James Wilson – Software Developer Specializing in Backend Systems

Took a planned sabbatical following the successful completion of a long-term project. Spent several months traveling throughout Spain with my wife, exploring new environments and reflecting on both personal and professional goals. Returned energized and with a renewed focus on meaningful, high-quality software development.

Played a key role in modernizing the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) systems to support the implementation of the Trademark Modernization Act (TMA), enhancing protections against fraudulent trademark filings.

• Designed and developed dozens of RESTful APIs using Java and Spring Boot, contributing to a scalable microservices architecture.
• Enhanced and debugged a proprietary JavaScript-based frontend framework consisting of over 1 million lines of code, enabling critical feature delivery under tight deadlines.
• Optimized and authored complex SQL queries for Oracle databases to support both new and legacy system features.
• Contributed to the porting of a legacy Visual Basic application into the modern web-based USPTO ecosystem.
• Wrote robust unit tests using JUnit and Mockito; participated in code reviews to ensure high code quality and maintainability.
• Engaged in Agile practices including daily standups, sprint planning, and retrospectives, collaborating with a team of 4+ developers to solve complex problems and support team success.

Designed and implemented API-driven solutions for secure payment integrations in a high-volume fintech environment, helping ensure system resilience, speed, and compliance.

• Developed microservices using Java and Spring Boot to improve scalability and maintainability in backend systems.
• Implemented RESTful APIs for seamless integration between payment systems and client platforms.
• Collaborated with DevOps teams to streamline deployment workflows using Jenkins and GitLab CI/CD pipelines.
• Optimized backend interactions with SQL databases, significantly improving performance for real-time financial transactions.

Worked on a small development team to build and maintain the Quality Performance System website for the Florida Office of Early Learning. Collaborated closely with a project manager and stakeholders from the Department of Education to deliver a reliable and user-friendly platform.

• Contributed to full-stack development using .NET on the backend and Vue.js on the frontend.
• Built Vue.js components using modern JavaScript and framework best practices, with clean separation of logic and presentation — skills transferable to frameworks like React or Angular.
• Integrated RESTful APIs to ensure smooth communication between frontend and backend services.

Also worked on a separate project for the Florida State University College of Law, enhancing a student registration system built with classic ASP.NET.

• Implemented new features and improvements to support administrative workflows.
• Worked directly with stakeholders at the law school to define requirements and deliver timely updates.

Supported Conduent’s Red Light Enforcement Software, a system used to process traffic violations through photo enforcement. Joined the team during a planned rewrite phase and contributed to improving the maintainability of the existing platform while redesign plans were underway.

• Enhanced system functionality using Java, Alfresco (document management), HTML5, CSS, and jQuery.
• Participated in software design meetings to improve UI/UX for a planned platform overhaul.
• Diagnosed and resolved software issues, implementing bug fixes and code optimizations to improve system reliability during the planning and evaluation phase.

Maintained and modernized web applications used by the Florida Lottery’s internal teams and public-facing users. Contributed to improving both the user experience and the maintainability of legacy systems through frontend and backend enhancements.

• Updated and supported Java-based web applications using Struts 2, Oracle 11g, jQuery, and JSP.
• Refactored frontend code to improve usability and compliance with modern browser standards.
• Collaborated with QA and business analysts to address defects and implement requested enhancements.
• Helped ensure system reliability during high-volume traffic periods such as major lottery drawings and special events.

Contributed to the development of IRB’s new Delvepoint product — a platform providing online access to sensitive personal data for private investigators and collections agencies. Joined a fast-paced team and quickly ramped up on new technologies to support critical business functionality.

• Developed controller classes, model objects, and JSP pages using Spring MVC and a CouchDB NoSQL database backend.
• Utilized JavaScript, jQuery, and CSS to create responsive and interactive front-end components.
• Adapted quickly to unfamiliar technologies (Spring MVC and CouchDB) and delivered assigned tasks within aggressive timelines.
• Participated in daily stand-up meetings as part of an Agile team workflow.

Role concluded due to a company-wide shift in strategy following unexpected competitor disruption. I received a letter of recommendation recognizing my quick ramp-up and contributions.

Worked as the exclusive Java developer on two high-impact public sector projects: a Department of Homeland Security application for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and the City of Atlanta’s 311 customer service portal.

USCIS – Foreign Worker Legitimacy System: Developed a web-based application to validate company legitimacy for H1B and other visa-related foreign worker applications.

