About
Bio
Senior SDET and backend engineer with 6+ years of experience building, testing, and operating Java, Python, and C++ systems across microservices and hardware-in-the-loop environments. I build automated test suites, CI/CD pipelines, observability workflows, and quality gates that make backend systems easier to trust and ship.
My background spans cloud-native Java and Python services, API and integration testing, GitLab/GitHub CI/CD, production hotfixes, and mission-critical hardware/software troubleshooting. I also have a U.S. Air Force background that shaped how I approach engineering: disciplined debugging, clear ownership, and calm execution under pressure.
Work Experience
Mar 2026 - Present
Senior Software Test Engineer 2
General Dynamics Mission Systems | Bloomington, MN
- Serve as the sole software test engineer on a hardware-in-the-loop program, building automated test suites from scratch for simulated mission and scenario testing
- Develop Python, C++, and Linux automation to drive integrated test systems, collect outputs, and validate behavior across long-running test cycles
- Design telemetry ingestion workflows that feed test output into InfluxDB and Grafana dashboards for continuous monitoring and faster defect investigation
- Own GitLab CI/CD automation for test execution, including GitLab Runner integration, scheduled jobs, artifacts, and repeatable build/test workflows
- Use AI-assisted tooling to accelerate scripting, test generation, debugging, and refactoring while maintaining engineering review and traceability
May 2023 - Nov 2025
Software Engineer
Thomson Reuters | Eagan, MN
- Owned design, development, and operational support for 16+ cloud-native Java and Python microservices supporting high-volume backend platforms
- Led cross-team hotfix efforts for FedRAMP-compliant releases, resolving dependency conflicts, security findings, and CI/CD failures across distributed services
- Standardized pull request workflows, templates, Gradle build configurations, and quality gates across 25+ repositories, improving deployment throughput by 35%
- Built and enhanced REST APIs with structured logging, Datadog observability, and performance-conscious design for scalable, secure service communication
- Expanded automated test coverage by developing 785+ test cases across critical services, achieving 93% average code coverage in Data Orchestration layer modules
Mar 2020 - May 2023
Software Engineer
Maverick Software Consulting | Mankato, MN
- Designed and maintained automated regression test frameworks integrated into CI/CD pipelines using JUnit and Report Portal
- Developed integration tests for microservices architecture, validating database transactions, REST API contracts, and service-to-service communication
- Built API and backend test automation in Java and Python, improving reliability and reducing regression defects across distributed systems
- Established REST API validation, database integrity, and service integration testing practices adopted by 3+ development teams
Jan 2018 - Jan 2024
Electrical and Environmental Systems Specialist on C-130H Aircraft
U.S. Air Force
- Troubleshot, diagnosed, and repaired aircraft electrical and HVAC systems to maintain mission-critical readiness
- Applied systematic debugging and root cause analysis to resolve complex technical failures under time-critical conditions
Tech Stack
- Languages: Java, Python, C++, SQL, JavaScript, TypeScript, Linux scripting
- Backend & APIs: Spring Boot, Spring MVC, FastAPI, REST APIs, microservices, SQLAlchemy
- Testing: Hardware-in-the-loop testing, API automation, integration testing, regression testing, JUnit 4/5, pytest, JaCoCo, Report Portal
- CI/CD: GitLab CI/CD, GitLab Runners, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, Gradle, pipeline automation, scheduled test execution
- Data & Observability: InfluxDB, Grafana, Datadog, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, structured logging
- Cloud & Security: AWS, EC2, S3, Lambda, Snyk, FedRAMP release support
- Workflow: GitHub, Jira, Agile/Scrum, Claude Code, AI-assisted debugging
Core Strengths
- Backend-focused SDET work: Build automated tests and quality gates around APIs, microservices, data flows, and hardware/software integration points
- Test automation from scratch: Create Python, C++, Java, and Linux-based automation for repeatable validation, long-running scenarios, and regression coverage
- CI/CD ownership: Own GitLab and GitHub pipeline automation, scheduled execution, runners, artifacts, Gradle builds, and release quality gates
- Observability-driven debugging: Use InfluxDB, Grafana, Datadog, and structured logging to shorten investigation time and make defects visible
- Backend reliability: Support secure Java and Python microservices, hotfixes, dependency remediation, and FedRAMP-compliant releases
- Coverage at scale: Developed 785+ automated tests and achieved 93% average coverage across critical Data Orchestration modules
Air Force Background
Served in the United States Air Force, where I developed a strong foundation in discipline, mission-critical thinking, and operating effectively under high-pressure, time-sensitive conditions. That military mindset translates directly into how I approach engineering: take ownership, communicate clearly, execute reliably, and never leave your team without a path forward.
Work Philosophy
I believe in writing code that earns trust: well-tested, clearly structured, and easy for the next person to pick up. I take ownership of problems end-to-end, from identifying root cause through deploying the fix and verifying in production. I actively seek out work that improves the system as a whole, whether that's raising test coverage, fixing pipeline issues, or standardizing team practices. I use AI tools (Cursor, Claude) as force multipliers for code review, test generation, and investigation, but every decision and every line of code is mine to own.
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Technology: Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN
- Associate's in Aviation Maintenance Technology: Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery
Certifications & Learning
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
Expected Q2 2026
AWS Certified AI Practitioner
Expected Q2 2026
Currently learning
- Master Java, Spring and Spring Boot, Spring Security, Spring AI, Docker and Microservices (Udemy)
- AWS Certified AI Practitioner exam prep
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam prep
What I'm Looking For
- Role: Senior SDET, Software Engineer in Test, backend engineer, backend automation engineer, or backend-leaning full-stack roles
- Stack: Java/Spring Boot, Python/FastAPI, C++/Linux automation, APIs, microservices, CI/CD, and observability-heavy systems
- Work arrangement: Remote or hybrid (Minneapolis / Twin Cities area)
- Team: Collaborative, high-ownership, reliability-focused culture