résumé
Click here to download a PDF version
Alan Porter
aporter@parkyork.com
NOTES TO RECRUITERS:
Seeking remote work only, based in Raleigh NC. Please email before calling.
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[SUMMARY AND KEYWORDS]
Back end software developer with some full-stack experience. Linux power user,
skilled in Python and SQL, expert in "how the internet works" (networking,
domains/hosting, DNS, routing, IPv6, SSL/TLS certificates). Interested in
security, usability, dev-ops and best practices, modern tools and work flows.
Tinkerer, self-hosted web sites and services.
AI (as a component of a product): Google Vertex AI and Gemini APIs
AI (as a code development tool): OpenCode, GitHub Copilot
Cloud: Amazon Web Services, Ansible, Terraform and CloudFormation, Linode/Akamai
Front end development: Javascript, Bootstrap, Angular.js, jQuery
Back end development: Python, Django, Flask, FastAPI
Linux/OSS: Debian, Ubuntu, Red Hat, CentOS, Mandrake, "rolled my own"
Databases: SQL, Postgres, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite
Other: Perl, bash, C/C++, Objective-C, MVC, UX, REST, git, subversion, embedded,
IPv4 & IPv6, WHOIS/RDAP, security, openssl, SSH, artificial intelligence
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[SKILLS]
+ Web Applications
[Bitsight] Developed Django-based management portal for human curation team
to build and maintain "maps" of IP and domain usage of two million companies.
Built using a very modest jQuery toolset to keep team's learning curve low.
[Lancope] Developed front-end web UI components using Angular.js with a REST
back end. Used gulp, HighMaps and HighCharts libraries and D3.js charts.
Completed online Angular.js training course.
[Tekelec] Developed a configuration and management web interface for
core-of-the-network routers used by all major US cellular carriers. LAMP
AJAX application to configure and manage the network, report its status.
+ Linux Back-end Server Software
[Bitsight] Developed a production AI agent that uses commercial AI to gather
firmographic info from a company's web page. Integrated the agent with
Bitsight's existing machine-curation "automapper" (see below). Used FastAPI
and autoscaling RQ workers. Evolved Google Gemini AI client as needed.
[Bitsight] Developed Bitsight's second-generation "automapper", which
gathers firmographic information about a company from many external data
sources and then compiles an internet footprint, all before a human is
(optionally) scheduled to hand-curate it. Built a bulk-processing system
to queue automap jobs to spread out the bursty load and ensure predictable
costs. Throttled external API usage to fit within usage limits.
[Lancope] Wrote deployment tools in Python to read pristine OS images, crack
open their filesystems, stuff in application code and repack them into an
OVA virtual machine image.
+ Networking
[Bitsight] Earned Hurricane Electric IPv6 "sage" certification (a T-shirt).
[Bitsight] Developed software to track ownership/control of domains, network
CIDR blocks and BGP ASNs.
[personal] Run my own DNS server (dnsmasq and unbound) in my home. Also
run VPNs (openvpn, tailscale, SSH) to access home devices, or to route
traffic through my home. Host personal web sites in-home and at Linode.
+ Dev-Ops, cloud, modern workflows
[Bitsight] Embraced AI development agents such as OpenCode and GitHub Copilot.
[Lancope] Helped engineering migrate to a dev-ops model, transitioned to a
docker-based build workflow, set up Jenkins continuous integration system.
[Cisco] Modified cloud deployment scripts to handle dev/test/prod targets.
Used a combination of Ansible, CloudFormation and bash scripts.
+ Security
[Lancope] Developed cloud-based network visibility product (beta). Achieved
Cisco Security Ninja "White Belt" rank.
[Tekelec] Modified Tekelec's existing data-mining product to comply with
rigorous DISA military security standards.
+ Embedded Linux, Embedded Real-Time Systems, Device Drivers
[TMIO] Developed a custom embedded Linux distribution "from scratch". It
contained just 35 open source packages and 2 custom packages, three device
drivers, all combined into a fully embedded home appliance.
[Ericsson] Created several device drivers for a music feature phone (before
MP3's): LCD, FM radio tuner, audio amp, keypad, LEDs, I2C memory.
+ Usability and Interface Design
[TMIO] Part of a small team which designed and architected intelligent oven
products. Responsible for overall product software design.
[Ericsson] Designed new keyboard layout for a teenagers' "chat phone". Acted
as usability advocate for other application developers.
+ Mobile Applications
[Sentosa] Designed and developed custom iPhone application to meet client's
specs for a "calendar of wishes" spiritual app. Worked with clients to
design screens from scratch, made alternative designs, tested usability.
[Ericsson Singapore] Developed prototype gadgets that were used in usability
tests for future concepts (camera/phone, video messages, Chinese text input).
[Ericsson] Developed application software for experimental market phones:
"teen phone" with short range (Bluetooth) chat application.
[Sentosa] Three applications in the Apple iPhone App Store, including "Three
Wishes For A Meaningful Life", a project for an international non-profit.
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[EDUCATION]
North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC
+ Master of Computer Science
Courses of interest: Real Time Systems, Network Security,
Wireless Communication, Human Computer Interaction.
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[EMPLOYMENT HISTORY]
Sep 2016 ~ present : Bitsight Technologies, remote from Cary NC
Web front end and back end development on the database of companies and their
internet footprints, which feeds Bitsight's flagship security ratings product.
Dec 2014 ~ Sep 2016 : Lancope / Cisco, Morrisville NC
"Start-up" group developed cloud-based security product to provide visibility
into networks and threats. After beta, Lancope was acquired by Cisco.
Oct 2006 ~ Dec 2014 : Tekelec / Oracle, Morrisville NC
Developed web GUI and business logic for 4G/LTE phone protocol router project.
After project success at Tier 1 carriers, Tekelec was acquired by Oracle.
Feb 2004 ~ Oct 2006 : TMIO, Cary NC
Developed embedded Linux software for internet-connected oven for homes
(before iPhones). Participated in entire lifecycle of start-up company.
Mar 1998 ~ Mar 2003 : Ericsson, Research Triangle Park NC
Wrote embedded software for mobile devices, some mainstream and some
experimental. Created prototypes for usability research tests.
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[ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS]
- Sample project source code is available at http://github.com/sudoer/ .
See pictures, blog posts and much more detail at http://AlanPorter.com/ .
- Active member of the Triangle Linux Users Group. Steering Committee member
from 2008 to 2013 (Chair during 2009-2011).
- Attended security conferences: CarolinaCon (North Carolina) and Hack In The
Box (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia). Presented "lock picking" talk at BarCampRDU.
AI conferences: All Things AI. Open source conferences: All Thing Open.
- Two years' study of Mandarin Chinese language.
- Amateur radio operator. Extra class license, callsign KR4JB.
- Private pilot (2006), member of Wings of Carolina flying club, Sanford NC.
- Wrote a Real Time Operating System (RTOS) called "Presto" for Motorola 68HC11
and Atmel AVR. Demonstrated its use to Triangle Amateur Robotics club.
- Publication: "Multitasking on the Cheap", Dr Dobb's Journal, February 2004. A
simple way to implement multiple threads by using a cooperative scheduler.
- Interested in Geocaching and in creating and solving puzzles.
Puzzles I created: http://coord.info/GC118ZG and http://coord.info/GC18PRD
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