• Created and maintained Struts-based JSP pages, Java Action classes, DAOs, and data model objects.
• Integrated the application with a TIBCO middle-tier using JMS for asynchronous communication.
• Modernized page layouts with CSS-based designs to simplify long-term maintenance.
• Ensured full compliance with Section 508 accessibility standards.
• Implemented dynamic form behavior using JavaScript to improve user experience based on real-time input.
• Contributed to a project that earned the “Agile Bear” award at USCIS for Agile best practices and delivery efficiency.

Atlanta 311 Customer Service Portal: Participated in requirements gathering and data analysis to build a platform for Atlanta residents to interact with city services.

Supported the Department of Defense's health insurance enrollment system (WEBDOES), providing critical maintenance and enhancements to ensure service reliability and compliance. Also created internal development tools to streamline productivity and reduce redundancy across projects.

WEBDOES – Defense Online Enrollment System:

• Maintained and enhanced core functionality of the DoD’s web-based health insurance application using Java technologies and JSF (Trinidad) framework.
• Rewrote dialog management to ensure consistency and improve maintainability across views.
• Addressed production issues, implemented new business logic, and collaborated with QA to test and deploy changes.

Internal Utility Development:

• Built a configurable Java utility to parse and interpret complex insurance state files describing family and plan details for DoD service members.
• Designed the utility to automatically adapt to schema changes via external config files — eliminating the need for rewrites and making extensive use of recursive logic to handle varying data structures.
• This tool dramatically improved internal testing and debugging speed across the dev team.

Contributed to internal logistics and transportation systems supporting asset tracking and shipment coordination. Worked in both Java and RPG within an AS400/DB2 environment, helping modernize tools and improve operational reliability.

• Integrated RabbitMQ for asynchronous messaging, improving inter-service communication and overall system resilience.
• Designed and maintained event-driven Java applications to support logistics workflows and transaction processing.
• Created a utility to process high-volume email alerts related to asset tracking issues — consuming messages from a queue and triggering web service calls based on message content.
• Assisted in converting older JSP/Struts applications to JSF 2.0, contributing to frontend modernization efforts.
• Worked in an AS400 environment using RPG for data-tier development tasks and coordination with Java services.

Supported SmartBrief’s internal content management software used to generate daily industry-specific news digests. This system played a key role in delivering timely updates to business leaders across various sectors.

• Maintained and enhanced legacy and modernized components of SmartBrief’s editorial publishing system.
• Worked with technologies including JSP, HTML, CSS, jQuery, Struts 1 and 2, and XSLT.
• Collaborated closely with editorial and advertising departments to gather requirements and prioritize tasks based on business needs.
• Led a significant rewrite initiative (alongside a junior developer) to convert legacy scriptlet-based JSP code to Struts 2 for improved maintainability and testability.
• Used Mercurial for version control and followed a branching strategy to merge updates into the trunk safely.
• Worked with QA analysts to develop test plans and ensure reliable functionality after major rewrites.
• Participated in peer code reviews to maintain code quality and share knowledge across the team.

Provided software development and business intelligence support for internal systems at the Florida Lottery. Contributed to both reporting and web development initiatives across various business units.

• Used Business Objects XI to develop executive-level reports related to the internally developed Fortune winner payment system.
• Created a J2EE web application using the Struts framework for the Corporate Information System project, which included secure customer login and data downloads for lottery retailers.
• Developed PL/SQL functions and procedures to support dynamic reporting and integration with Business Objects.
• Built a Java program to extract press release content from Oracle and generate XML/RSS feeds for the public-facing website.
• Assisted with J2EE debugging and enhancement of the public Florida Lottery website, contributing to ongoing feature improvements and system stability.

Developed backend systems for Papa John’s online text ordering service. Focused on business-to-business integration and reliable communication with third-party email and notification services.

• Built a high-performance email processing system in Java to ensure compliance with the CAN-SPAM Act and reliable delivery of marketing and order-related emails.
• Designed a queue-based architecture using Axis2 and Java to manage and throttle web service calls to an external email aggregator.
• Created custom XML-based data transfer objects in Java to support different types of email transactions and maintain a consistent interface with the email provider’s API.
• Worked closely with stakeholders to ensure delivery reliability and compliance with branding and timing requirements.

Provided ongoing maintenance and enhancements for MyFloridaMarketPlace, the State of Florida’s centralized purchasing application. Worked within an enterprise-grade Ariba software environment focused on procurement and financial data processing.

