Ronald M.
Ronald M. Jacobs/ St. Louis Park, MN55416
(650) 703-9012
Highlights
•Thirty-five years of experience as a lead contributor in such fields as the Internet (20 years!), healthcare, networking, and nuclear power plant software. These diverse industries have one common requirement: All demand high-availability solutions with no tolerance for downtime. Experience with a great number of technologies in many industries has required creativity in finding elegant solutions while minimizing negative impact.
•Eight years managing software development and engineering support teams in multiple industries. Built and managed a $2,000,000 product testing laboratory. Cross-platform agile scrum software development with DevOps continuous integration and delivery.
•Managed multiple small businesses, including marketing, customer-facing, operations as well as all aspects of human resources.
•Excellent teacher and facilitator of team technical discussions. Software development team mentoring, including presentations thatbuild knowledge and keep staff abreast of new technological innovations. Team members feel involved with latest technologies even when their day-to-day work is constrained by legacy technologies.
•HIPAA transactions, privacy, and security remediation expert, working as liaison with a team of consultants from PWC. Made substantial buy vs. make recommendations regarding code sets and EDI transactions processing, requiring in-depth understanding of healthcare-related information processing standards and solutions.
•Innovative and tireless in finding solutions; always ready to “roll up my sleeves” to solve issues that may go beyond the specific need, but which have ramifications across projects and organizations.
Key Technologies and Accomplishments
•Cross-platform agile software development of REST SaaS, WSDL web services, J2EE servlets, DropWizard, Spring-wired, NoSQL, Hibernate database, HTML, and XML for AWS, Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X Java-based web server environments.
•Broad knowledge of existing and emerging XML, OASIS, WebDAV, LDAP, HIPAA, EDI, Unicode and CLDR standards, technologies and implementations. Contributed LDAP interoperability to the WebDAV Access Control Protocol (RFC 3744).
•Product internationalization (I18N) and localization (L10N) issues, technologies and implementation.
•Object-oriented embedded products and real-time DSP kernels.
•Sole inventor on two software patents. Experience with all aspects of software patent generation and application processes.
Experience
Jul 2016–Aug 2017PeopleNet Communications, Minnetonka, MNSoftware Engineer IV
Designed and developedSpring Boot-based micro-services with REST APIs for multiple back-end services hosted at AWS supporting a new IoT—Internet of Things telematics solution for the trucking fleet management industry. Some example accomplishments:
Determined that the security chip previously chosen was incompatible with AWS IoT. Documented its shortcomings and recommended immediate replacement by the Atmel AWS-ECC508 chip, which was developed in association with Amazon with resulting certified compatibility. The design change was made just in time to save this critical project from disaster.
Designed, developed, tested, and deployed a back-end service for registering IOT telematics devices, including provisioning their AT&T SIM cards using the Cisco Jasper APIs.
Researched a solution for the evolution of internal and customer-facing APIs and data formats. Wrote a summary proposal for automagical mapping between public and internal APIs that can evolve without impacting either disparate internal development priorities or the organization’s customers and partners.
Key competences: Groovy, Java 8, Spring Boot, REST, Spock, Gradle, AWS, Agile, SCRUM
Jan 2015–Oct 2015Cloud Cruiser Inc., Roseville, CA Senior Development Engineer
Designed and developeda diverse set of frameworks and DropWizard-based micro-services with REST APIs for multiple back-end services for a brand newmulti-tenant SAAS business intelligence offering hosted at AWS. Some examples completed, tested, and deployed:
Live migration service for updating DynamoDB table schema and data during rolling outages with zero application downtime. This solution does for NoSQL what Liquibase does for relational databases!
Complete integration with Zuora for on-boarding new tenants and managing existing tenants. Includes a RESTful layer in front of the Zuora WSDL-based APIs.
Extended DropWizard with a framework using Java 8 lambdas effectively to ensure that all REST APIs return consistent http response headers and a body containing informative error information, if appropriate.
Reimplemented service registry with new persistence layer using ElastiCache (memcached) rather than DynamoDB, resulting in 10X improvement in performance as measured by NewRelic. The rewrite was a drop-in replacement with no changes to its APIs and was up and running with immediate benefits!
