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Brent Rockwood

Principal / Staff Software Engineer · Security & Systems Architect

Johns Creek, GA · +1 404-960-2864 · brentdev@brentrockwood.com

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/brentrockwood/
• https://github.com/brentrockwood
• https://rockwoodlab.com

SUMMARY

Principal-level software engineer with 30+ years of experience designing, building, and securing complex systems across finance, cybersecurity, identity governance, and SaaS. Proven record delivering mission-critical platforms used by executive leadership, regulators, and enterprise security teams.

Deep expertise in Virtualization, Linux systems, Python, Node.js, TypeScript, React, and Large Data Systems, with prior experience spanning kernel-level development, identity systems, and data governance platforms. Known for translating ambiguous requirements into reliable, maintainable systems and operating effectively at the intersection of engineering, architecture, and security.

CORE SKILLS

Languages & Runtimes
Python, TypeScript, JavaScript, Node.js, C#, C++, SQL

Frontend & APIs
React, Redux, REST, Tailwind, AngularJS (legacy)

Backend & Data
PostgreSQL, MS SQL Server, SQLite, QDrant, MongoDB, Redis, MySQL, GraphQL

Cloud & Infrastructure
Linux, Docker, Devpods, AWS (Elastic Beanstalk, EC2, S3, RDS), CI/CD, Nginx

Security & Systems
RBAC, IAM integrations, data governance, compliance reporting, Windows kernel development (historical), NTFS, identity lifecycle management

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Rockwood Lab — Principal Engineer / Founder

2024 – Present

• Founded and operate Rockwood Lab, an independent engineering practice focused on applied R&D, systems architecture, and full-stack delivery.
• Led multiple contract engagements delivering production React/TypeScript applications, including integration of billing and payment systems into client platforms.
• Conduct ongoing R&D in AI-assisted developer tooling and operations, including:
  • Porting and adapting frameworks such as Karpathy’s autoresearch and NVIDIA OpenShell/NemoClaw to run on local LLM infrastructure
  • Designing Python-based ingestion and orchestration pipelines with human-in-the-loop workflows
  • Agent-assisted documentation and operational co-pilots for complex infrastructure
  • Vector-database-backed knowledge systems for technical documentation and runbooks
• Designed and implemented full-stack systems using React, Node.js, TypeScript, GraphQL, SQL, and modern CI/CD pipelines.
• Served as technical lead and architect owning requirements, system design, implementation, and delivery end-to-end.

Tech: Python, Go, Rust, React, TypeScript, Node.js, GraphQL, SQL, Docker, Devpods, AI tooling, infrastructure automation

Wells Fargo — Vice President, Lead Information Security Engineer

2019 – 2024

• Architected and owned a suite of internal security platforms used to ingest, normalize, and visualize enterprise-wide cybersecurity and compliance metrics.
• Designed event-driven data pipelines in Node.js and TypeScript feeding GraphQL APIs consumed by executive dashboards and federal oversight teams.
• Implemented delta-sync, partial-query caching, and resolver optimization, significantly reducing latency and payload size under load.
• Led cross-team design reviews to harden authentication, RBAC, and service-to-service API security.
• Systems supported CISO-level reporting and ongoing regulatory scrutiny at enterprise scale.

Tech: Node.js, TypeScript, React, Redux, GraphQL, MS SQL Server, Jenkins, Nginx

TEKsystems — Senior Software Engineer

2017 – 2019

• Delivered full-stack features for Fortune 50 retail and financial clients, supporting high-throughput transactional workflows.
• Optimized GraphQL resolvers and query batching strategies.
• Refactored legacy Redux middleware into typed, normalized slices, improving maintainability and developer velocity.
• Built centralized logging and diagnostics pipelines.

Tech: Node.js, TypeScript, React, Redux, GraphQL, MS SQL, Elasticsearch

Soltech — Senior Backend Developer / Technical Lead

2016 – 2017

• Led backend development for automotive logistics and airline service platforms.
• Designed and deployed stateless microservices on AWS Elastic Beanstalk.
• Implemented PostgreSQL transaction strategies and connection pooling to reduce deadlocks under concurrency.
• Managed a small engineering team and reported directly to executive leadership.

Tech: Node.js, TypeScript, PostgreSQL, Docker, AWS

Independent Consultant

2001 – 2016

Selected engagements:

• Identity Governance & IAM Integrations — Cenovus Energy, State of Colorado
  Built bidirectional identity lifecycle connectors integrating Quest One Identity Manager, Google Workspace, and enterprise service desks.

• Enterprise AngularJS Component Library — Liberty Mutual
  Developed reusable UI components interfacing with large Java-based REST backends.

• Municipal Election Reporting Platform — City of Halifax
  Designed real-time vote aggregation system with fault-tolerant mobile ingestion.

• Bitcoin Mining Marketplace — GAW Miners
  Built Node.js backend services supporting cloud-based mining rentals and marketplace operations.

Quest Software / Dell Software — Senior Software Engineer

2004 – 2012

• Co-developed multiple commercial identity and governance products, including:
  • Quest One Identity Manager (Data Governance Edition)
  • Quest Group Policy Manager
  • Quest Archive Manager
• Implemented backend services and a Windows kernel minifilter driver to audit and intercept filesystem access.
• Reverse engineered the Microsoft Group Policy internal structure and implemented an XML-based system to report differences between versions.
• Managed regression testing, installer packaging, and enterprise deployment tooling.
• Worked as a member of a team practicing what was, at the time, the new Agile/Scrum methodology.

Tech: C#, C++, Windows Kernel APIs, NTFS, ADSI, MS SQL Server

Earlier Career

Software Engineer / Systems Analyst — Mount Sinai School of Medicine (1997–1999)
Developed NIH-compliant clinical trial software and supported neurology research systems.

Hardware & Software Generalist — Rockwood Electronics (1990–1997)
Built custom PCs, performed forensic troubleshooting, and developed Access/VBA automation systems.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Computer Science
Technical University of Nova Scotia

I completed two years of this program.