About Me

Hello! My name is Avin Zarlez. My pronouns are She/Her or They/Them. I’m a proud parent of two, a board game enthusiast, and an advocate for diversity and inclusion. I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. In my free time, I enjoy storytelling, cooking, music, and other activities that inspire.

Professional Background

I have the privilege of working at Arm as Staff Developer Evangelist since 2024. I work at the intersection of technology, community, and innovation. I thrive on empowering developers to create and innovate. I believe that interactive software is a powerful art form. I’m also an accomplished public speaker. I have presented at many major industry events and countless tech meetups across the U.S.

Career History

Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work on exciting projects. After graduating from college, I co-founded Yobonja. An indie game studio best known for the game Blast Monkeys, which was the #1 Android app for over six months in 2011.

In 2013, I joined Microsoft as a Technical Evangelist. There I helped developers leverage Microsoft platforms and technology. I solved developer’s technical challenges, build prototypes and write production code. I gained deep insights into Microsoft tools, services, and platforms. I had the privilege of speaking to thousands of students and developers.

Eventually, I became a Senior Software Engineer within the Industrial Solutions Engineering team. I helped Microsoft invest in top customers and partners in a variety of industries. Solving their critical business needs and training developers in industry-leading engineering best practices.

I also ran a solo venture, PlayPerro, from 2012 to 2024. There I experimented with interactive experiences. My game #DanceTogether was featured at IndieCade and GDC’s Experimental Gameplay Workshop.