Key competences: Java 8, DropWizard, REST, Spring, TestNG, AWS, ElastiCache, DynamoDB, Agile, SCRUM
Mar 2008–Nov 2014Deem Inc., San Francisco, CA(formerly Rearden Commerce, Foster City, CA) Senior Software Engineer
Designed and developed REST APIs for multiple back-end multi-threaded services for a world-class SAAS solution.
Designed and developed new integrations with SaaS calendars such as Google, Microsoft Outlook, Yahoo and others, with desktop applications such as Microsoft Outlook and Apple iCal, and with mobile Android and iOS devices. These integrations utilize both vendor APIs and iCalendar feeds. Designed and developed a new calendar and address book integration with Microsoft Exchange 2007, 2010, 2013 servers using Microsoft’s Exchange Web Service protocols.
Maintaining and improving existing WSDL integrations with Microsoft Exchange 2003 servers as well as with IBM Lotus Notes Domino servers. All together, these integrations interchange calendaring and address book information for thousands of corporate customers and hundreds of thousands of users.
Designed and implemented SMS transmission services for mobile devices, using multiple SMS transmission protocols, including SMPP. This platform service interfaces with Clickatell, an SMS messaging integrator, to transmit thousands of flight status notifications daily, both domestic and internationally.
Key competences: Java 6 and 7, REST, SOAP, Spring, JUnit, TestNG, Hibernate, Oracle, Exchange WebDAV and EWS, Domino DIIOP, SMS provisioning and messaging (SMPP), Agile, SCRUM
Nov 2005–Feb 2008Continuous Employment in Technical, Non-Technical, and Managerial Positions
Putting family first, employed in both technical, non-technical, and managerial capacities at local print shop and direct mail marketing businesses. Management role included hiring, training, supervising, and dismissing semi-skilled non-exempt staff. Also, responsible for daily operation, including pricing jobs and assuring profitability.
During this time, volunteer work in IT support continued. Several web sites were enhanced, using Adobe Dreamweaver, Java Server Faces (JSF), AJAX and ICEfaces. Kept current with Java and XML technology developments. Customized implementation of Athena Penelope Case Management Software for a non-profit youth and family counseling service.
With family issues completely resolved, resumed career in full-time Internet software development.
Key competences: Java 5, Postgres, ICEfaces
Jan 2002–Nov 2005Rancho Morado Computer Services, Somerset, CA Small Business Owner
Served more than 225 customers throughout El Dorado, Sacramento and Amador Counties, with new hardware and software sales, repairs, upgrades, data recovery, cross-platform networking, point of sales (POS) systems, and customized one-on-one training. Provided locally businesses and residences with computer services for Windows, Macintosh and Linux computers, including wired and wireless networking, security (firewalls, viruses, etc.) and preventative maintenance. Achieved great success in maintaining mission-critical computing equipment 24/7.
A member of the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce and licensed by the California Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair (License# E80112).
Sep 2001–Jan 2003Eyefinity, Inc., Folsom, CA Software Architect
Sole software architect for the leading e-commerce web service used by more than 20,000 domestic private practice eye-care professionals, 300 optical laboratories, as well as eye-care consumers. Researched and evaluated web technologies and solutions. Designed the next-generation unified web architecture.
Principal HIPAA expert in the corporation with complete knowledge of privacy, security, transactions (ASC X.12 EDI), and code set federal regulations. Conducted gap analyses and planned for upgrades of web services and corporate infrastructure in advance of privacy (April 2003) and transactions (October 2003) compliance dates. Served as technology representative on the HIPAA remediation committee.
Tracked XML, web technology, single sign-on, and security standards (SOAP, ebXML, SAML, DSML). Evaluated vendors’ products in support of buy/make decisions. Kept software engineering team informed about advances in standards, technologies, and industry trends. Mentored junior engineers.
Designed and maintained software architecture intranet web site using JSP, XML, and XSL that was a daily technology web destination for many fellow employees.
Key competences: Java 1.3, SOAP, Oracle, XML, HIPAA, EDI
Mar 1999–Jun 2001gForce Systems (formerly LearnCom, currently SumTotal Systems), Cupertino, CAPrincipal Software Engineer
Lead server-side architect for an intranet e-Learning system that was deployed at a leading Applications Service Provider (ASP) and at more than a dozen customer sites. Designed and implemented an XML-based data model including a tool suite for processing the data model:
Creating a relational database with schema specified in XML.
