Robert Earl Baker

robert@cimba.com
Current as of August 10, 2010

An experienced Software Developer specializing in web application development. Experienced in the Java programming language, Object-Oriented methodologies and the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).

Summary of Qualifications

• Experienced in Object-Oriented Analysis/Design and Java Development, progressing from problem statement to well-documented designs
• Analytical thinker that consistently resolves ongoing issues or defects, often called upon to consult on problems that have eluded resolution by others
• Self starter with ability to work either independently or as part of a team
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Able to work with technical team members and analysts to evaluate designs and enhance specifications
• Strong teamwork and proven problem solving abilities
• Able to work in fast-paced environment, working on many tasks at the same time
• Willing to learn new technologies, even if necessary to do so after hours

Technical Experience

Languages - Java, Pascal/Delphi, C/C++, Ada, FORTRAN, HTML, CSS, PL/SQL, XML, Javascript, JSON
APIs - Servlets, JSP, Javadoc, JDBC, JSTL, JavaMail, Borland VCL, Windows API, SiteMesh, Cocoon, iBATIS
Concepts - MVC, OOA/OOD, Unit, Module and System level testing
Software - Oracle JDeveloper, Eclipse/MyEclipse, Microsoft Office, Rational ClearCase/ClearQuest, CVS, Subversion
Databases - Oracle, Sybase, MySQL
Operating Systems - Windows (95 to Vista), Unix/Linux, MacOS X

Professional Experience

The Weather Channel (May 2006 - Present)
Shared Services - The Weather Channel Interactive (May 2006 - Present)
Senior Application Developer
Responsibilities:

• Primary Developer for server-side applications providing weather data to customer-facing web applications
• Work with application and content developers to resolve technical issues
• Provide effort-level estimates for project requirements and Bugzilla items
• Develop and provide Technical Design Documents for all major projects assigned to
• Review and update application documentation after projects are loaded to Production
• Mentor junior team members on applications, best practices, development, design, and Java
• Work with Architecture group to development and implement high quality, stable, and efficient applications
• Assist Quality Assurance (QA) group in ensuring test cases are thorough and complete

TWCi Mobile Messaging products
Design and develop application products to provide real-time, weather-based messaging to mobile devices

• Projects included Cingular Database (4.1), AT&T Storefront, AT&T Point of Sale, and TWC Max iPhone application
• Products processed real-time subscription events for track user preferences and subscription status
• Products communicated with vendor subscription management systems via SOAP and XML
• Logic included message sequence processing to ensure data synchronization between TWC and vendor databases
• Worked closely with vendors to ensure designs implemented desired features
• Added server side functionality to provide Push Notification and delivery for TWC Max

Maps 2.0 Project - Developer
Provides interactive Flash-based weather maps to customers with pan-and-zoom functionality and multiple weather layers

• Wrote new Data Server application to provide XML-based data point information for interactive Map Client application
  • Application based on eStreetlet application framework, and provides XML data point services for the Interactive Map and Google Mapplet client based on currently selected map location, zoom level and location type
  • eStreetlet framework involved refactoring more than 2,000 Java classes in the existing eStreet framework into six components. Work also involved refactoring key classes that restricted a single copy of the application to run under Tomcat, to allow multiple applications to do so
• Wrote new Geotarget Server application to allow dynamic, in-page ad refreshes as customers manipulate the Interactive Map client
  • Provides JSON data services to allow browser pages to determine ad placement
  • Application processes ESRI Shape file data to build the spatial index that allowed data to be generated based on the latitude/longitude of the center point of the map
• Wrote new Ad Data Server application for Ad Sales Group to provide management functions for datasets geo-coded using Microsoft MapPoint services
  • Application was based on eStreetlet application framework
  • Application generates XML data points for third-party vendor-sponsored locations for Interactive Map client

Weather On Your Website Project - URS (Universal Registration System) Developer
Provide customizable weather "modules" that users can place on their websites to provide weather.com data

• Coded changes to the URS Java web application
• Coded content XSP/HTML pages to provide signup and management functionality to users for their account and modules
• Coded XML "whitelist" service to provide list of premium users as security measure for displaying modules
• Product is the #2 source of referrals for weather.com, behind Yahoo

Delta Technology, Inc. (January 1998 - May 2006)
Customer Systems - delta.com and flysong.com
Senior Developer
Responsibilities:

