Joshua D Buermann

TECHNICAL SUMMARY

Over ten years of professional experience in applications development with a focus on open source and web technologies. Development projects have ranged from systems support projects, team development of large web applications in startup environments, building and deploying digital research libraries, a wide variety of e-commerce applications, and systems architecture. Proven record of learning new skill sets on the job quickly.

    Platforms
    • Unixen: 12 years.
      • GNU/Linux: 10 years.
      • Mac OS X: 3 Year.
      • Solaris 2.5-8: 7 years.
      • SunOS 2.4: 3 years.
      • AIX, NeXT: 1 Year.
    • MySQL: 7 years.
    • Oracle: 5 years.
    • Postgres: 3 years.
    • CVS/SVN: 5 years.
    • TCP/IP, HTTP, NIS, DNS, NFS, LDAP, VIM.
    		Development
    • Perl/Mason/mod_perl: 8 years.
    • Database design: 8 years.
    • Ruby/Rails: 2 years.
    • PHP: 6 years.
    • XML: 6 years.
    • CSS: 6 years.
    • Javascript: 2 years.
    • Wikis/CMS/RSS: 2 years.
    • sh, csh, ksh scripting: 3 years.
    • C/C++: 2 years, last used 1999.
    • Python: 6 Months.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

    Shoppertrak/RTC Chicago, IL Architecture Developer 5/07-Present

    • Developed a core web service for the management of a network of embedded video sensor devices deployed to a global client base using Ruby on Rails (Solaris/Oracle), XML, SSH, and FTP.
    • Re-engineered architecture of supplier-client network communications to meet PCI data security standards and mitigate our impact on client IPv4 exhaustion.
    • Rolled legacy connection protocols into the web service so communications could be centralized using a standard interface across all clients.
    • Architected a universal format for receiving client sales and labor data, encompassing the requirements for hundreds of extant legacy data feeds, future feed requirements, and developed a library in Ruby that allowed non-conforming feeds to be quickly automated with a simple configuration file.

    mbira/zzounds Chicago, IL Software Engineer 8/04-3/07

    • Major code overhaul of large retail website separating presentation and business logic with an MVC architecture. (php5 oop, smarty templates, mysql).
    • Developed full back-office e-commerce integrations with a dozen merchants - via third parties or b2b - processing XML transactions with perl. SpsCommerce; CommerceHub; Shop.com.
    • Transferred intranet tools to centralized LDAP based account management, migrating CSR intranet auth and permissions; timecard system; htaccess; machine-level restricted access; PAM configurations; and NIS tables into OpenLDAP system.
    • Design and maintenance of affiliate portal architecture.
    • Integrated existing mailing lists with the WhatCounts EmailBroadcast product.
    • Installation and integration of phpAdsNew into existing e-commerce platform.
    • Various proof-of-concept projects and installations: forum software spider, search engine, drupal cms, timecard system, price comparison portal, etc.

    ADDECO, Family Video Glenview, IL Software Engineer 2/04-5/04

    • Starting from a basic osCommerce install built a customized online store for a regional video rental chain using MySQL and PHP with Perl backend processing.
    • Developed EDI order transaction processing in Perl, shipping via both in-house and third party vendors.
    • Credit transactions using Verisign: developed Perl library interface and managed credit transactions inside EDI process.
    • Designed an advanced search engine against third party product data, including boolean logic and implementation to handle spelling errors.
    • Worked closely with client's inventory manager to streamline processes for catching fraudlent orders and designing an interface for CSRs to answer patron queries efficiently.

    WidePoint, Bank One Chicago, IL Software Engineer 9/03-1/04

    • Built web application (PHP, some Perl) from scratch (database design, application architecture, etc) integrating security update and server inventory information in a cross-platform tracking system for system and software patching. Application used by system engineers to maintain servers, giving them server and patch information required to update the machine. Ran patch reports across all Windows plaforms, Solaris, AIX, Redhat Linux, and HP-UX.
    • Designed flexible Oracle interface modules that used database schema info from system tables to alter application behavior for user generated reports and database editing so the application ran independent of future schema updates and modifications. New fields and tables could be added and columns could be altered without making changes to application code. Table views allowed easy searching on all fields and row-level editing functions for system engineers.
    • System integrated information from four seperate databases (on oracle, sybase, and mysql architectures) to build report on security update status of all servers. Server information was retrieved from a Tivoli inventory database. New third party security update information from Collaboration of Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs) could be imported into application database by system engineers and then edited. All reports ran in real time for quick turnaround and fast response to new security updates by the multiple business groups within the bank.

