backstory/docs/resume/generic.md

JAMES KETRENOS

software architect, designer, developer, and team lead Beaverton, OR 97003

james@ketrenos.com (503) 501 8281

Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the advancement of energy efficient AI solutions, James is a driven problem solver, solution creator, technical leader, and skilled software developer focused on rapid, high-quality results, with an eye toward bringing solutions to the market.

SUMMARY

Problem-solving: Trusted resource for executive leadership, able to identify opportunities to bridge technical gaps, adopt new technologies, and improve efficiency and quality for internal and external customers.

Proficient: Adept in compiled and interpreted languages, the software frameworks built around them, and front- and backend infrastructure. Leveraging deep and varied experience to quickly find solutions. Rapidly familiarizes and puts to use new and emerging technologies.

Experienced: 20+ years of experience as an end-to-end Linux software architect, team lead, developer, system administrator, and user. Working with teams to bring together technologies into existing ecosystems for a myriad of technologies.

Leader: Frequent project lead spanning all areas of development and phases of the product life cycle from pre-silicon to post launch support. Capable change agent and mentor, providing technical engineering guidance to multiple teams and organizations.

Communicates: Thrives on helping people solve problems, working to educate others to help them better understand problems and work toward solutions.

RECENT HISTORY

2024-2025: Present

• Developed 'backstory'
  • An Large Language Model (LLM) pipeline allowing interactive queries about James' resume.
  • Utilizing both Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and fine-tuned approaches, questions asked about James will use information from his resume and portfolio for answers.
  • Includes a full-stack React web ui and backend.
  • While developing Backstory, both Hugging Face and Ollama were used.
  • While exploring ways to augment the reduced 7B parameter model, various prompts, RAG, and Parameter-Efficient Fine-Tuning (PEFT) via Quantized Low-Rank Adapter (QLORA) were used.
  • Languages: Python, C/C++, JavaScript, TypeScript, React, HTML5, CSS, NodeJS, Markdown, git
  • URL: https://github.com/jketreno/backstory
• Developed 'ze-monitor'
  • A lightweight C++ Linux application leveraging Level Zero Sysman APIs to provide 'top' like device monitoring of Intel GPUs.
  • URL: https://github.com/jketreno/ze-monitor
  • Languages: C++, CMake, DEB, RPM, bash, git
• Provided a new release of Eikona, targetting the latest Android APIs.
  • Tracked down the latest versions of various packages, updating to align with deprecated and new APIs.
  • Languages: React Expo, Android SDK, Java, BitKeeper

2018-2024: Intel® Graphics Software Staff Architect and Lead

• Redefined how Intel approaches graphics enabling on Linux to meet customer and product timelines.
  • Many internal facing presentations discussing goals, roadmap, and reasoning.
  • Developed internal tools to help managers better forecast and look into where engineering developers were working in alignment with business objectives.
  • Languages: DEB, RPM, GitHub Actions (GHA), HTML5, JavaScript, JIRA, SQL, NodeJS, Google Docs APIs
• Spearheaded internal projects to prove out the developer and customer deployment experience when using Intel graphics products with PyTorch, working to ensure all ingredients are available and consumable for success (from kernel driver integration, runtime, framework integration, up to containerized Python workload solution deployment.) *
• Focused on improving the customer experience for Intel graphics software for Linux in the data center, high-performance compute clusters, and end users. Worked with several teams and business units to close gaps, improve our software, documentation, and release methodologies.
• Worked with hardware and firmware teams to scope and define architectural solutions for customer features.
• Worked with teams to add telemetry data available from Intel GPUs for use in Prometheus, Grafana, and collectd. Developed dashboards and infrastructure to manage node deployments using GitHub Actions, runners, and Docker.

1998-2018: Open Source Software Architect and Lead

• Defined software architecture for handheld devices, tablets, Internet of Things, smart appliances, and emerging technologies. Key resource to executive staff to investigate emerging technologies and drive solutions to close existing gaps
• James career at Intel has been diverse. His strongest skills are related to quickly ramping on technologies being utilized in the market, identifying gaps in existing solutions, and working with teams to close those gaps. He excels at adopting and fitting new technology trends as they materialize in the industry.

PROLONGED HISTORY

The following are technical areas James has been an architect, team lead, and/or individual contributor:

