Amanda Olsen
About Amanda Olsen
Amanda Olsen is a Software Development Engineer at Expedia, Inc., with a diverse background in web development and instructional roles, including previous positions at O'Reilly Media and Orbitz Worldwide.
Current Role at Expedia
Amanda Olsen serves as a Software Development Engineer at Expedia, Inc. since 2016. Based in the Greater Chicago Area, she has contributed significantly to the company's technical projects. She facilitates the Quality Guild, focusing on improving automated browser tests and educating the community on testing best practices. Amanda also developed the TnL Tool, a productivity tool for Chrome and Firefox used by 500 people within Expedia.
Previous Roles in Technology Companies
Before joining Expedia, Amanda Olsen worked in various capacities across several well-known companies. She served as an Instructor at O'Reilly Media from 2018 to 2019. Prior to that, she was a UI Engineer at Orbitz Worldwide for eight months in 2015. Amanda also worked at CDW as a Senior Front End Developer from 2014 to 2015 and was a Front End Developer at Aisle Rocket Studios from 2011 to 2013. Her earlier roles include working as a Web Developer at Christianity Today International and Interactive Solutions Developer at Americaneagle.com.
Educational Background
Amanda Olsen holds an MBA in Management of Information Systems from Wright State University, where she studied from 2005 to 2007. She also earned a BA in Technical Communication from Cedarville University, studying there from 2000 to 2003. This educational foundation has equipped Amanda with the skills and knowledge necessary for a successful career in software development and engineering.
Special Projects and Contributions
Amanda Olsen has been instrumental in several key initiatives at Expedia. She implemented TypeScript for a gradual rollout, adding a Git hook to prevent new .js files, which reduced technical debt. She led the UI Community of Practice for two years, fostering knowledge sharing through presentations. Additionally, Amanda researched and implemented CSS Grid in the app and improved JavaScript usage by introducing a polyfill for advanced features and documenting best practices for defining JS modules.
Early Career Endeavors
Amanda Olsen began her career working in various roles that provided a strong foundation for her current expertise. She was a Data Specialist at Reynolds & Reynolds from 2006 to 2007 and an Institute Research Analyst at the Institute for Business Integrity from 2005 to 2006. Before her professional career, she ran her own business, Olsen Web Design, from 2003 to 2008. Amanda's early career also includes positions such as Technical Secretary at Greene County Career Center and an Intern at O'Neil and Associates.