Indeed he is! He also has some mystic ability! ...in which he makes technical gadgetry (largely weapons, let's be real) out of mystical energy/hard light. Fun stuff!

The Empire's done him dirty so he's paranoid about people taking interest in his work, particularly because he doesn't want someone taking his ideas and worse, using it to make things that will hurt them later- but he really does like talking about technological things with people if they're genuinely interested! And he'd probably warm up easier to Rezo when he realizes the guy really is new to these sorts of things.