Building software that works
at every layer.

I'm Johan Zapata, a recent Computer Science graduate from Clemson University pursuing entry-level roles in IT support, cybersecurity, and software development. My path is deliberately dual-tracked — I'm drawn to understanding how systems break as much as how to build them, and I think that combination makes me a more thoughtful engineer on both sides.

On the security side, I'm actively building toward SOC-level work: setting up homelab environments, running simulated incident response scenarios, and getting hands-on time with industry tools like Wireshark and Linux-based systems. I want to understand what attackers exploit and how to detect it — not just patch it after the fact.

On the development side, I care about reliability over novelty. I enjoy designing systems that handle real constraints — concurrent users, persistent state, consistent logic across multiple clients. My featured project, a distributed multiplayer Battleship application, reflects that: it's an exercise in synchronization, turn-based state management, and building something that holds under pressure. I'm always curious about how a system works at every level, from the database schema to the API contract to what the user actually sees.

I'm looking for an opportunity where I can contribute immediately — whether that's supporting infrastructure and users, triaging security events, or shipping full-stack features — while continuing to grow toward security-focused engineering over time.