Senior Java Architect & Tech Lead in AWS/Microservices

James A. Barrows

Email: ***.*******@*****.***

Mobile Phone: 602-***-****

Github: https://github.com/JimBarrows

Stack Overflow: https://stackoverflow.com/users/45108/jim-barrows

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesabarrows/

Summary

I am a tech-savvy, accomplished professional with a rich and diverse career spanning various industries and technology domains. Highly skilled in spearheading the design and development of intricate, event-driven, service-oriented architectures for vital public healthcare systems. Demonstrated track record of seamlessly managing system upgrades and transitions, mainly replacing outdated systems with state-of-the-art solutions. I am an expert at leading cutting-edge technologies like Spring Boot, React, and MS SQL within an AWS environment. Adept at leadership and technical decision-making, with a history of securing follow-on contracts for mission-critical projects. Proficient in various programming languages and tools and well-versed in agile methodologies, documentation, and maintaining code quality through rigorous testing. Recognized for navigating complex organizational processes, fostering collaboration, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Eager to leverage extensive experience and passion for cutting-edge technologies to make valuable contributions to innovative projects and drive excellence.

Skills

Languages

Name

Level

Last Used

Experience

Java

Expert

Current

30+ years

Javascript

Intermediate

Current

20+ years

Python

Adv Beginner

5 years ago

2 years

Backend

Name

Level

Last Used

Experience

Spring/Spring Boot

Expert

Current

20+ years

Node

Beginner

10 years

1 year

Microservices

Expert

Current

10+years

SQL

Intermediate

Current

15+ years

JEE

Expert

1 year ago

15+ years

Frontend

Name

Level

Last Used

Experience

HTML 5

Expert

Current

20+ Years

React

Adv Beginner

Current

10+ years

Javascript

Intermediate

Current

15+ years

Dev Ops

Name

Level

Last Used

Experience

Linux/Unix

Intermediate

Current

30+ years

Docker

Intermediate

Current

15+ years

AWS

Intermediate

1 year ago

10

Experience

DegreeSight, Remote 03/2025 – Current Team Lead

-Migrated the flagship product from Spring 1 to Spring 3, and Java 8 to Java 22

-Helped improve throughput by 20%

-Led the team in using AI to enhance productivity and code quality

-Created best practices for the use of AI in creating Feature Specs

Curation Health, Remote 09/2024 – 01/2025 Sr. Software Engineer

•Enhanced the main product

•configured clients

•Used: Java, Quarkus, Scala, Docker, SQL, Amazon Cloud, Docker, Flyway

Donnelly Financial, Remote 07/2023 – 03/2024 Sr. Software Engineer

•I enhanced the flagship product, New Active Disclosure

•This product takes 10-Q, 10-K, and other financial filings and helps tag them in iXBRL for submission to the IRS. The company was expanding its offerings to the EU. This was an event-driven Micro Service Architecture on Azure. It used the Azure Bus and Azure Blob Storage.

•Using: Java, Spring Boot

CDC (Enquizit), Remote 06/2022 – 07/2023 Tech Lead

•Spearheaded design and development of event-driven, service-oriented architecture to assist the CDC and states in managing public healthcare.

•Orchestrated replacing an antiquated JEE-based system with a cutting-edge Event Drivent Microservice-based application.

•Played a vital role in securing follow-on contracts to complete initiative.

•Used: Java, Spring Boot, React, MS SQL, AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, Helm Charts

•Leveraged AWS infrastructure extensively to achieve the required high availability and scalability.

•Pioneered utilizing the latest technologies to create scalable systems capable of handling future pandemics while optimizing operational costs for states and jurisdictions.

•Designed an event-driven service-oriented architecture (SOA) system to create architectural blueprints and plans for the SOA system.

One Drop, Remote 11/2021 – 05/2022 Sr. Software Engineer (Scala)

•Created and maintained the Restful APIs used by the web-based front end.

•Used: Scala, IntelliJ, ZIO, AWS, Kafka, PostgreSQL

The Judge Group, Remote 06/2020 – 11/2021 Tech Lead

•Contracted as Tech Lead at Schwab for mentoring junior developers and supporting the Technical Manager, Scrum Master, and Product Owner.

•Played a pivotal role in shaping technology and development decisions, including selecting tech stacks and architectural directions.

•Navigated organizational processes and bureaucracy necessary for deployment and development of service.

•Led efforts related to service integrated into new accounts and modified account workflows, involving communication with multiple vendors to verify the identity of account holders in compliance with the Patriot Act, applicable laws, and business requirements.

•Used: Java: Spring Boot: Kafka

Cognizant, Austin, TX 11/2019 – 05/2020 Sr. Software Engineer

•Engaged in a contract with Apple to contribute to the internal CMS system.