• Primary Developer for ten web applications on the delta.com and flysong.com websites
• Provided 24x7x365 monitoring, troubleshooting, and maintenance of multi-billion dollar website for major U.S. airline
• Subject Matter Expert on usage of the SiteScope website monitoring tool
• Attend internal/vendor Requirements Gathering and Design sessions
• Attend User Interface Gathering and Design sessions
• Attend Reporting Requirements sessions
• Review and write project documentation
• Schedule and lead Design and Code Reviews
• Provide cost and effort-level estimates for Change Requests
• Coordinate development activities for developers on projects assigned a Lead role
• Work with application and content developers to resolve technical issues during development and testing
• Write Software/Technical Design Documents for required project changes
• Update application documentation after projects are loaded to Production
• Assist Quality Assurance (QA) group in ensuring new functionality Master/Sanity test cases are thorough and complete
• Mentor junior team members on
  • Setting up Developer and QA layer instances
  • Performing Ant builds for development instances
  • Updating build-time dependencies and performing Release Engineering Tool (RET) builds
  • Managing source code and application components using ClearCase and ClearQuest

Ferrari Project - Sole Developer
Convert back-end data access classes from proprietary VectrTerm to Services generated from Web Service Definition Language (WSDL) files using Axis

• Coded changes to the Upgrades After Purchase Java web application
• Applied content HTML/JSP changes to convert look-and-feel of application to match that of the new delta.com resulting from the Site Revitalization Project
• Performed code cleanup and streamlining, reducing the number of Java classes used by the application by more than 30 percent and application footprint by almost 30 percent

Dossier Lite Project - Sole Developer
Enhance user experience on delta.com by providing drop-down list of a user's available itineraries for quick access upon login

• Coded changes to the "one stop" Java web application
• Updated and created HTML/JSP pages to add appropriate content based on user and itinerary availability state
• Project was completed in three weeks going through entire SDLC

Site Revitalization Project - Lead Developer
Redesign of the delta.com website to reduce complexity, increase flexibility, increase user experience, and reduce maintenance complexity

• Coded 30+ JSP pages using the new site design
• Integrated SiteMesh and OSCache Open Source framework tools for use in the site, and mentored several members of the team on their use
• Coded Limited Time Offer (LTO) JSP pages using JSTL to process XML data files in order to separate logic from content and data updates from Delta content teams
• Set up and configured three SunOne application server instances for 40+ web applications in the development environment to work with new tools available for the site

Future of Loyalty Project, Phases 2, 4 and 5 - Lead Developer and Technical Lead
Rework the Delta SkyMiles® program in regards to initially reducing, then eliminating, the number of points required for First-Class upgrades on Delta flights. The project also provided for special upgrades for Hawaii residents.

• Coded changes for the Purchase Points and Upgrades After Purchase Java web applications
• Implemented last-minute Change Requests with no loss to project schedule

Milan Project - Sole Developer
Migrated 28 delta.com applications from BEA Weblogic 5.1 to Sun Java System Web Server (SJSWS) 6.1

• Performed the proof-of-concept conversion of the "one stop" application, and documented findings of the conversion
• Coded changes to remaining Java web applications as identified by the proof-of-concept stage of the project
• Applied any content-related changes as identified during development or testing

Online Check-In, Phase 2 - Technical Lead, Lead Developer, Technical Advisor
Added functionality to allow Delta Codeshare Partner customers to view itineraries, check-in, and print boarding passes online for eligible segments

• Researched methods available for determining Mainline, Codeshare, and Interline segments based on data inputs
• Coded common application component to display information for all segments of an itinerary
• Coded new functionality to ensure application flow was correct based on information in itineraries

Miscellaneous

• Modified three delta.com, eight flysong.com Java web applications and two common components to be Web Reference Model compliant
• Reaccomplished front end and completed content componentization of Flight Schedules application
• Participated in more than a dozen Maintenance and Break/Fix loads
• Zero builds in Integration Test and no more than three builds in System Test for any project worked on
• Zero Sev 1 or Sev 2 defects recorded for new features in any project worked
• Zero Production back-outs due to code changes in any project worked
• Attended Rational Rose, Java, and Struts training

United States Air Force (December 1982 to January 1998)
Computer Programmer

• Seven years as a Computer Programmer
• Maintained National Target Base System written in C programming language, Motif, accessing a Sybase database
• Sole Developer in creating Exercise Management System for the Air Force using the Ada programming language from requirements and design documentation provided by business analyst
• Also performed duties as Computer Operator and RF-4C Flight Simulator Technician

Cimba Solutions
Sole Proprietor

• Designed and developed website for Chapel Hill Middle School in Douglas County, Georgia (Summer, 2003)
• Designed and developed website for Douglasville, Georgia City Council candidate (Summer, 2003)

Education History

Troy State University, Troy, Alabama
Graduated in 1996 - Summa Cum Laude
Bachelor of Science
Major in Computer Science, Minor in Mathematics, Minor in Military History

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