AC
AI Research EngineerSoftware EngineeringTechnical Consulting

Focused on AI research, novel algorithms, and theoretical innovation

Executive Summary

Senior AI Platform Engineer with 20+ years of experience designing and building robust, scalable machine learning systems. Specializes in high-performance JVM-based ML, GPU acceleration, and creating innovative developer tools that bridge the gap between AI research and production environments. Author of multiple open-source AI frameworks and tools, including an IntelliJ plugin with over 57,000 downloads. Proven ability to translate theoretical concepts into practical, enterprise-grade AI platforms.

Core Competencies

JVM-Based AI Systems: Expert in building and optimizing high-performance AI/ML platforms in Java and Kotlin, with deep expertise in GPU integration (CUDA/OpenCL) and memory management.

AI Developer Tools: Architect of the Cognotik AI platform and IntelliJ plugin (57k+ downloads), creating tools that enhance developer productivity with a privacy-first, user-controlled architecture.

Scalable ML Architecture: Designing and implementing end-to-end ML systems, from custom neural network frameworks (MindsEye) to distributed data processing pipelines.

Fundamental Algorithm Design: Creating and analyzing novel optimization algorithms (QQN, RSO) and neural architectures from first principles.

Open Source Research Leadership: Authoring and maintaining 70+ open-source repositories and research platforms (MindsEye, Cognotik), fostering community and transparent validation.

Enterprise Integration: Proven track record of deploying solutions in large-scale enterprise environments (Grubhub, Expedia), including security, monitoring, and operational intelligence.

Full-Stack AI Applications: Experience building full-stack applications (React/Kotlin) that leverage LLMs to solve real-world business problems.

Theoretical Modeling: Developing mathematical and philosophical frameworks for agentic systems, cognitive architectures, and geometric AI.

Anticipatory Research: A consistent track record of identifying and developing solutions for key industry challenges ahead of mainstream adoption.

Professional Experience

Grubhub

Senior Software Engineer

Remote/Westerville, OH

Oct 2018 - July 2025

Developer Experience AI: Pioneered and built agentic AI systems to automate troubleshooting and operational intelligence, directly improving developer and operator workflows.

Full-Stack DevTools: Architected and delivered a full-stack application (React/TypeScript + Kotlin/Spring) leveraging LLMs to analyze Jenkins build failures, enabling self-service diagnostics.

JVM Performance Tuning: Led deep-dive performance analysis of critical JVM-based services, achieving significant throughput improvements and cost savings through advanced profiling and optimization.

Deployment Orchestration: Designed and built a sophisticated, multi-stage deployment orchestration tool with automated canary analysis, rollback capabilities, and comprehensive audit trails, increasing deployment safety and velocity.

Open Source Integration: Maintained and enhanced core open-source platforms (Apache Ranger, Azkaban) to meet enterprise requirements, contributing patches upstream.

2012 - Oct 2018

At Expedia, led cloud migration of big data infrastructure (Hadoop to AWS/Qubole) and designed a high-performance real-time ads targeting system (~10k tps, TP95 <5ms).

At Amazon, led productionalization of a Java web service for decision support and developed real-time DDoS detection systems.

At HBO, reduced cpu and memory load by 90% through critical bug fixes and developed static code analysis tools for large-scale code cleanup.

At Plugged-In Technologies, created a cross-platform video conferencing app with advanced features like screen sharing and recording.

At Big Fish Games, developed an Android video game streaming client with real-time video processing capabilities.

Earlier Career

Team Lead / Senior SDE / SDE II

Various

Early 2000s - 2011

Distributed Energy Management: Led a team of six and architected a high-performance time series data service and analytics platform.

Amazon.com: Created a distributed real-time data reporting service and developed Apache httpd C modules for routing and security.

Marchex: Designed a MySQL partitioning service and maintained a GWT web application.

Aristocrat Technologies: Developed C# .NET commercial business applications for the gaming industry.

Publications & Open Source

Cognotik Agent Platform (2022-Present)

AI Agent Platform & IDE Plugin

Open-source AI agent platform with a desktop app, IntelliJ plugin (57k+ downloads), and web interface. Features a 'Bring Your Own Key' (BYOK) architecture for user control and privacy. Implements novel approaches to human-AI collaboration and multi-modal cognitive architectures.

MindsEye Neural Network Framework (2015-2021)

Deep Learning Library

A comprehensive, component-oriented deep learning library in Java with advanced GPU acceleration (CUDA/OpenCL), novel optimization algorithms (QQN, RSO), and a revolutionary hybrid memory management system. Contains sophisticated experimental optimization algorithms. Pioneered Test-Driven Development for neural networks.

Fractal Thought Engine (2024-Present)

AI Research Journal

An experimental research journal and platform exploring AI consciousness and human-AI collaboration. Features 168+ articles on agentic design, optimization, and AI consciousness.