Populating the relational database with data described in XML.
Producing an XML file representing the current state of the relational database.
Migrating both XML-based schema and data in support of new versions of the product.
Integrated 3rd-party and open source applications and libraries, primarily Apache and Jakarta Tomcat. Reorganized the entire code base and updated the gmake-based build environment to use XML and Jakarta Ant while converting existing servlet assets to web archive file format.
Designed and implemented a protocol-independent client API layer for accessing document repository servers and enterprise directory services. Designed and implemented XML-based interview scripts and an accompanying command-line tool for pre-configuration during product installation. Implemented a test harness for Java classes facilitating incorporation of unit tests within each class. Individual unit tests were aggregated automatically into QA acceptance tests.
Tracked e-Learning industry standards (AICC CMI, ADL SCORM, IEEE LTSC) and web technology standards activities (XML Query, WebDAV, DeltaV, WebDAV-ACL). Acknowledged as a contributor in the IETF RFC 3744 WebDAV Access Control Protocol.
Presented many “tech-talks” to the entire software engineering team about these emerging standards as well as various Java technologies.
Six software patent applications; two patents subsequently issued.
Key competences: Java 1.2 and 1.3, Oracle, XML
Jul 1996–Mar 1999PointCast, Sunnyvale, CA Engineering Manager
Managed a group of nine software engineers. Responsible for enterprise software that solved bandwidth consumption within enterprise intranets thereby enabling widespread corporate adoption of an Internet information delivery service. Within months these Java-based tools had been downloaded and installed at more than 2,000 enterprises.
Investigated concepts and built prototypes for future products. Assisted the business development staff with the initial technical investigation of proposed partnerships with satellite-based Internet providers.
—, Cupertino, CA Principal Software Engineer
Designed and implemented in Java the registration and statistics portions of a content caching manager.
Developed graphical tools for automating Macintosh software builds. Back-ported the Macintosh client application from PowerPC to CFM-68K requiring substantial low-level runtime system rework.
Key competences: Java 1.1 and 1.2, original servlet API (before Tomcat!)
1995–1996Minerva Systems, Santa Clara, CA Principal Software Engineer
Designed and implemented a client-server networked diagnostics system featuring plug-ins and integrated AppleScript automation. Designed and implemented a real-time kernel and host messaging API for an embedded TI C80 DSP NuBus board. Ported an MPEG2 software multiplexer from Unix to Macintosh.
1994–1995ICON Medical Systems, Campbell, CA Senior Software Engineer
Implemented a Macintosh-based client-server medical image archive system including SCSI drivers for various robotic media changers containing either magnetic-optical or CD-ROM drives. This system was localized and installed both domestically and in Japan.
1991–1994SuperMac Technology, Sunnyvale, CA Senior Software Engineer
Implemented an AppleScript-recordable, component-based development environment (IDE) with graphical debugger for an embedded Texas Instruments C80 DSP. Implemented a prototype RISC-based QuickDraw GX accelerator. Ported the VxWorks real-time operating system to a MIPS RISC-based Macintosh applications accelerator and color PostScript raster image processor. Created a Macintosh-based developer’s tool kit for embedding accelerated applications.
1986–1991Racal-Milgo (formerly a division of Digital Communications Associates; formerly Cohesive Networks),
Los Gatos, CA Engineering Manager
Managed a group of six engineers designing and implementing a Sun workstation-based object-oriented network management system. Developed a HyperCard-based network management system. Managed a group of seven engineering support personnel. Designed a software QA program. Built and managed a $2,000,000 product testing laboratory. Managed product beta test programs with extensive travel to customer sites.
1982–1986Quadrex Corporation, Campbell, CA Senior Software Engineer
Developed and deployed Emergency Response Facilities (ERF) and seismically-qualified Safety Parameter Display Systems (SPDS) for nuclear power plants in New York, Texas and Taiwan. One key sub-project was designing and implementing high-availability disk mirroring device drivers several years before the term RAID was first defined at UC Berkeley. Designed a corporate software QA program based upon emerging IEEE software standards and compliant with Nuclear Regulatory Commission requirements.
