PATRICK CHILDERS

patrick.childers@gmail.com

 

OBJECTIVE

 

To find part time work on a contract basis designing and implementing tailor-made software solutions that meet the customer’s requirements and automate business processes.

 

SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES

.NET Framework

Apache

ASP

ASP.NET

C/C++

COM

DirectX

Linux

LUA

IIS

MS SQL Server 2000

Perl

PHP

SOA / Web Services

Swig

T-SQL

TCP/IP Sockets

VBScript

Visual Basic .NET

Visual Basic 6

Visual C#

Win32 API

Windows Installer (MSI)

Xbox XDK

Xbox 360 XDK

XML

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

The Weather Channel, Marietta, GA

Software Engineer II, Dec 2007 – Present

·         Worked on the high definition version of the IntelliStar product line which is used to display current, local weather conditions on The Weather Channel.

·         Added forward error correction (FEC) to the satellite transmission protocol. The protocol also allows for multiple FEC algorithms and parameters so that it can be customized as requirements change.

·         Designed and implemented an embedded website so that the cable head-end device can be remotely monitored and administered.

·         Worked on the integration with the Viz real-time rendering engine to support advanced 3d graphics.

·         Created a software-monitoring application that monitors the required applications restarting failed processes as well as allowing the entire product to degrade in a predictable manner, if only a few applications are unresponsive.

·         Investigated and fixed performance and stability issues.

 

THQ – Rainbow Studios, Phoenix, AZ

Software Engineer, Nov 2005 – Nov 2007

·         Worked on the first next-generation console title of THQ’s award-winning ‘MX’ racing franchise.

·         Designed and implemented a data management framework to manage the large amounts of data needed to drive both the game’s User Interface as well as Gameplay elements.

·         The data management framework included a custom written C++ embedded in-game relational database allowing the game to be as data-driven as possible. This RDBMS supported:

o   Queries with multiple where clause operations, inner joins, and multiple column sorting.

o   Enforcing referential integrity through primary and foreign keys.

o   Single column unique & non-unique indexes.

·         Combined many of the existing rendering components into a complete object oriented UI solution.  This solution supported multiple texture formats, bitmap fonts, vector graphics, flash animations, full screen video effects and XML layouts to allow for a feature rich design.

·         Created tools using C# on an as needed basis to support development.

RealTime Gaming, Atlanta, GA

Lead Software Services Architect, Jan 2005 – Nov 2005

·         Designed and implemented new features using C++, C#, T-SQL and scripting languages that required  knowledge of all the software products as well as taking into account long term design, performance, external system integration, and implementation time.

·         Advised developers on current process methodology and development standards as well as researched more efficient technologies and methods.

·         Participated in the entire software development life cycle from requirements gathering and analysis through testing, deployment, and ongoing support.

 

Software Architect, 2004

·         Designed and implemented many of the changes essential for internationalization of the casino product.

·         Designed and implemented a framework where new languages can be localized easily without additional software development.

·         Designed and implemented front-end skinning so that one set of servers can serve many different “skinned/themed” clients.

 

Software Engineer, June 2002-2003

·         Implemented four new client-server games each with unique game play and style.

·         Implemented a dynamic game lobby system that allowed artists to create different looks for each client while maintaining one code path.

·         Improved the player’s experience by creating a multi-channel audio system for the client software using DirectX.

·         Created many automated tools to simplify the process of software development and rollout.

 

Contracting, Atlanta, GA

Contract Blackberry Programmer, 2002

·         Used the C++ language to program for Blackberry Handhelds creating a document management client. The wireless client allowed users to e-mail, fax, and read documents anywhere in the country without the need of a full computer.       

·         Implemented multiple custom applications for a major financial institution; these custom applications utilized web services to retrieve and upload information to and from multiple servers.

 

Media Brokers International, Woodstock, GA

Linux Administrator, Summer 2001

·         Created a customized Linux server for x-terminal thin clients.

·         Employed a company-wide LDAP server to synchronize login/password and directory information between offices. Integrated the LDAP server with samba to create an open source alternative to Active Directory replacing the Windows 2000 Domain Controller.

·         Remotely managed servers located throughout the East Coast.