Ben Bradley
What I'm Looking For
The Work
I love working on back-end systems. Building efficient and intuitive APIs is something that I thoroughly enjoy. Learning to understand the data models and how best to interact with them is like untying a knot and putting together a jigsaw puzzle at the same time.
The People
I like to think of myself as an easy-going, friendly and respectful person and I prefer to spend my time around people who think similarly of themselves. When you work with people that are cool and level-headed, the debate about tabs vs. spaces (2 spaces!) isn't a distraction and you're able to focus on getting work done.
The Culture
I love to build things, solve problems, and make stuff happen, but at the end of the day, I do it all for my family. Finding a sustainable work/life balance is crucial. Of course there will be times when you have to answer the phone outside of "normal hours", but when that becomes the standard instead of the exception, it's time to re-evaluate in order to find a better balance.
Work Summary
MAX Digital
- Deployed code to production GraphQL API within the first sprint
- Wrote tests for 100% of new code
Walmart Labs
- Subject matter expert for GraphQL API performing 20,000 transactions per minute
- Rapidly designed & implemented new features to enable multi-channel customer messaging during COVID-19 crisis
PaxIQ
- Overall responsibility for the design & operation of all aspects of the company's products
- Implemented Agile development practices and acted as Scrum Master and team member
- Designed, developed, and maintained Internet Booking Engine as the company's flagship product
Cigna Healthcare
- Authored 33 NPM packages and contributed to Mocha, SSH2, and JSONWebToken
- Created 5 full-stack applications built on Hapi and React to enable internal production support
- Engineered more than 15 back-end tools and APIs integrating MongoDB, Redis, Kafka, Rabbit, and SOAP endpoints
- Architected QA Automation framework to validate external production REST API
Integra Telecom
- Developed a network topology mapping application built entirely on JavaScript (NodeJS, MongoDB, Backbone)
- Developed back-end framework and wrote the UI code for the Ethernet Services Provisioning application
- Wrote multiple applications to automate the routine functions of a Tier 3 Network Technician
- Developed a full-stack application framework enabling the integration of smaller applications into a common UI
- Designed, installed, configured and supported deployment of CA Infrastructure Manager 2.0
- Designed and configured CA Spectrum network fault management system
US Army
- Served as Intelligence Officer for the 7th Signal Brigade in Mannheim, Germany
- Served as Officer in Charge for voice and data network services in Baghdad's International Zone
Skills & Technologies
| Area of Focus | Skills & Technologies |
|---|---|
| Back-end Development | Node.js, GraphQL, REST, Hapi, Apollo |
| Data Integrations | MongoDB, Redis, Kafka, Avro, Rabbit, MySQL, MSSQL, Oracle |
| Software Development | Agile Scrum, Waterfall, TDD |
| Software QA | Mocha, Jasmine, Jest, Mocking |
| Preferred Toolset | Atom, GitHub, Node.js, MongoDB, Ubuntu, React, Slack |
| DevOps | Nginx, GitHub, Google Cloud, OneOps, Dynatrace, Splunk |
| Front-end Development | React, MaterialUI, Backbone, D3.js, Bootstrap |
| Telecommunications | Metro Ethernet, Fiber Optics, VoIP, Satellite |
| Network Engineering | OSI Layers 1-4, MPLS, BGP, OSPF, Ethernet |
| Project Management | Network Services, IT Infrastructure, Software |
| Operations Management | Logistics, Training, Personnel, Safety |
Detailed Experience
Senior Software Engineer - MAX Digital
November 2020 - January 2021
Responsibilities
- Engineer solutions for GraphQL API
Accomplishments
- Deployed code to the Production GraphQL API within the first sprint
- Wrote tests for 100% of new code
Senior Software Engineer - Walmart Labs
September 2019 - November 2020
Responsibilities
- Design, support, & maintain GraphQL service to provide content to user-facing web and mobile applications.
- Root cause analysis and resolution of any issues encountered during day-to-day operations or during stress-tests.
- Advise and coordinate with internal and external teams to facilitate integrating new clients and features.
Accomplishments
- Achieved 100% code coverage.
- Improved response time of GraphQL API by 50% by refactoring application code.
- Designed and implemented feature to enable dynamic and targeted end-user messaging capabilities.
- Refactored application data model in order to integrate with additional upstream data sources.
- Scaled application from 2,000 transactions/minute to 20,000 TPM
Senior Software Engineer - PaxIQ
August 2017 - September 2019
Responsibilities
- Responsible for all technical aspects of the company's flagship products.
- Design, develop, and maintain the systems, databases, networks and applications to support the delivery of the company's products.
- Troubleshooting and investigation of multiple applications and integrations.
- Training and professional development of Junior Developers.
Accomplishments
- Built an Internet Booking Engine as a white-label airline booking and ticketing system that enabled online operations for small to mid-sized regional carriers.
- Developed multiple rules-based integrations enabling intelligent, automated handling and processing of airline booking data into multiple disparate systems.
- Redesigned and implemented coding standards in legacy airline operations software.
- Created a distributed queuing system that converted airline inventory records from a fixed-length text messages into JSON and XML-based APIs.
- Built a REST API that enabled modern integrations with legacy, terminal command-based systems.
- Architected the systems, databases, and networks that provided the foundation for the company's products.
