RALPH KING JR
ralph@kingralph.dev | Remote or Maryland, USA
SUMMARY
Software Engineer with 7+ years of experience building
enterprise-scale applications and automated testing frameworks for
mission-critical government systems. Expertise in test automation,
CI/CD pipelines, and full-stack development using Python,
JavaScript/TypeScript, and modern cloud platforms (AWS, Azure,
OpenShift). Proven track record in architecting test-first solutions,
mentoring engineering teams, and delivering production applications
serving thousands of users with measurable operational improvements.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Senior Software Engineer / IT Specialist (APPSW)
Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Food Safety and Inspection
Service (FSIS)
Beltsville, MD | January 2025 - Present
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Architect and deploy enterprise applications on OpenShift,
serving 7,500+ users and managing 2,000+ vehicles, establishing
CI/CD pipelines with automated testing and Elasticsearch
integration for enterprise search across HR systems and employee
workflows.
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Design full-stack solutions across complex technology stacks,
including Python/Django backends, JavaScript frontends, and cloud
infrastructure, owning technical decisions from initial design
through production deployment.
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Defined development standards and quality practices
across applications, including code review processes, testing
frameworks, and deployment automation that ensure consistent
delivery of production-ready software
Software Developer Engineer in Test / IT Specialist (APPSW)
Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Food Safety and Inspection
Service (FSIS)
Remote | September 2020 - January 2025
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Engineered automated testing frameworks for nine enterprise
applications
using TypeScript/Playwright and Java/TestNG, reducing defect rates
by 40% through comprehensive test coverage of UI, API, and
integration layers
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Deployed CI/CD pipelines and led Azure DevOps
migration from TFS for enterprise teams, integrating automated
testing and deployment workflows that reduced release cycles by
70%
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Mentored development teams through code reviews
for 3+ years, establishing testing best practices and quality
standards across contractor and internal engineering teams
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Consulted as a technical subject matter expert
for software testing, collaborating with stakeholders to define
requirements and acceptance criteria
Software Development Engineer
Skyline Technology Solutions
Remote | August 2019 - September 2020
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Produced full-stack web applications
for federal programs using Java, PHP, JavaScript, and PostgreSQL,
implementing both front-end interfaces and back-end services for
public-facing systems
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Built a real-time monitoring dashboard
using Node.js and React for a distributed video streaming
platform, integrating data visualization and system health metrics
for operational visibility
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Enhanced federal benefits application
for the New York SNAP program, implementing regulatory updates
while maintaining system stability through structured testing and
deployment procedures
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Delivered a complete website redesign
using PHP/Yii2 framework and MySQL, collaborating with
stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical
implementations
Software Development Engineer in Test
Skyline Technology Solutions
Glen Burnie, MD | August 2017 - August 2019
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Designed and implemented test automation frameworks
across multiple platforms, developing comprehensive API, UI, and
system-level test suites that ensured software reliability in
production
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Created automated validation systems for live video streams
using Python and SikuliX, building custom testing solutions to
verify real-time quality metrics and stream integrity
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Constructed API test automation suites
using Postman and JavaScript for distributed video platforms,
establishing performance benchmarks and reliability testing for
critical integrations
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Established automated testing practices
that consistently improved software quality and reduced production
regressions across diverse application portfolios