How Telepathic Music Inspires Disabled Creatives
Exploring the world of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology for disabled creatives and the battle against neurodegenerative disorders.
View on Hackernoon →
Sasha Cheek
I am
Technology · Data · Human Systems · Science Communication · Design Thinking
Exploring how engineered systems shape the people and processes behind science and technology.
ABOUT
Sasha Cheek is a systems engineer and integrations specialist who explores how software, data, and human systems intersect.
Her core career centers on technical program work—API integrations, systems reliability, data flows, and cross-functional delivery for large-scale platforms. She specializes in translating complex technical ecosystems into clear, actionable insights that support real-world decision-making.
Sasha also writes about science and technology as a complementary practice, using storytelling to make complex engineering and scientific concepts accessible to general audiences. Writing enhances her technical work; it is not a separate career track.
With experience leading API and data integrations across global teams, she brings deep technical fluency to her communication. She is currently pursuing an M.A. in Science Writing at Johns Hopkins University to strengthen her ability to explain the systems and structures shaping the future of technology.
Healthcare Data Breach Map
U.S. states choropleth map showing healthcare data breaches (Oct 2024–2025), built using Datawrapper and Google Sheets.
Cyberfolio: A Systems-Engineered Personal Platform
E2E (End-to-end) migration and rebuild of a static platform into a modular Bootstrap site integrating AOS, Swiper.js, custom JS, and multiple integrations.
Read More →Featured Article
Self-Published Articles
Summary
Sasha Cheek
Technical integrations specialist and former tech program manager with roots at NASA, building systems engineering skills while translating complex technical concepts into clear, engaging stories. Currently pursuing an M.A. in Science Writing at Johns Hopkins University.
Education
Master of Arts in Science Writing
2025 - 2027
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (Remote)
Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology (ABET-Accredited)
2015 - 2018
North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC
Publications
- Cheek, S. (2025, November 3). "How Telepathic Music Inspires Disabled Creatives." Hackernoon.
- Cheek, S. (2024, April 11). "David Bowie’s Ode to Sci-Fi and Space Science." Portfolio Site.
- Cheek, S. (2024, April 1). "Automated Love: How AI Became the New Face of Romance." Medium.
Skills
Programming Languages
Web Technologies
Data Tools
Version Control
Project Management
Writing & Communication
Experience
Technical Integrations Specialist
2023 - Present
Indeed.com, Research Triangle Park, NC (Remote)
• Owned end-to-end ILM (Integration Lifecycle Management) for high-value ATS partner integrations, handling configuration, testing, deployment, monitoring, and version control to ensure reliable, scalable onboarding
• Led a cross-functional investigation into GraphQL API abuse by a third-party partner, identifying misuse patterns and proposing a centralized observability pipeline to improve API monitoring, reduce abuse risk, and streamline detection
• Served as a SME (subject matter expert) on API and data-feed integrations, advising engineering, product, and partnerships teams on scalable system architecture and best practices to improve reliability and integration quality
Technical Program Manager
2019 - 2022
Various Projects, Research Triangle Park, NC (Remote)
MICROSOFT (2022)
• Led the migration of 3,500+ CDN (content delivery network) pages using Akamai, improving content delivery performance and enhancing accessibility for end-users across Microsoft’s online ordering platforms
• Built automated Power BI and Azure DevOps dashboards to communicate CDN workflow status to global stakeholders, reducing technical misalignment and cross-team confusion by 30%
CREDIT KARMA (2021 - 2022)
• Delivered the highest partner-integration throughput on the team, managing 7–8 concurrent projects and exceeding the performance of prior TPMs by consistently accelerating onboarding and reducing blocker escalations
• Trained and onboarded new program managers and engineers on API integration workflows, tooling, and best practices, accelerating ramp-up time and improving cross-team execution
Technical Business Analyst
2019 - 2021
Hudson MX, Atlanta, GA
• Led API gateway and credential management to streamline secure partner integrations while shadowing DevOps SME
• Created high-impact technical docs— SOAP and RESTful APIs, ERDs (entity relationship diagrams), and test cases— that improved onboarding and cross-team collaboration
• Secured a startup ad-tech position via Warner Bros. Discovery referrals after recognition for high-impact contributions in the 2018 NCAA Digital technical product management apprenticeship program
Integration & Architecture
Secure, scalable, and well-documented systems with GraphQL, REST, and CDN optimization.
Science & Tech Writing
Bridging scientific insight and technical fluency to make complex concepts clear and accessible.
Mentorship & Strategy
Guiding early-career technologists and shaping scalable, ethical systems with narrative clarity.
Security & Compliance
Applying OAuth 2.0, API hardening, and privacy-first design to safeguard integrations and data.
Daniel M. Chin, PMP
Program Manager at Microsoft
“ I worked with Sasha on the Microsoft e-commerce program migration project. She successfully managed complicated program tasks with a detail oriented project management skill-set while employing creativity. Thanks to her clear communication with cross functional teams, we could efficiently use our time. She is a very knowledgeable and hardworking collaborator. She’s also a very friendly and warm hearted person. I strongly recommend her for any program manager position. ”
Susan Walker
Scrum Master at Abercrombie & Fitch
“ I had the pleasure of working with Sasha as a fellow Technical Program Manager. From the moment I met her during my first day at Credit Karma I liked her and knew she would be someone I could learn from. She is knowledgeable and passionate about coaching teams to be their very best. She has a positive attitude and is always willing to help whenever needed. She is also not afraid to ask the hard questions and point out areas where we can all improve. She is a humble leader who always has the best in mind of everyone she works with. ”