Staff Software Engineer · 25+ Years
Karl Hill
Cloud · Platforms · Engineering Leadership
I architect systems, lead teams, and ship software that matters — from disaster-response platforms at NASA to mission-critical aerospace systems at Jacobs/BlackLynx.
01 — Why Me
I Build
Cloud-native platforms on AWS. Containerized services with Docker and Kubernetes. High-traffic web systems. Secure CI/CD pipelines. Built to last and operate reliably at scale — not just to demo well.
I Lead
Engineering teams from roadmap to release. 1:1s, onboarding, PR standards, definition of done — the unglamorous work that turns a group of developers into a high-performing team that ships consistently.
I Deliver
Predictable execution, every sprint. I translate mission needs into sequenced plans, manage stakeholders across technical and non-technical audiences, remove blockers, and ship.
25+
Years of Experience
1.5M
Monthly Visitors — NASA PLATFORMS
$105M
Platform Acquisition Value
~60%
Efficiency Gained via Automation
02 — Experience
Current Role
Staff Aerospace Software Engineer
Jacobs · Chantilly, VA
- Lead delivery for cloud-native mission-simulation and telemetry services. Own planning, refinement, demos, and stakeholder alignment end-to-end.
- Own team health and execution — coaching, 1:1s, onboarding, and delivery discipline across multi-repo, multi-environment systems.
- Set and enforce engineering standards: repo/branch governance, PR reviews, Definition of Done, and documentation to reduce integration risk.
- Drive DevSecOps and release governance via CI/CD, automated testing, quality gates, and security checks to shorten feedback loops.
Lead Software Engineer
NASA / SSAI
Lanham, MD
Dec 2017 — Sept 2025- Architected NASA's cloud-based Flood Mapping System on AWS, delivering near real-time satellite-derived flood products to support global disaster response.
- Rebuilt the NASA Earth Observatory — a platform serving ~1.5M monthly visitors — improving performance, UX, and SEO.
- Built a high-performance Ceph-based file + metadata platform, improving large dataset discovery and access for researchers.
- Delivered an automated content registry workflow that boosted data collection efficiency by ~60% and accelerated researcher access.
- Implemented GitLab CI/CD + Docker + Kubernetes delivery — automated deployments, repeatable releases, reliable stakeholder approvals.
Sr. Software Engineer
InformedDNA
St. Petersburg, FL
Jan 2016 — Dec 2017- Architected a Laravel-based case management platform reducing operational costs by $30K/year.
- Led CRM enhancements improving client retention and contributing ~15% revenue growth through better lifecycle workflows and reporting.
- Spearheaded platform upgrades and security improvements, doubling incident response efficiency and strengthening operational readiness.
Earlier Career
1999 — 2015Ticomix, Inc.
Sr. Software Engineer · Washington, D.C. · 2012–2015
SugarCRM solutions for 20+ clients including VDOT and Kastle Systems. Cut delivery backlog ~90%, improving predictability and customer satisfaction.
Sabre Corporation
Software Engineer · Bethesda, MD · 2010–2012
PHP applications for global travel clients. Mentored junior developers through pairing and code review.
Dante Inc.
Principal Software Engineer · Arlington, VA · 2007–2010
Java solutions for Comcast and Mastercard improving operational efficiency by ~40%. Led Scrum delivery from planning through retros.
Verizon Business
Software Developer · Herndon, VA · 1999–2005
Built Finium, the managed security-services platform that drove a 10× increase in client engagements and supported a $105M acquisition by MCI/Verizon.
03 — Selected Work
NASA · 2017–2025
NASA Earth Observatory
Flagship science communication platform serving 1.5M+ monthly visitors with satellite imagery and Earth science data. Rebuilt the publishing pipeline to unify editorial workflows across distributed content teams. Overhauled the delivery architecture for accessibility compliance and redesigned the information hierarchy for long-term scale.
NASA · 2017–2025
Flood Mapping System
Operational satellite imagery processing system generating near real-time flood inundation maps during active disaster events globally. Automated the end-to-end pipeline from raw sensor acquisition through geospatial product generation, dissemination, and integration with international emergency management networks.
NASA · 2017–2025
Direct Readout Laboratory
Scientific data processing hub ingesting multi-instrument sensor streams from polar-orbiting satellites in near real-time. Reformats and distributes Level-0 through Level-2 geophysical products to operational centers and research institutions across a global network of registered direct broadcast ground stations.
NASA · 2017–2025
ESSCOR
Earth science data discovery portal unifying archival and near real-time remote sensing holdings into a searchable, standards-compliant catalog. Implemented granule-level access controls and standardized metadata schemas to streamline data ordering and delivery for researchers across government agencies and partner institutions.
InformedDNA · 2016–2017
InformedDNA Platform
Clinical genomics workflow platform coordinating case management, genetic counseling routing, and billing reconciliation across distributed care teams. Unified fragmented operational processes into a governed system with role-based access, full audit trails, and automated documentation pipelines that cut per-case overhead by $30K annually.
Verizon Business · 1999–2005
Finium
Enterprise managed security services platform unifying multi-tenant client operations across a national carrier network for a Fortune 500 provider. Automated provisioning, monitoring, and incident response orchestration drove a 10× growth in client engagements and contributed directly to a $105M acquisition.
04 — Technical Stack
Languages
Cloud & Infra
Delivery & CI/CD
Web & UI
Data Platforms
Leadership
05 — Open Source
github.com/karlhillx ↗06 — Certifications & Education
PSM II
Professional Scrum Master™ II
Scrum.org
Verify ↗
PSD I
Professional Scrum Developer™ I
Scrum.org
Verify ↗
PSPO I
Professional Scrum Product Owner™ I
Scrum.org
Verify ↗
CSM
Certified ScrumMaster®
Scrum Alliance
Verify ↗
Education
B.S. Computer Science Coursework
University of Maryland
Associate of Arts, General Studies
Howard Community College
Project Management
Rutgers University