    ARTFL/CRL, University of Chicago Chicago, IL Software Engineer/Systems Administrator 10/01-4/03

    • Working with incongruous data using Perl, building databases for use with generic code over different interfaces and datasets, saving development time and addressing general data integrity issues.
    • Web interfaces in multiple languages (Perl, Python, PHP) for search and display of digital images and documents.
    • Web server (apache) performance tuning, configuration, debugging, and maintenance.
    • Systems migration and trouble-shooting on Linux (Redhat, Debian), Solaris and NT.
    • Collaborated with CRL staff members to develop presentation and interactive functionality that addresses imperatives for researchers.

    RISETIME/EDVENTIONS Skokie, IL Software Engineer 9/99-1/01

    • Pedagogical software development with Mason-Perl, interfacing with a complex relational database.
    • Designed multiple sub-systems for web application from ground up and multiple tools for analysis of other sub-systems. Performed well without design specifications ("agile development") and often engineered projects independently.
    • Javascript and HTML backwards compatible to 3.0 browsers (AOL, Netscape, IE browsers).
    • Routine performance tuning and maintenance on three-fourths of the application code.
    • Assisted co-developers in integrating new systems with existing application. Experienced in teaching new developers the framework and in assisting with code reviews and the development process. Often worked over weekends with management to smooth out presentation and functionality issues; acquired broad experience working in a team environment.
    • Managed the debugging process for a team of 6-10 developers and a high turn-over rate.

    TEK SYSTEMS/ENDEAVOR Des Plaines, IL Jr Systems Administrator 5/99-9/99

    • Performed remote upgrades for the Voyager library information management system.
    • Routine Oracle experience carrying out upgrades and configuration (7.3.4->8.0.5).
    • Ksh scripting to automate the upgrade process.
    • Apache server installation and trouble-shooting.
    • Customer support for Voyager - Windows and Unix clients.
    • Solaris and AIX administration experience (patch installations, software upgrades, debugging server configurations, trouble-shooting, security, etc.).

    ADDECO/UNION BANK OF SWITZERLAND Chicago, IL IT Consulting, Priority Systems Management 9/98-1/2000

    • Hired as a UNIX Operator to run batch scripts. Learned Perl and shell scripting during downtime and automated self out of job.
    • Tested/debugged Perl, shell scripts, and C programs undergoing major migration for Y2K debugging, a homogenized unix filesystem standard, and move from NeXT/SunOS 2.4 to NT/Solaris 6.
    • Recompiled C programs from NeXT and SunOS 2.4 platforms to Solaris 6 (involving CCS, Make, and SunOS 2.4->2.6 linked-libraries and corresponding backwards compatibility issues).
    • Rewrote C and C++ programs in Perl for added functionality, easier maintenance and Solaris migrations. Really did it just to work around a confounding, mindbogglingly inefficient corporate bureaucracy.
    • Wrote Perl scripts to interface with Oracle DBs for data checking, processing, and automated reporting.
    • Developed CGI for a trading group to track 70+ data feeds and contact persons responsible for file transfers/system maintenance in foreign and domestic offices.
    • Worked closely with management and co-workers in debugging and streamlining work processes. Routinely assisted both in understanding and using new technologies.
    • Commissioned after 5/99 to develop processes for automated updates on financial systems and cut manual data-entry requirements.

EDUCATION

Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. 1995-2000. Detroit Lakes High School, Detroit Lakes, MN. Graduated Valedictorian, 1995.
  • Minnesota American Legion Boy's State 1994.
  • Swimming Team Captain, 1993-95.

ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

  • Self-directed; autodidact; outside occasional bouts of esoteric mania have excellent writing and interpersonal skills.
  • Background in volunteer work leveraging information technologies for research and the creative arts. Recently involved in maintaining web-sites and developing workshop and digital publishing software for non-profit performing arts organizations. Occasionally caught picking guitar or banjo in related performances.
  • Maintained Richard Stallman's website, demonstrating capacity to work with curmudgeons.
  • Enjoy working both individually and collaboratively as part of a team. Bring unique perspective to the problem solving process while effectively compromising and synthesizing new ideas and practices based on input from others.

REFERENCES

  • Mark Hasse: Chief Technical Architect, Shoppertrak.
  • Andrew Bakun: Technical Lead, Mbira.
  • Art Witczak: Systems Administrator, Mbira.
  • Mark Olsen: Supervisor. Asst. Director, ARTFL.
  • Steve Jordan: Manager. FSM/PSM Operations Manager, UBS Chicago.