Versatile engineer with significant technical leadership experience and a thorough understanding of computing...from the hardware all the way up to the most abstract research techniques. Looking for interesting work near an urban area that involves stretching my capabilities into new areas and interacting directly with dynamic and friendly people.
 

2001-present: Self-Employed

Independently developed a reusable infrastructure for direct-manipulation GUI software. Also writing a companion book which describes how these design patterns in software architecture can directly aid the usability of your programs. Experimenting with the application of weblog technology to the process of electronic publishing modular textbooks for children.

1999-2001: Microsoft / Software Design Engineer

As lead of system architecture for Intentional Programming, helped in the transition from research to a product group by making tradeoffs to produce a useful near-term deliverable. Was on the same organizational level as the managers of component teams, and while continuing to work on coding, was also focused on bringing together methodologies across the components.

1996-1999: Microsoft Research  / Research Software Design Engineer

Recruited to work with veterans of Xerox PARC on a radical programming paradigm shift in software development methodology. Position involved responsibilities of every aspect of development, theory, evangelism, and design...including mission-critical coding, serving as a liaison to other tools groups, and meeting with top Microsoft management. Designed many major pieces of the project, and was one of the contributors to a patent on "Extensible Compiler Architecture".

Summer 1995: Microsoft / Intern (program management)

Prototyped an innovative new editing metaphor for related tables in Access . Authored UI specifications, and also accompanied the prototype through three successive usability lab trial phases. Incorporated feedback directly from demographic groups, gaining valuable insight into how non-programmers relate to software. Authored prototype in Visual Basic, but it was fully functional to the degree that it was even debated whether to ship it as-is.

Summer 1994: Microsoft / Intern (development)

Worked on graphical administration tools for SQL Server. Authored server topology control for managing replication, which was built on top of MFC document/view metaphors. Also implemented the UI for a server backup utility. Code shipped in version 6.0.

Summer 1992, 1993: The MITRE Corporation / Intern

Designed plug-ins for a visualization tool (AVS) for analyzing satellite images for scientific applications. As part of this work, created an ODBC-like layer which parallelized queries to a multiprocessor terabyte database machine, and developed tools to slice sparse and uniform data sets onto the machine for optimal retrieval time.

Summer 1991: George Washington University / Contract Programmer

Implemented an engine in C for delivering lectures with accompanying graphics, and then presenting randomized quizzes on that information. Program was deployed in the GWU libraries and given to students in the department of Physiology.

Summer 1990: Defense Mapping Agency / DOD Internship Program

Created a training course to introduce classically-trained military cartographers to software-based Geographic Information Systems. The course demonstrated integrating raster (ERDAS) & vector (ARC/info) mapping queries. Helped administrate course when it was put into effect.

• Ability to pick up any technology fairly quickly, but most practiced in C and C++. Have done small projects in nearly every other mainstream language (Java, C#, Visual Basic). In those fringe cases where it is necessary, I can readily handle more obscure mediums (such as Processor-specific Assembly Languages or proprietary script languages) assuming adequate documentation is on hand

• Have a reasonable grasp of XML/HTML, and mainstream internet technologies. Knowledge of Win32/COM, UNIX/Linux and Mac OS/X development. Have learned not to be baselessly prescriptive about any particular language or platform.

• Can easily strip away what parts of a disagreement are purely terminology quibbles, and spot cases where requirements are being muddled with implementation details.

• Recognition of the importance of "separation of concerns" as the biggest day-to-day problem in software architectures. Language features like inheritance & interfaces are helpful general tools in the battle for bringing about separation of concerns...but no technology can guarantee an interesting factoring in and of itself. The real complexity lies in the specific protocols built on that technology.

• Extensive experience in setting technical guidance, some experience in management and performance reviewing (have been a mentor for several interns), and have conducted dozens of interviews.

• Familiarity with the two diametrically opposed forms of freedom ("freedom to and freedom from")...and thus able to balance grandiose claims of platform flexibility against the unifying behaviors that are possible when capabilities are cleverly restricted.

• Able to curb perfectionist tendencies in those areas which are not mission-critical, and conserve the perfectionism for those cases which are clearly identifiable as having broad impact if not done properly.

• Don't consider artificial boundaries of position or job title to preclude doing work that needs to be done. Can step up to the plate if someone needs to address high-level project justifications with "management"...but can also sit down and draw icons (if that's what indicators are showing the project needs most at a certain point in time).

• Can de-escalate difficult situations and personal conflicts with reason, empathy, and humor. Still working on humility, but you've got to take one step at a time...

1993-1996: Cornell University, Ithaca NY

B.S., Electrical Engineering (focus on digital signal processing/discrete math)
G. P. Van Schollhoven Scholar
McMullen-Dean Engineering Scholar
Graduated Summa Cum Laude
Resident Advisor (RA) for a floor of 70 students from 1995-1996

1989-1993: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria VA

1st Place, 1993 Austin T. Brown International Technical Writing Competition
National Merit Finalist

The largely unrealized power of software and automation. Linguistics and language history. Lucid dreaming and writing. Music composition and performance. Urban renewal and community involvement. Education and textbook authoring. Themed parties and social systems. Consumption of movies, music, books, and art. Now and again I enjoy the occasional can of Coke. :)