Edwin Dean Matthews
Dean’s been solving complex problems for 47 years, but he’ll tell you he’s really a “relationships guy” who designs software and systems to naturally model real life. His approach comes from his father’s guidance—”A job worth doing is worth doing well”—plus decades of seeing the costs when developers code first and think later. At Harmonic, Dean’s usually the one stitching together infrastructure improvements that enhance existing solutions while making future changes easier.
Dean came to Harmonic with zero FileMaker experience, and that’s actually his strength. His role is less about becoming another FileMaker developer and more about applying decades of systems thinking to avoid problems others haven’t seen yet. He loves Harmonic’s hybrid approach that combines server-grade backend engineering with FileMaker’s rapid development—having previously built telecom switching systems and international currency stabilization programs, he’s unfazed by complex requirements.
Beyond work, Dean’s a dog lover who learned to ski the hard way—thrown onto a Swedish mountain in 1984 with no lessons and a hut 200 meters downhill. He found his way to Harmonic through Matt, whose daughter he and his wife are godparents to. His two guiding principles: his father’s work ethic wisdom, and Matthew 5:16 about letting your good works shine.