• Developed and maintained XML-driven Java modules to support transactional workflows and integration points within the Ariba platform.
• Wrote detailed test cases and performed regression testing to ensure functional accuracy after updates.
• Diagnosed and corrected accounting-related data discrepancies using Toad for Oracle, contributing to financial data integrity across the system.
• Collaborated with other developers and business analysts to implement system improvements based on end-user feedback and evolving procurement requirements.

Supported the customization of the SACWIS (Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System) platform for the government of Puerto Rico. This federally compliant case management system tracks child welfare services and caseworker activities.

• Traveled to Puerto Rico to assist with requirement gathering and technical planning for the system customization effort.
• Modified existing Java-based SACWIS modules to meet Puerto Rico’s functional and legal specifications.
• Performed database adaptation by converting Oracle-based views and procedures to work with SQL Server 2005, reflecting Puerto Rico’s infrastructure choice.
• Collaborated with local government officials, CGI team members, and analysts to ensure successful alignment with federal child welfare system standards.

Served as a team lead and developer on an internal JSF-based intranet portal for the Florida HSMV’s Web Development Group. This portal provided single sign-on and user role management for both state and contracted agencies.

• Developed approximately 35 JSF-based web pages for user account, role, and domain management using WebSphere servers.
• Created PL/SQL stored procedures and packages to support business logic and database interactions.
• Led and coordinated a team of two developers in rewriting the application using IBM’s Rational Application Developer.
• Conducted code reviews to enforce development best practices and improve team productivity.

Worked within the Java Development Group to build internal applications that supported agency collaboration and environmental permitting efforts.

• Created a J2EE-based knowledge sharing application for DEP’s internal Java user community using the Struts framework and Tiles templating system.
• Built a permit alert system that automatically notified interested parties of nearby environmental permit requests using Java, JSP, and JavaScript.
• Contributed to internal initiatives designed to improve inter-team communication and code reuse across Java development teams within the agency.

Worked within the Web Development Group to design and implement multiple public-facing and internal web applications. Played a significant role in projects that streamlined citizen services and internal agency workflows.

• Developed the Driver License Application website, which allowed Florida residents to pre-register for a driver license or ID card online — a bilingual web application that served over 1 million users following launch.
• Used properties files to support English/Spanish toggling, increasing accessibility for Florida’s multilingual population.
• Designed and implemented a PL/SQL code generator to produce standardized insert, update, and delete templates, significantly accelerating development for the Motorcycle Testing Registration Application at Florida HSMV.
• Collaborated with stakeholders from various bureaus to gather requirements and iteratively develop features.
• Helped build the Driver Improvement Certificate Issuance system and a residency verification web service used by the Florida College Prepaid program.
• Provided training and support for application users, responded to bug reports, and conducted troubleshooting of production issues.

Maintained and enhanced FDLIS (Florida Driver License Issuance System), the software used in driver license offices throughout the state. Contributed to improvements in performance, usability, and compliance with legislative mandates.

• Implemented updates to FDLIS to align with legislative changes and address known usability issues reported by frontline staff.
• Learned and worked in the UNIFACE programming language — a visual development platform with structural similarities to Visual Basic — as part of a legacy system originally migrated from COBOL.
• Provided direct support for driver license office personnel, responding to bug reports and data correction requests.
• Used SQL*Plus to query and troubleshoot issues in the Florida driver license record database, which contained over 18 million records.

Live Demo: chordela.com

• Built a full-stack web application that allows guitarists to find chord positions based on any tuning.
• Backend: Java Spring Boot API with logic for chord generation, tuning presets, and difficulty classification. Deployed using Docker on Render.
• Frontend: Angular 19 with HTML Canvas rendering of the fretboard, tuning preset manager, and animation effects.
• Implements responsive design and mobile-first UI for practical on-the-go use.
• Includes custom tuning support, favorite chord saving, and scale overlays for advanced users.
• Demonstrates full-stack problem-solving, performance tuning, and attention to musician usability.

Live Demo:
(Please allow up to a minute for the first solve, since Render.com has to spin up a new instance after 15 minutes of inactivity. After that, it should be fast.) Sudoku Solver
GitHub: View repository

• Designed and implemented a full-stack Sudoku solver using a recursive backtracking algorithm in Java.
• Backend: Spring Boot REST API that accepts board state, validates input, and returns a solved puzzle.
• Frontend: Angular 19 interface for manual puzzle entry, error feedback, and visual solution display.
• Includes dynamic error handling, responsive UI, and clean UX for casual or test-based solving.
• Deployed with Docker, organized with separate frontend/backend modules, and open-sourced for demonstration.