Dan Ballagi
Software engineer chasing pixel perfect UX
About
I’m Dan, a software engineer with a background spanning graphics programming, aviation simulation, and platform security. I’ve spent the last few years at Microsoft building and owning features in the Windows Security platform - software that runs for over a billion people. Before that, I built real-time rendering systems in C++ and OpenGL for flight simulators at CAE, and taught computer science at Eötvös Loránd University. I care about software that works well, scales gracefully, and is accessible to everyone.
Experience
Senior Software Engineer
Microsoft Vancouver, BC, Canada
Aug 2024 present
Working on the Windows Security platform, owning multiple critical security policy areas end-to-end. Own Microsoft Defender for Individuals on Windows and the Windows Security Center service. Built the UI for the Microsoft Defender Deployment Tool (DDT), a lightweight application that streamlines onboarding Windows devices to Defender for Endpoint. Help keep the Windows Security application - serving over 1.4 billion users - stable and healthy. Working across security, accessibility, and UX to deliver interface improvements that keep the product intuitive and inclusive.
C++C#Full-stack Development
Software Engineer II
Microsoft Vancouver, BC, Canada
Feb 2022 Aug 2024
Transformed the developer set-up tooling and onboarding experience for Microsoft Defender for Individuals, a premium cross-device protection and identity monitoring solution. Sole engineer responsible for accessibility, connecting product surfaces and driving high-confidence testing behaviour. Strengthened application quality through error handling and telemetry improvements.
C#.NETFront-end Development
Software Developer
CAE Budapest, Hungary → Montreal, QC, Canada
Apr 2017 Feb 2022
Developed visual solutions for aviation simulation systems across two sites. Maintained and improved the Airport Clutter Editor, a customer-facing tool for editing visual databases used in simulated environments. Participated in feature expansion of the Image Generator for various projects. Provided integration support both in-house and on customer site.
C#C++OpenGL
Software Developer
Senso Media Zrt Budapest, Hungary
Sep 2013 Apr 2017
Developed digital signage solutions. Architected, developed, and maintained a rendering framework built on OpenGL. Owned various customer-specific user-facing applications. Maintained a custom Linux distribution tailored for signage needs.
C#C++OpenGLLinux
Computer Science Teacher
Eötvös Loránd University Budapest, Hungary
Sep 2013 Feb 2017
Taught computer science classes to undergraduates. Topics included software technology and design, object-oriented and event-driven programming principles, and applied development with C++ and C#.
C++C#QtWPF
Education
Master of Science (M.Sc.), Computer Science
Eötvös Loránd University Budapest, Hungary
2013 2017
Specialization in software technology
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Computer Science
Eötvös Loránd University Budapest, Hungary
2010 2013
Specialization in software development