RALPH KING JR
ralph@kingralph.dev | kingralph.dev | Remote or MD-VA-DC
SUMMARY
Results-driven Cloud and Software Engineer with a proven track record of designing, deploying, and optimizing AWS, Azure, and OpenShift cloud-native applications. Successfully engineered and implemented automated solutions that significantly increased productivity, saved millions of dollars, and improved accuracy for critical government functions. Expertise in Python, JavaScript, and infrastructure-as-code drives streamlined development workflows and robust CI/CD pipelines, leading teams to deliver impactful, scalable cloud solutions.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Senior Software Engineer / IT Specialist (APPSW)
Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Food Safety and Inspection
Service (FSIS)
Washington, DC | January 2025 - Present
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Engineered and deployed automated business solutions across FSIS mission areas using Python, Django, Flask, and Javascript. This resulted in significant productivity increases and estimated cost savings of millions of dollars.
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Developed and implemented internal automated systems for critical regulatory compliance using Python, Django, Elasticsearch, OpenShift, and JavaScript. Successfully replacing external vendor software and achieving substantial operational efficiencies.
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Currently automating the FSIS fleet management process with the General Services Administration, projected to improve efficiency and accuracy by eliminating manual form submissions and guaranteeing forms have been submitted. Using Python, Django, Elasticsearch, Openshift, and JavaScript.
Software Developer Engineer in Test / IT Specialist (APPSW)
Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Food Safety and Inspection
Service (FSIS)
Washington, DC | September 2020 - January 2025
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Engineered and implemented automated testing solutions for nine FSIS applications, significantly enhancing software quality and accelerating release cycles by months ahead of schedule. Utilized Typescript and Playwright for most applications while a few used Java and TestNG.
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Integrated automated tests into CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps, enabling continuous integration and delivery and reducing defect rates by 40%.
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Led the development of a business process automation application using Django (Python), Elasticsearch, OpenShift, and PostgreSQL, streamlining key workflows.
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Led the successful migration of development teams and projects from Microsoft Team Foundation Server to Microsoft Azure DevOps 2020, improving collaboration and efficiency.
Software Development Engineer
Skyline Technology Solutions
Glen Burnie, MD | August 2019 - September 2020
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Engineered and maintained diverse full-stack web applications, successfully delivering enhanced federal benefits access, launching a redesigned public-facing website, and improving real-time video platform dashboards.
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Maintained and enhanced a federal benefits application for a non-profit organization using Java and PostgreSQL, improving application stability and feature sets.
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Led the successful development of the redesigned Skyline Technology Solutions website using PHP, Yii2 framework, and MySQL, resulting in a more informative site for our customers to understand our products.
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Enhanced the dashboard for a real-time distributed video platform using JavaScript, NodeJS, and React, providing users with improved monitoring capabilities.
Software Development Engineer in Test
Skyline Technology Solutions
Glen Burnie, MD | August 2017 - August 2019
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Engineered and maintained comprehensive automated testing solutions across diverse video platforms, ensuring optimal performance and reliability through API, UI, and system-level testing.
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Led the development and maintenance of automated tests for various software applications, consistently improving software quality and reducing regressions.
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Developed system requirements, code, and documentation for automated tests of real-time video streams using SikuliX and Python, ensuring accurate and reliable stream validation.
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Led the development and maintenance of API automated tests for a real-time distributed video platform using Postman and JavaScript, ensuring API performance and reliability.