•Facilitated the processing of diverse content publishing aspects across Apple's ecosystem.

• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to gather and understand software requirements.

•Maintained high-quality software solutions using industry best practices.

•Used: Java, Spring Boot

Surge Forward, Austin, TX 08/2018 – 11/2019 Sr. Software Engineer

•Contracted to Lowe's as a full-stack developer

•Modifying web and mobile interfaces

•Built and maintained REST APIs (all microservices) and quality assurance tasks.

•Used: Java, Spring Boot, REST APIs, HTML, JavaScript, Node, HAPI

•Contracted by Southern Tire Mart to engineer an EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) solution

•Implemented various EDI documents, including 846, 850, 855, 856, and 997. Met project deadlines and maintained budgetary constraints for all software deliveries.

•Using: Python, Django, RabbitMQ, Django-Rest, SFTP, Django-Celery, EDI.

Talent Burst LLC, Austin, TX 08/2017 – 07/2018 Sr. Software Engineer

•Contributed as a Consultant within the Professional Services division of the CyberSource subsidiary of Visa.

•Conducted comprehensive analysis and development efforts on legacy systems, aligning with contemporary JEE standards and libraries.

•Played a pivotal role in the development migration to Docker containers to facilitate the upgrade from Java 1.6 to 1.8.

•Supported successful transition from JBoss 4.2.3 to Tomcat by enhancing system performance and scalability.

•Used: Java, JEE, Tomcat, JBoss

Diversant, Phoenix, AZ 06/2016 – 07/2017 Sr. Software Engineer

•Executed diverse system administration tasks and software development initiatives to aid system software updates and upgrades.

•Used: Java, JEE, Tomcat, JBoss servers

Really Big Tree LLC, Phoenix 03/2016 - 06/2016 Founder

•Four of us founded a marketing company focused on small businesses that can’t usually afford a marketing company but need one. Automation was necessary to support this so my partners could focus on content and strategy rather than the bureaucratic parts of marketing.

•Used: React, Express, Node, Mongo, Docker, AWS EC2, RabbitMQ, NGINX, Facebook API, Twitter API, WordPress API, REST, JSON

High-Performance Credit Solutions, Phoenix 03/2016 - 06/2016 Sr. Software Engineer

•Designed and developed an auto-buyer forecasting tool

•Used: Java, Spring Boot, EXTJS, MySQL, AWS

American Express, Phoenix 02/2015 – 02/ 2016 Tech Lead

•Responsible for designing, implementing, and testing Web applications tailored for the marketing department, enabling the creation of merchant lists based on diverse criteria.

•The application seamlessly transformed user-selected criteria from the interface into complex SQL statements, executed immediately or scheduled.

•Results were available for download as Excel spreadsheets or retrieval via a JSON RESTful API.

•Used: Spring, Spring MVC, DB2, HTML5, JAX-RS, NLP

Informative Graphics, Phoenix 4/2014 – 2/2015 Senior Software Engineer

•Designed and developed a plugin for Brava! Enterprise & Alfresco 5.0

•Addressed compatibility challenges arising from the use of Dojo by Brava! Enterprise and Alfresco 5.0, necessitating creative solutions.

•Used: Dojo, HTML5, Java, Amazon Web Services

Best Western, Phoenix 11/2011 – 4/2014 Senior Software Engineer

•I built the system using Java, incorporating EJB and multi-tier architecture to reduce code size by over two-thirds, enhancing simplicity and system stability.

•Led the creation of initial proof of concept code by serving as a guiding example for the entire system.

•Orchestrated a seamless upgrade of JBoss from version 4. x to 5.2 for two significant systems by enhancing performance and reliability.

•Architected novel external-facing SOAP service by meticulously adhering to OTA 2011B specification.

•Implemented 12 messages from OTA specifications by aligning the system with industry standards.

•Ensured code quality through rigorous unit testing to achieve 80% code coverage.

•Used: Java, JEE, JBoss

University of Phoenix, Phoenix 10/2008 - 11/2011 Software Engineer

•Designed and developed the Admissions Workbench, a data entry application, from mid-development to production.

•Received extensive training in Scrum.

•I maintained and extended the Support Workbench product.

•Used: iBatis, Struts 2, Spring, EXTJS, SOAP, Oracle

Phoenix Staffing, Phoenix, AZ 06/2008 - 10/2008 Software Engineer

•Contracted with the University of Phoenix to work on their Application Workbench project.

•Used: iBatis, Struts 2, Spring, EXTJS, SOAP, Oracle

ASRS, Phoenix, AZ 11/2007 - 06/2008 Software Engineer

•Designed and developed a system for starting a long-running process, both on demand and scheduled.

