Derek Lee

Research convergence of LLMs and crypto-native environments, designing autonomous agent frameworks and AI-driven DeFi strategies with verifiable execution assumptions. Prototype tooling for strategy profiling, contract reasoning, and risk analysis using embeddings and code-aware models.

Designed and implemented the PreonFinance borrowing protocol with collateralized debt positions, deterministic redemption and peg-stabilization mechanics, and authored Solidity modules for liquidation, redemption flows, multi-oracle feeders and stablecoin minting. Launched deployments across multiple EVM networks and coordinated audits and gas/security optimizations.

Developed staking, farming, vesting and booster contracts with reward distribution and lock-up mechanics; built a full-stack Web3 dApp with React, Wagmi and Tailwind CSS; implemented Subgraph indexing and backend APIs for real-time data ingestion and managed CI/CD and Cloudflare production infrastructure.

Contributed to a GMX-forked decentralized perpetual exchange supporting leveraged trading; authored Vault, Referral, LiquidityEvent and RewardRouter contracts, and developed Subgraph indexers and AWS automation for liquidation and reward events to ensure state consistency with UI integration.

Provided technical advisory on yield aggregation and protocol design, contributing strategic guidance to product and development efforts across the Pickle ecosystem.

Led development of a yield aggregator across multiple chains (Ethereum, BSC, Polygon, OKEx), built the Next.js web3 frontend, and managed developer teams and scrum processes to deliver strategy-driven features.

Built a multi-chain insurance protocol from conception to production across Ethereum, BSC and Arbitrum; designed smart contract architecture, product flows, and deployment lifecycle, and developed web applications and internal tooling with security-driven improvements.

Led the wallet ecosystem team to build a fast, secure sharded Layer-1 wallet stack; developed the HarmonyONE Chrome extension wallet (100k+ users), multisig wallet and NFT marketplace integrations, coordinating across a 25–30 person team.

Developed the Mathpix Snip web editor and desktop apps across Windows, Mac and Linux, contributing across backend APIs, database layers and React front-end to deliver client-driven functionality and technical direction.

Developed a web UI for virtual machine backup software using Python and Django, built a custom JS framework for modular UI components, and scaled rich UI components to handle tens of thousands of records.

Rearchitected a Node.js middleware API between mobile clients and backend, migrated the codebase to the new architecture to remove technical debt and established tests and documentation to improve reliability.

Developed Node.js REST APIs and services integrating PostgreSQL and SendGrid templating replacements using MJML and Handlebars, and built tooling to enable in-GitHub live editing workflows.

Maintained and developed web applications, overhauled a managed data access layer for SQL Server integrations, and updated cross-functional webapps using JavaScript to support daily business operations.

Completed a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science focusing on software and system development over a five-year program from 2009 to 2014.