Ross McFarland
rwmcfa1@gmail.com

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Objective

To obtain a position in software engineering where I can utilize and develop
my skills in design, analysis, and implementation while contributing to
challenging projects.

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Skills

 Programming
  C/C++, Perl (XS), Java, Ruby, SQL, PHP, PostScript, MATLAB, ActionScript,
  Visual C++, Visual Basic

 Database
  MySQL (including NDB), Postgres, Oracle

 Environments
  GNU Linux, FreeBSD, Windows, Solaris

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Experience

Founder, Principal Architect                                               2008
Seedplay Inc, San Francisco, California

* Made decisions along with co-founders, prioritized results and executed on 
  those decisions.
* Designed and created a content ingestion system capable of importing,
  transcoding video, extracting screen shots, closed captions, and other useful
  information.
* Developed website allowing browsing and searching of ingested content based
  on extracted and human entered metadata.
* Created Flash media player using haxe and swfmill for playback 
  integrated on website.

Architect                                                                  2007
SayNow.com, Palo Alto, California

* Designed a flexible mobile ad-serving platform integrating with existing 
  VOIP and web systems allowing multi-dimensional targeting.
* Led the development team through the code base cleaning out cruft, improving
  database access code, caching, and code organization speeding up development 
  and reducing up-to-speed time for new developers.
* Introduced monitoring and statistics systems and processes resulting in 
  improved troubling shooting and system observability.
* Authored process and architecture documents and guidelines, coached, 
  mentored, and developed junior team members including laying out a path to a
  fully scalable sharded architecture facilitating future growth.

Software Development Engineer                                         2005-2007
Amazon.com, Seattle, Washington

* Served as lead architect for a set of highly scalable web services holding
  millions of users' data forming the foundation of Amazon's current and future
  digital media projects including Kindle, Unbox Video, Amazon Upgrade, and 
  All Your Stuff.
* Attended MySQL Users Conference including courses in administering and
  developing with MySQL and applied learning in migration from a monolithic
  Oracle database to a partitioned MySQL system. 
* Participated in teaching and mentoring including giving technical talks and
  working with junior team members.
* Two U.S. Patents (pending): "Services for Using Group Preference to Improve
  Item Selection Decisions" and "Services for Recommending Items to Groups of
  Users."

Software Engineer                                                     2000-2005
Lexmark International, Lexington, Kentucky

* Developed extensive library of image processing algorithms for print quality
  analysis for use by product teams to assess and track products through
  development.
* Served as primary architect of a rapid application development framework
  that facilitated data-driven programming increasing code reuse and reducing
  average application size by over 50%.
* Selected and managed high-end camera and scanner image acquisition hardware,
  including development of drivers and client/server communication software.
* Created web-based application for information retrieval from file and
  database back-ends including the ability to generate chart and table based 
  reports.
* Issued U.S. Patent #6,764,162: "Shingle masks that reduce banding effect on
  ink jet printers."

Lab Manager                                                           1997-2000
University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

* Managed a campus-wide hardware and software upgrade of over 2000 systems
  involving creation of new system images tailored to each lab's function.
* Resolved patrons' computer issues, providing instruction on system use
  including technical software: AutoCad, 3-D Studio Max, MATLAB, Maple, and
  course specific applications.
* Initiated and conducted a redesign of the Student Computing Services
  web-site increasing and reorganizing the information for improved usability.
* Interviewed, scheduled, and trained 7-12 lab consultants.

Technician                                                            1992-1996
Pro Video/Audio Productions, Monticello, Kentucky

* Worked with live venue sound reinforcement, staging, and lighting for indoor
  and outdoor events including regional and national acts and festivals.
* Participated in the design and set up of permanent audio-visual
  installations. 
* Performed video post-production tasks including editing and computer
  graphics.

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Education

Bachelors of Science in Computer Science                                   2000
University of Kentucky, College of Engineering