Steven Gaarder

Objective

I am seeking a challenging position involving computer software, hardware, or both. Contract or consulting work in these areas is also of interest.

Strengths

• Experienced in the design, implementation, and integration of software and hardware systems
• Have a problem solver temperament; enjoy challenges to my ingenuity
• Able to work both on my own and in a team
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Comfortable in multicultural and multilingual work environments

Knowledge and Skills

• Operating Systems: Unix, Linux, Solaris, plus AIX, Irix, HP-UX, Windows NT/2000/XP and Macintosh
• World Wide Web technology: HTML, SGML, XML, CSS, Apache, Perl, Zope, CGI, database interfacing
• Local and wide area networking: TCP/IP, NFS, NIS, plus SMB and Appletalk
• Programming: Perl, C, Java, Python, Pascal, Fortran, Forth, Assembler
• Relational Databases: MySQL, Postgresql, Oracle
• Internet and Security: firewalls, encryption, virtual private networks
• Hardware: embedded systems, digital logic, microprocessors, telecom

Education

• Empire State College, Ithaca, N.Y. Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, 1995.
• Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa. 1971 to 1974, majoring in philosophy.

Experience

• October 2002-present: Senior Systems Engineer, Gene Network Sciences, Ithaca, N.Y. Responsible for the computing infrastructure at a company specializing in computational biology. Administration of network, servers, and desktops running Linux and Windows 2000 and XP. Built a supercomputing cluster with high-end off-the-shelf PCs. Set up and manage databases for both business and bioinformatics, using relational and object-oriented technology. Maintain the company web site, email system, and intranet.
• September 1991-April 2002: Senior Systems Engineer, Moldflow (formerly C-MOLD), Ithaca, N.Y. Administration of a complex, heterogeneous network including systems from every major Unix vendor, Linux, MS Windows NT, and Macintosh. Designed and implemented a wide-area virtual private network connecting offices worldwide using the Internet. Built a document management system and "intranet," using World Wide Web technology (Apache/Perl/Oracle), before the word had been coined. Set up and managed company web servers. Provided a high level of assistance to users. Allocated resources and prioritized needs company-wide. Recommended new hardware and software acquisitions. Identified tasks requiring automation and automated them.
• July 1989-May 1990, August 1990-January 1991: Systems Programmer III, Center for Theory and Simulation in Science and Engineering, Cornell University. Systems administration of large (50 users at a time) Unix minicomputer along with workstations and multiprocessor (parallel) machines. Responsible for tcp/ip and uucp networking including network file system, mail, news, system security, general software maintenance, emergency hardware maintenance, and user support. Evaluated and coordinated upgrades to hardware and software.
• February 1990-June 1991: Consultant (working from home) to Varalight/Dimatronics/Hub, Chicago, Ill. Hardware and software for theatre lighting control system. Specified hardware and software configuration. Designed and debugged analog and digital circuits, specified purchased modules, wrote software in Forth and assembler.
• June 1989-January 1990: Consultant (working from home) to Technology Tool Company, Newton, Mass. Designed and coded protocol stack modules for Netbios interfacing of personal computers to minicomputers. Prepared design documents, programming specifications, and wrote C code for protocol, link layer, and media access components.
• March 1987-July 1989: Technical Consultant III, Computer Aided Design Instructional Facility, Cornell University. Software development and system management in a graphics-based instructional computing facility. Designed, coded, and ported graphics-based instructional software for high-performance workstations in C and Fortran. Helped present and explain said software at workshops for faculty from other universities. Managed networked Unix workstations and MS-DOS personal computers. Set up and managed Novell-based personal computer networks for student-use personal computer facilities. Interfaced with vendors, faculty, and staff to coordinate equipment upgrades. Assisted users and developers using Unix, VMS, and MS-DOS.
• November 1982 - March 1987: Design Engineer, ITL Incorporated, Ithaca, N.Y. Hardware and software engineering. Responsible for overall system architectures and coordinating hardware and software. Designed Z80 and 6801-based hardware for remote diagnostic equipment interfacing with Computer Automation and Digital Equipment minicomputers and for theatre lighting control systems. Designed and coded software in Forth, Pascal, and assembler. Managed and maintained single and multi-user software development systems (LSI-11, Z80 CP/M and Turbodos). Assisted with writing user manuals.
• November 1978- June 1982: Design Engineer, Digicomp Research Corp., Ithaca, N.Y. design and production engineering. Designed MC68000 and Pascal Microengine CPU boards for the S-100 bus. Assisted with the design of memory and peripheral boards. Wrote test and I/O driver software. Wrote user manuals.
• January 1978-September 1978: Research Technician, Department of Geological Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. Responsible for further development of existing prototype data collection system. Varied other work in design, construction, and maintenance of laboratory equipment.
• June 1976- November 1977: Lab Technician, Section of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University. Varied electronics-related research support work in animal behavior laboratory including design, construction, and maintenance of laboratory equipment. Assisted with running experiments.

Miscellaneous

• I am a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
• I speak fluent German, some Russian and French, and am currently learning Mandarin Chinese.
• I am a participant in the Ecovillage Project, which is developing a piece of land in an environmentally responsible manner.
• My avocations include classical and folk music, storytelling, folk dancing, and fantasy and science fiction literature.