grocery Savings Startup

  • Built full-stack grocery savings app with Python backend and React and React Native frontends.
  • Designed serverless AWS architecture with Lambda, DynamoDB, S3, and API Gateway for scalability.
  • Secured $2,000 grant through AWS Build accelerator program and pitched to potential investors.
  • Reached the final interview of the ERA accelerator in New York City.

Queen's AutoDrive - Perception

  • Developed LiDAR-Camera calibration software for autonomous vehicles as part of a 7-person team.
  • Implemented sensor fusion algorithms to improve perception accuracy and object detection using Python and ROS2.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Computing, Honours with Distinction - Computer Science

Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario

September 2022 - May 2026

Cumulative GPA: 4.28 / 4.30

Exchange Semester - Computer Science

University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia

January - May 2025

Grade: High Distinction

AWARDS

Dean's Award of Excellence

2023 and 2024 · Queen's University

Dean's Honour List with Distinction

Top 3% of students in program · 2023, 2024, 2025 · Queen's University

Principal's Scholarship

Top 5% of competitive admission average · 2022 · Queen's University

TRAVEL

The most amazing mountains, lakes, and people. Did some beautiful hiking and went skydiving for the first time!

Went to Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand. Each place taught me so much about the different cultures in Southeast Asia. Highlights included the Ha Giang Loop, chilling with Elephants in Chiang Mai, and riding motorcycles in Bali.

Studied abroad at UNSW Sydney with my best friends. The most amazing semester and time of my life. Australia has gorgeous nature and scenery, kind people, and the best weather. I want to go back!

Road tripped the coast in a truck and visited a bunch of National Parks. Went for some intense hikes and backpacking.

Been to mountains in British Columbia, Vermont, and Montréal. Hoping to ski in Europe soon!

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