Optimization Algorithm Research (QQN)

Research & Paper

Developed Quadratic Quasi-Newton (QQN), a novel optimization algorithm achieving a 72.6% win rate across 62 benchmark problems vs traditional methods. Published with a comprehensive Rust-based benchmarking framework.

DeepArtist Platform (2018-2021)

Neural Art Platform

Experimental neural style transfer artistic platform. Pioneered 'kaleidoscopic preprocessing' to achieve perfect mathematical symmetry in neural art across Euclidean, Spherical, and Hyperbolic geometries.

Test-Driven Development for Neural Networks

Methodology

A two-part series establishing methodologies for unit testing and A/B testing in AI development.

Modeling Network Latency

Statistical Analysis

A statistical analysis of network latency distributions for distributed systems.

Volumetry & Probabilistic Modeling

Research

Research on multidimensional probability modeling using decision trees and gaussian kernels.

Technical Skills

Platform Engineering

Cognitive Architecture Design (Multi-modal planning systems, Philosophical frameworks)Advanced Optimization Algorithms (QQN, RSO, Trust Region Methods, Meta-optimization)Deterministic Memory Management (Reference counting for GPU, Object pooling patterns)Distributed Transactional Systems (MVCC, Actor-based architecture, Formal correctness)Information Theory Applications (Hierarchical compression, Entropy optimization)Geometric Computing (Symmetry groups, Non-Euclidean geometries, Mathematical constraints)

Ai Integration

Cognitive Pluralism Implementation (Multiple cognitive/philosophical frameworks in single system)Actor Pattern Architecture (Specific actor patterns for AI systems)Evolutionary Systems (Genetic algorithms for prompt optimization, Hypothesis evolution)Probabilistic Methods (Joint probability distributions, Bifurcated predictions)Alternative Loss Functions (Zero-loss zones, Complexity-fit trade-offs)Multi-Agent Cognitive Ecosystems (Distributed consciousness protocols, Emergent behavior)

Frontend

React/TypeScript (Modern hooks, Context, Performance optimization)Developer Tool UX (Command palettes, Keyboard shortcuts, Workflows)Real-time Interfaces (WebSockets, Server-sent events, Live updates)Data Visualization (Charts, Graphs, Interactive dashboards)Responsive Design (Mobile-first, Progressive enhancement)Accessibility (WCAG compliance, Screen readers, Keyboard navigation)Performance Optimization (Bundle splitting, Lazy loading, Caching)

Backend

Java/Kotlin (Spring Boot, Microservices, JVM optimization)API Development (REST, WebSockets, OpenAPI/Swagger)Database Design (PostgreSQL, Redis, Vector databases)Cloud Platforms (AWS, Kubernetes, Docker, Serverless)Message Queues (Kafka, Storm, Event streaming)Monitoring & Observability (DataDog, Splunk, Prometheus)Security (OAuth2, JWT, API security, Rate limiting)

Practices

Open Source Leadership (Contribution management, Product management, Publishing)User-Centered Design (User research, Prototyping, Iteration)Agile Development (Scrum, Kanban, Continuous delivery)Technical Documentation (API docs, Tutorials, Architecture guides)Product Management (Roadmap planning, Feature prioritization)Quality Assurance (Testing strategies, Code review, Performance testing)

Algorithms

Optimization Theory (QQN, RSO, Trust Region methods, L-BFGS, Quasi-Newton)Meta-Optimization (Hyperparameter optimization, Architecture search, Emergent regularization)Geometric AI (Symmetry constraints, Kaleidoscopic preprocessing, Mathematical art)Information Theory (Compression algorithms, Entropy optimization, Zero-loss zones)Numerical Methods (Convergence analysis, Stability theory, Error bounds)Constrained Optimization (KKT conditions, Penalty methods, Barrier methods)Distributed Systems (Actor patterns, MVCC, Near-linear scaling)

Theoretical

Optimization Landscapes (Convergence theory, Ill-conditioned problems, Trust regions)Cognitive Science (Phenomenology, Qualia, Hard problem of consciousness)Philosophy of Mind (Functionalism, Emergentism, Computational consciousness)Differential Geometry (Riemannian optimization, Geometric constraints)Information Integration Theory (Phi, Integrated information, Consciousness measures)

Research

Mathematical Proof Techniques (Convergence analysis, Complexity bounds, Formal verification)Statistical Validation (Hypothesis testing, Confidence intervals, P-values)Experimental Design (Benchmark selection, Control variables, Reproducibility)Cross-Disciplinary Integration (Physics, Philosophy, Computer Science, Neuroscience)Literature Synthesis (Algorithm comparison, State-of-the-art analysis)Open Source Research (Reproducible implementations, Public datasets)

Languages

JavaKotlinRustTypeScriptScalaC/C++

Education

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Bachelor of Engineering in Physics

Minor in Mathematics

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