•Used: Struts, Spring, Hibernate, Quartz

Wells Fargo, Phoenix, AZ 11/2006 - 11/2007 Software Engineer

•Designed and developed web services supporting loan origination

•Used: Java, SOAP, Spring, JUnit

•Joined the Standards & Governance team to help enforce software development standards created by HCFG and WF.

•Designed and implemented oversight procedures for projects as they moved through the SLDC. Many of these procedures were based on the Rational Unified Process.

•We helped establish WUP ( a Wells Fargo-specific version of RUP),

•Our enterprise architect’s role involved creating documents and communicating the systems involved, SLAs, affected data fields, and other architectural information.

•Transferred to the You Owe Me collections platform

•Used: JSF, SOAP, EJB’s, JDBC, Oracle.

CDI Technologies, AZ 02/2005 – 11/2006 Java Contractor

•Developed web services for Wells Fargo

•Used: Java, SOAP, Spring, Websphere

•Worked on several projects developing web services that spanned two or more different data stores.

Southwest Student Services, 3/2004 – 1/2005 Java Contractor

•Designed and developed a CSR web application

•Maintained and upgraded online loans and access applications. Maintained and upgraded web service calls to outside agencies.

•Maintained custom XML configuration subsystem

•Used: Struts, Tiles, Struts Validation, JSP, DB2, Websphere, AS400s

Discoverture Solutions, Phoenix, AZ 12/2003 – 2/2004 Java Contractor.

•Developed a web-based knowledge base for a biotech client

•Used: JSP, Servlets, Struts, JDBC, Oracle, Tomcat

• Security was handled through the client's LDAP server, which was container-based.

Technovation, Arizona 10/2003 – 12/2003 Software Developer

•Developed websites using a proprietary framework

•Used: Java, Servlets, HTML, MySQL, Tomcat

Unity Wave LLC,AZ 7/2002 – 10/2002 System Administrator

•Kept the ISP's network and computers running.

•Maintaining security throughout the network ( firewalls, ssh, etc).

•Improved email throughput and decreased spam by 80%.

• Cleaned out back doors and other hacker remnants.

•All systems were Redhat or Debian.

Helm Software Phoenix, AZ 1/2002 – 4/2002 Software Developer

•Maintained and enhanced the company's flagship product, Food Service Navigator.

•Used: Java, Servlets, Struts, FreeMarker, Versant OODBMS

Education America Phoenix, AZ 8/2001 – 12/2001 Instructor

•Taught multi-media classes in C/C++, Java, Windows NT, Linux, Visual Basic

•Responsible for developing presentations based on the school curriculum and then delivering the presentation to students.

Syntellect Phoenix, AZ 1/2001 – 4/2001 Software Engineer

•Design and develop software to interface between Syntellect's Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system and data sources such as IBM 3270, SQL databases, and other legacy systems.

•Used: Java, CICS, Cobol

iBeam Broadcasting, AZ 11/1999 – 11/2000 Sr. Software Developer

•Architected and developed a network streaming command and control system.

•It controlled the local computer (Windows and Linux), MS Netshow Services, SAMBA, and other services.

•The software was slated to control the Real Audio Video Streamer as well.

•It was also responsible for monitoring and, where possible, adjusting the network for optimal streaming performance across a wide geographical area using secure communications over the Internet.

•Interfaced with a producer control system, which on-site live producers used to produce a live streaming event.

•The user interface could interrogate any computer on the network or indicate overall network health.

•The system's primary goal was to require as little human intervention as possible.

•Used: Java, SAMBA, Java Swing, Linux, Windows, MS Netshow Services, Real Audio Video Streamer, Tomcat, Struts

Emerging Technologies Inc., AZ10/1996 – 11/1999 Software Developer

•Designed and developed EnableWare.

•The software was designed and developed to assist in all phases of a migration project, responding to the need for software that easily migrates data from legacy to client/server systems.

•Normalizing the COBOL

•Record and map the COBOL fields to their SQL counterparts.

•Used: Java, Java AWT, Java Swing, Cobol, SQL

•Contracted as a Data Specialist for the Motorola Iridium Project on the Validation, Verification, and Accreditation Team

• Tested all software to be uploaded to a satellite.

•Wrote a variety of Static and dynamic analyses of the software

•Used

•Bourne shell script

•Sun workstations.

•Contracted as a Software Developer to Phoenix Newspapers, Inc

•Optimized SQL code.

•Reduced run times by half.

•Solved a deadlock problem with their C++ code and Sybase

•Contracted as a Software Developer for American Express

•Designed and developed software that converted, updated, and filtered incoming airline fare data.

•The airline fair data consisted of six tables of non-normalized data in flat files converted to ISAM files.

•This data was tested and put into a memory map for other American Express software use.

•The program was written in "C" on a Power PC running IBM's AIX.

•The initial code ran in 96 hours and was optimized to 5 hours.

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