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Resume

Sokdara
Cheng

Full-Stack Software Engineer

Next.js · Node.js · React Native

Full-stack engineer with 7+ years shipping web and mobile products: Next.js/React, Node/Express APIs, and React Native apps on the App Store and Google Play. Built an ATS-integrated referral platform (HireSplit) and AI voice systems (TalkStack: Twilio, OpenAI, speech APIs). Author of use-whisper (~785 GitHub stars). Recently published Khmer Pride Keyboard on Google Play. Remote from Cambodia; open to freelance, contract, or full-time.

Featured Open Source

use-whisper@chengsokdara/use-whisper

React hook for OpenAI Whisper with speech recording, real-time transcription, and silence removal.

785 GitHub stars·139 forks·OpenAI Whisper · React

Work Experience

Freelance Software Engineer

HireSplit | Remote

February 2024 - June 2025 (1 Year 5 Months)

  • Led end-to-end development of a Next.js referral platform (TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, Material UI).
  • Built client and candidate dashboards; modeled production data in Firebase Firestore.
  • Integrated ATS systems (Vincere, eBoss) for candidate sync without leaving the product.

Software Engineer

TalkStack A.I. | Singapore (Remote)

August 2023 - February 2024 (7 Months)

  • Built Express.js APIs for AI phone outreach via Twilio (outbound calls, programmable voice).
  • Integrated OpenAI GPT for dynamic scripts and ElevenLabs / Play.ht for natural voice responses.
  • Added real-time speech with Deepgram and Google Speech; stored audio in Azure Blob Storage.
  • Shipped a React (Vite) + React Flow studio for drag-and-drop call-script design.

Senior Mobile Developer

Thegoodpsy | Brussels, Belgium (Remote)

March 2022 - October 2022 (7 Months)

  • Partnered with the CTO to port core web flows to React Native for iOS and Android.
  • Integrated Twilio Conversations and Video (WebRTC) for psychologist and patient chat and video.
  • Implemented Stripe payments and shipped production builds to the App Store and Google Play.

Senior Web Developer

The Foundry App | Phnom Penh, Cambodia

April 2020 - February 2022 (1 Year 10 Months)

  • Led a team of four on KOTRA-Riel (React Native): product management, charts, i18n, Firebase, store releases.
  • Delivered cybersecurity-kh.com admin (Next.js): courses, quizzes, animations, Firebase backend.
  • Contributed early design and development for MDF Commerce (Next.js).

JavaScript Developer

Joonaak Delivery | Phnom Penh, Cambodia

October 2018 - December 2019 (1 Year 2 Months)

  • Built driver real-time tracking (React Native, maps, background geolocation) with GraphQL.
  • Solo-developed the merchant React Native app with GraphQL and production-ready UI.
  • Shipped a Telegram billing bot (Node/Express on Cloud Functions) and Joonaak Hub (Next.js) tools.

Selected Projects

  • Khmer Pride Keyboard: Google Play keyboard: Latin-to-Khmer typing (15,000+ words), full Khmer and English layouts, on-device suggestions, Personal Dictionary, and optional Pro themes/cloud backup.
  • KhmerQR: QR scanner and generator on Google Play (Expo + Redux); also available as KhmerQR Pro.
  • KHmeter: Khmer taximeter fare calculator with Google Maps (4.8 on Google Play).
  • Wedding Manager: Guest lists and gift tracking with reporting (Android).

Open Source

  • use-whisper-native: Expo / React Native port of use-whisper for on-device speech recording and Whisper transcription (~15 GitHub stars).
  • StoRa: Zero-dependency global state library built purely with React hooks (~7 GitHub stars).
  • react-native-picker: Cross-platform React Native picker with zero dependencies (~3 GitHub stars).

Education

2011 - 2012

  • Certificate of General English Program (GEP)
  • IELTS overall band 6.5

2006 - 2010

Undergraduate coursework (Computer Science / related)

Skills

Languages
TypeScriptJavaScript
Frontend
ReactNext.jsTailwind CSSMaterial UIVite
Mobile
React NativeExpoRedux ToolkitReact Navigation
Backend
Node.jsExpressGraphQLFirebase
AI & integrations
OpenAITwilioDeepgramElevenLabsStripeAzure Blob
Tools
GitHubFigmaApp StorePlay Console