Chris Hennighan

Chris Hennighan

Mentor
Rising Codementor
US$63.00
For every 15 mins
free badge
First 15 mins free for your first session
speaker at Codementor Events
Speaker at Codementor Events
ABOUT ME
Engineering Manager & Full-Stack Architect · React · Node.js · AWS
Engineering Manager & Full-Stack Architect · React · Node.js · AWS

I’m a Staff-level Software Engineer and Engineering Manager with 10+ years of experience building and leading high-performing teams across SaaS, integrations, and cloud platforms. I specialize in React, Node.js, AWS, and full-stack architecture, and have led large-scale migrations, AI initiatives, and developer enablement programs.

At Help Scout, I lead modernization of our settings architecture and integrations with Stripe, HubSpot, and Mailchimp. Previously, I managed teams at 2U (EdTech) and Trove (Recommerce), focusing on platform scalability and developer growth.

I can help you:

Architect or modernize React/Node applications for scalability and performance

Design APIs, third-party integrations, or serverless systems on AWS

Improve engineering effectiveness, delivery flow, and team processes

Prepare for senior technical interviews or engineering manager roles

All sessions are structured, paid consultations held exclusively on Codementor — ideal for founders, tech leads, and developers seeking senior-level technical guidance.

English
Eastern Time (US & Canada) (-04:00)
Joined February 2019
EXPERTISE
10 years experience
Led React migrations and component library builds across large SaaS platforms. Modernized legacy architecture at Help Scout, reducing sup...
Led React migrations and component library builds across large SaaS platforms. Modernized legacy architecture at Help Scout, reducing support tickets by 35%. Skilled in performance optimization, state management, testing, and mentoring teams on modern React patterns.
10 years experience
Architected backend APIs and services for integrations (Stripe, HubSpot, Mailchimp, WhatsApp) and SaaS platforms at Help Scout and 2U. Ex...
Architected backend APIs and services for integrations (Stripe, HubSpot, Mailchimp, WhatsApp) and SaaS platforms at Help Scout and 2U. Extensive experience designing scalable Node.js systems, implementing observability, and building serverless functions on AWS.
5 years experience
Delivered performant, SEO-friendly applications using Next.js for SaaS and internal tools. Built full-stack solutions leveraging API rout...
Delivered performant, SEO-friendly applications using Next.js for SaaS and internal tools. Built full-stack solutions leveraging API routes and hybrid rendering. Experienced with Vercel deployments, edge functions, and modern frontend optimization strategies.
7 years experience
Delivered and led TypeScript adoption across multiple organizations to improve reliability, onboarding speed, and developer confidence. B...
Delivered and led TypeScript adoption across multiple organizations to improve reliability, onboarding speed, and developer confidence. Built full-stack TypeScript applications in React, Next.js, and Node.js, leveraging strong typing to reduce runtime errors and accelerate refactoring. Designed scalable type systems and shared interface libraries for multi-repo environments, and mentored engineers in writing maintainable, type-safe code across front- and back-end services.
8 years experience
Deployed and managed cloud-native applications and CI/CD pipelines using AWS. Designed secure, scalable serverless architectures supporti...
Deployed and managed cloud-native applications and CI/CD pipelines using AWS. Designed secure, scalable serverless architectures supporting thousands of users and multiple integrations. Strong grasp of infrastructure-as-code, event-driven design, and monitoring.
System integrations
6 years experience
Led development of production-grade integrations for SaaS platforms, including Stripe, HubSpot, Mailchimp, and WhatsApp. Designed secure ...
Led development of production-grade integrations for SaaS platforms, including Stripe, HubSpot, Mailchimp, and WhatsApp. Designed secure OAuth2 flows, implemented webhook-based event pipelines, and managed synchronization logic across multi-tenant SaaS systems. Oversaw integration rollout on Help Scout’s Apps Platform, driving a 12% increase in third-party app adoption and improved customer retention.
8 years experience
Architected end-to-end systems across SaaS, EdTech, and Recommerce industries, emphasizing scalability, maintainability, and modular desi...
Architected end-to-end systems across SaaS, EdTech, and Recommerce industries, emphasizing scalability, maintainability, and modular design. Led modernization of legacy monoliths into service-oriented and serverless architectures using AWS and Node.js. Collaborated cross-functionally with product, design, and data teams to deliver high-impact applications that improved performance, reliability, and developer velocity. Experienced in designing event-driven workflows, API ecosystems, and CI/CD pipelines supporting multi-team development at scale.

REVIEWS FROM CLIENTS

Chris's profile has been carefully vetted and approved as a Codementor. Connect with Chris now, and leave a review for them once you're done!
EMPLOYMENTS
Software Engineering Manager
Help Scout
2024-08-01-Present

Lead multiple product engineering initiatives and manage a distributed team of full-stack engineers and contractors. Oversee integrati...

Lead multiple product engineering initiatives and manage a distributed team of full-stack engineers and contractors. Oversee integration development (Stripe, HubSpot, Mailchimp, WhatsApp) and modernization of Help Scout’s core web settings architecture. Drive adoption of modern JavaScript standards through the JS Guild and internal tooling improvements. Partner cross-functionally with design and product leadership to deliver scalable, maintainable solutions.

Node.js
TypeScript
React
View more
Node.js
TypeScript
React
Next.js
Vercel
Supabase
AWS
View more
Software Engineering Manager
2U / edX
2022-11-01-2024-01-01

Managed engineering teams responsible for modernizing legacy React and Node.js platforms powering global edX learner and course author...

Managed engineering teams responsible for modernizing legacy React and Node.js platforms powering global edX learner and course authoring experiences. Championed migration to a unified React design system and Next.js architecture, reducing technical debt and improving delivery velocity. Collaborated with cross-functional partners in product, design, and data to ship impactful, student-focused features across multiple product surfaces.

Node.js
PostgreSQL
TypeScript
View more
Node.js
PostgreSQL
TypeScript
Docker
React
Jest
GraphQL
Next.js
Cypress
AWS
View more
Software Engineering Manager
Trove
2021-06-01-2022-10-01

Served as squad captain for a team of 6 engineers, 5 qa engineers, and 3 product managers.
Scheduled and ran agile ceremonies.<br/...

Served as squad captain for a team of 6 engineers, 5 qa engineers, and 3 product managers.
Scheduled and ran agile ceremonies.
Worked cross functionally with various stakeholders to communicate requirements and understand roadmaps, deadlines, and priorities.
Coached and mentored 6 engineer direct reports with varying experience levels from junior to principal.
Facilitated 1:1s, provided career coaching, generated individual development plans, and encouraged learning opportunities.
Interviewed, hired, and onboarded 3 new engineers, with a 100% retention rate.
Planned and executed the first ever engineering organization-wide hackathon with over 100 participants.
Led unit testing refactoring project to move the org closer to CI/CD, going from a few hundred unit tests to over 700, covering critical parts of the application.
Opened an engineering learning hub on confluence to centralize our learning opportunities for other team members to take advantage of.
Our team successfully delivered Lululemon in store and mail-in trade in platforms as well as Arc’Teryx Canadian/International projects involving international warehousing and payments as well as currency conversion.

Unit Testing
Leadership
Coaching
View more
Unit Testing
Leadership
Coaching
Mentoring
Scrum Master
Refactor
Recruitment
Redux
GraphQL
CI/CD
View more