1980–1982Modular Computer Systems (MODCOMP), Elmhurst, IL Regional Support Engineer
Customized real-time operating systems. Designed industrial process control systems. Implemented device drivers. Provided post-sales support.
1979–1980Northwestern University, Evanston, IL System Programmer
Ported Fortran and Algol compilers and linking loaders to a locally-developed mainframe operating system. Implemented and maintained Pascal compilers and cross-referencing generators. Developed and instructed the first Pascal language course at the university.
1977–1980Financial Computer Services, Evanston, IL Application Programmer
Developed historical and predictive stock market simulation software and stock portfolio management and analysis software.
Education1980Master of Science, Computer Sciences Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
The Evolution of the Set Data Type in the Programming Language Pascal and its Implementation on the CDC 6600 Computer
This dissertation was the first thesis or dissertation submitted at Northwestern University to be typeset and printed by computer.
1978Bachelor of Science, Computer Sciences Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Graduated with Departmental Honors.
Affiliationssince 1976Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Computer Society.
since 1977Association for Computing Machinery.
Patents6,611,843Specification Of Sub-Elements And Attributes In An XML Sub-Tree And Method For Extracting Data Values Therefrom
6,681,221Method And System For Achieving Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) Representations of Data in XML
Patent ApplicationsRepresentation of relational databases and directed acyclic graphs (DAG) in XML (3 applications)
Technique providing constructors for Java interfaces without exposing the implementation.
Programming LanguagesGroovy, Spock, Gradle (IntelliJ IDEA)
Java(J2SE 1.4.2 through 8, J2EE, IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse, NetBeans, Karmira Bugseeker)
C++ and C (Mac OS and real-time embedded operating systems)
Mac OS (AppleScript, Metrowerks CodeWarrior)
Various assembly languages (primarily Motorola PowerPC and 680x0, TI C8x DSP and MIPS R3xxx)
Service ProvidersIoT—Internet of Things (AWS, Cisco Jasper)
Subscription Management(Zuora)
Text Messaging (SMS)(Clickatell, Mblox)
Performance Monitoring and Testing(dynaTrace, CloudTest)
APIs, Tools & LibrariesCloud (Amazon Web Services, private clouds)
Web Servers (Tomcat, GlassFish, Apache, IIS, WebSphere)
Web Clients (AJAX, ZK, ICEfaces, WebDAV, DeltaV, HTTPClient)
XML (Xerces, Saxon, SAX, DOM, XML Spy, <oXygen/>)
LDAP (Sun/iPlanet Directory Server, OctetString, JNDI, Netscape LDAP API)
Groupware/Calendaring (Exchange Web Services, Exchange WebDav, Domino DIIOP,
Google GData/OAuth1a/OAuth2)
NoSQL(DynamoDB, CouchBase)
Relational Databases (PostgreSQL, Oracle 8i and later, SQL Server 2000 and later, Hibernate, Liquibase, JDBC)
Libraries, Frameworks and Tools (DropWizard, Spring, Maven, Gradle, Ant, JIRA, Confluence, Git, Perforce, PVCS, SourceSafe, CVS, DevTrack)
Operating SystemsLinux (primarily Ubuntu, Debian, and Gentoo distributions)
Apple Mac OS and Mac OS X
Microsoft Windows (client workstations as well as Windows Server 2003)
Various real-time embedded kernels (both custom and VxWorks, etc.)
Applications SoftwareMicrosoft Office 2003 and later (on Windows) and 2004 and later (on Mac OS X)
Project Management (Crystal Reports, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Visio)
Adobe Creative Suite 3 and later (primarily Acrobat, Photoshop, and InDesign)
Intuit QuickBooks
and so much more
Career-at-a-Glance
•Both goals-oriented manager and individual contributor roles.
•An innovator in multiple industries, quickly gaining familiarity with diverse business plans and technologies.
•Successfully navigated technology transitions: server-side Internet in the 21st century, personal computers in the 90s, embedded and minicomputers in the 80s and mainframes in the 70s.
Years / Industries / Roles / Languages / Platforms2001–present / Internet Commerce
(Healthcare, Non-Profits, B2B) / Software Architecture /
Software Development / Java / Windows & Linux