Senior Software Developer - Cigna Healthcare
April 2014 - August 2017
Responsibilities
- Rapidly develop back-end and full-stack applications to solve short or no-notice problems
- Work closely with the Quality Assurance and Development teams to understand and meet their automation needs
- Troubleshoot legacy production-internal NodeJS applications
Accomplishments
- Created a simulator for the Fitbit REST API to enable internal performance testing for internal and external clients
- Wrote more than 15 REST APIs and web applications to enable integrations using technologies that included Mongo, Redis, Rabbit, Kafka, Avro, TestRail, JIRA, Jama, Twilio, and Fitbit
- Successfully submitted a merge request to the auth0/jsonwebtoken project enable the availability to ignore expiration dates on JWTs
- Automated multiple MongoDB operations to enable QA performance and unit testing automation
- Wrote a library to allow interaction with Kafka and Avro via the NodeJS Streams API
- Built test frameworks to integrate Jasmine and Mocha tests with TestRail
- Developed several web applications that simplified complex SQL and NoSQL database interactions which greatly reduced time spent troubleshooting bugs
Senior Systems Developer - Integra Telecom
March 2011 - April 2014
Responsibilities
- Architect, implement, and support CA Spectrum fault management and Infrastructure Manager 2.0 performance management solution for nationwide network
- Review vendor software solutions and help inform management regarding the capabilities of the application
- Develop custom integrations to provide seamless functionality between related systems
Accomplishments
- Developed multiple RESTful APIs to extend the functionality and presentation capabilities of vendor applications
- Designed, developed and implemented Ethring, a web application that provides visualizations of network topology enabling users to share a common, dynamic and real-time view of network connectivity and status
- Built front-end user interface for Enterprise Ethernet Service Provisioning application to automate the provisioning, modification, and deprovisioning of customer services
- Contributed code to the “ssh2” NodeJS module to enable the invocation of arbitrary subsystems via SSH
- Architected, installed, configured, and supported a $2.1million CA Spectrum, and Performance Center deployment consisting of 42 Linux and Windows servers in three datacenters
Tier 3 Network Services Technician - Integra Telecom
August 2008 - March 2011
Responsibilities
- Development and customization of multiple SharePoint portal sites
- Design and development of web-capable database applications to automate complex network tasks
- Provisioning and validation of carrier class Metro Ethernet solutions based on Cisco ME 3400 and 4900 series switches
- Maintenance and operations of national data network backbone devices including Cisco 10000 and 7600 series routers
Accomplishments
- Developed and implemented systems, databases, processes, and standards to perform system upgrades of back-bone and customer-facing Cisco routers across the network. Implementation of these tools and processes reduced the downtime for approximately 40,000 customers from two hours to only 10 minutes
- Designed the business processes and SharePoint portal to coordinate network maintenance activities, resource allocation and customer notifications for a network spanning 13 states. This system processed an average of 450 maintenance activities per month and provided trending reports that enabled well-informed business and technical decisions
- Created standards and web-based applications to automate the creation of system configuration scripts for Cisco Metro Ethernet devices and Allied Telesis iMAP fiber and DSL multiplexers. These tools enabled field technicians to quickly and accurately bring over 105 Cisco ME3400’s and 75 ATI 9700’s into the network making it possible for technical experts to focus on more critical issues
Intelligence & NetOps Officer - 7th Signal Brigade
March 2007 - May 2008
Responsibilities
- Compile and present reports executive management on a weekly basis concerning the status of multiple networks and ongoing operations throughout Europe and Central Asia
- Overall responsibility for the planning, designing, installing, configuring, and troubleshooting of LAN and WAN network devices and supporting infrastructure
- Developing and maintaining documentation of network design, problems and resolutions, processes and policies
- Supervision of five personnel who conducted network management for data networks across the European theater
Accomplishments
- Developed policies, procedures, and systems for reporting project and operational statuses for an 800 person organization
- Designed and implemented multiple databases to automate reporting procedures. Resulted in increased efficiency and reduced reporting time from hours to seconds
- Successfully planned and executed the first deployment of the Tactical European Theater Network Operations Center
- Accomplishments recognized with the Army Commendation Medal
Officer in Charge, Communications - Multi-National Forces - Iraq
August 2005 - February 2007
Responsibilities
- Providing voice and data communications networks to over 4000 customers in Baghdad’s Green Zone. Total network availability was maintained at 99% despite the multitude of challenges unique to a hostile environment
- Ensuring the safety, training, and well-being of 27 Soldiers in a combat zone
- Managing the maintenance, operation, and accountability of more than $10 million of network hardware which included network outage/latency root-cause analysis and troubleshooting, maintaining and upgrading network infrastructure, documentation of network design, issue resolution, techniques and procedures
- Responsible for six supervisors who managed 125 technicians in nine functional areas
- Briefing the MNF-I Chief Information Officer on a weekly basis concerning the status of networks and operations
Accomplishments
- All 27 Soldiers under my authority returned home safely after spending one year in Baghdad
- Developed reporting database using Microsoft Access & Excel to interface with Remedy ticketing system. This solution reduced report generation time from hours to minutes and facilitated the expedition of root cause analysis
- Planned and managed the installation of fiber optic and user access infrastructure where none had previously existed to support the addition of over 1000 users to three separate networks in less than one week
- Managed the installation of IT infrastructure into the Iraqi High Tribunal Courthouse, site of the Saddam Hussein trial
- Recognized with the Bronze Star Medal and Army Achievement Medal for the superior performance of the department