• Linux release infrastructure overhaul: Identified bottlenecks in the CI/CD build pipeline, built proof-of-concept, and moved to production for generating releases of Intel graphics software (https://dgpu-docs.intel.com) as well as internal dashboards and infrastructure for tracking build and release pipelines. JavaScript, HTML, Markdown, RTD, bash/python, Linux packaging, Linux repositories, Linux OS release life cycles, sqlite3. Worked with multiple teams across Intel to meet Intel’s requirements for public websites as well as to integrate with existing build and validation methodologies while educating teams on tools and infrastructure available from the ecosystem (vs. roll-your-own).
• Board Explorer: Web app targeting developer ecosystem to utilize new single board computers, providing quick access to board details, circuits, and programming information. Delivered as a pure front-end service (no backend required) https://board-explorer.github.io/board-explorer/#quark_mcu_dev_kit_d2000. Tight coordination with UX design team. JavaScript, HTML, CSS, XML, hardware specs, programming specs.
• (internal) Travel Requisition: Internal HTML application and backend enabling internal organizations to request travel approval and a manager front end to track budgetary expenditures in order to determine approval/deny decisions. NodeJS, JavaScript, Polymer, SQL. Tight coordination with internal requirements providers and UX design teams.
• Developer Journey: Web infrastructure allowing engineers to document DIY processes. Front end for parsing, viewing, and following projects. Back end for managing content submitted (extended markdown) including images, videos, and screencasts. Tight coordination with UX design team.
• Robotics: Worked with teams aligning on a ROS (Robot OS) roadmap and alignment. Presented at Embedded Linux conference on the state of open source and robotics. LIDAR, Intel RealSense, opencv, python, C. Developed a robotic vision controlled stewart platform that could play the marble game labyrinth.
• Moblin and MeeGo architect: Focused on overall software architecture as well as moving forward multi-touch and the industry shift to resolution independent applications; all in a time before smart phones as we know them today. Qt, HTML5, EFL.
• Marblin: An HTML/WebGL graphical application simulating the 2D collision physics of marbles in a 3D rendered canvas.
• Linux Kernel: Developed and maintained initial Intel Pro Wireless 2100, 2200, and 3945 drivers in the Linux kernel. C, Software Defined Radios, IEEE 802.11, upstream kernel driver, team lead for team that took over the Intel wireless drivers, internal coordination regarding technical and legal issues surrounding the wireless stack.
• Open source at Intel: Built proof-of-concepts to illustrate to management the potential and opportunities for Intel by embracing open source and Linux.
• Intel Intercast Technology: Team lead for Intel Intercast software for Windows. Worked with 3rd party companies to integrate the technology into their solutions.

Professional Projects

1995 - 1998: Intel Intercast Technology

• OS: Microsoft Windows Application, WinTV
• Languages: C++
• Role: Team lead and software architect
• Microsoft Media infrastructure
• Windows kernel driver work
• Worked with internal teams and external companies to expand compatible hardware and integrate with Windows
• Integration of Internet Explorer via COM embedding into the Intercast Viewer

1999 - 2024: Linux evangelist

• One of the initial members of Intel's Open Source Technology Center (OTC)
• Worked across Intel organizational boundaries to educate teams on the benefits and working model of the Linux open source ecosystem
• Deep understanding of licensing issues, political dynamics, community goals, and business needs
• Frequent resource for executive management and teams looking to leverage open source software

2000 - 2001: COM on Linux Prototype

• Distributed component object model
• Languages: C++, STL, Flex, Yacc, Bison
• Role: Team lead and architect
• Evaluated key performance differences between Microsoft Component Object Model's (COM) IUnknown (QueryInterface, AddRef, Release) vs. the Component Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) for both in-process and distributed cross-process and remote communication.
• Developed prototype tool-chain and functional code providing a Linux compatible implementation of COM

1998 - 2000: Intel Dot Station

• Languages: Java, C
• Designed and built a "visual lens" Java plugin for Netscape Navigator
• Role: Software architect

2000 - 2002: Carrier Grade Linux

• OS distribution work
• Contributed to the Linux System Base specification
• Role: Team lead and software architect working with internal and external collaborators

2004 - 2006: Intel Wireless Linux Kernel Driver

• Languages: C
• Authored original ipw2100, ipw2200, and ipw3945 Linux kernel drivers
• Built IEEE 802.11 wireless subsystem
• Hosted Wireless Birds-of-a-Feather talk at the Ottawa Linux Symposium
• Maintained SourceForge web presence, IRC channel, and community

2015 - 2018: Robotics

• Languages: C, Python, NodeJS
• "Maker" blogs on developing a Stewart Platform
• Image recognition and tracking
• Presented at Embedded Linux Conference

2012 - 2017: RT24 - crosswalk

• Chromium based native web application host
• Role: Team lead and software architect
• Worked with WebGL, Web Assembly, Native Client (NaCl)
• Several internal presentations at various corporate events

2007 - 2009: Moblin

• Tablet targetting OS distribution
• Role: Team lead and software architect and requirements
• Technology evaluation: Cairo, EFL, GTK, Clutter
• Languages: C, C++, OpenGL

2012 - Web Sys Info

• W3C
• Tizen Working Group

2007 - 2017: Marblin

• An interactive graphical stress test of rendering contexts
• Ported to each framework being used for OS development
• Originally written in C and using Clutter, ported to WebGL and EFL

2009 - 2011: MeeGo

• The merging of Linux Foundation's Moblin with Nokia's Maemo
• Coordinated and worked across business groups at Intel and Nokia
• Role: Team lead and software architect
• Focused on:
  • Resolution independent user interfaces
  • Multi-touch enabling in X
• Educated teams on the interface paradigm shift to "mobile first"
• Presented at MeeGo Conference
• Languages: C++, QT, HTML5

Android on Intel

2011 - 2013: Tizen

• Rendering framework: Enlightenment Foundation Library (EFL)
• Focused on: API specifications
• Languages: JavaScript, HTML, C

2019 - 2024: Intel Graphics Architect

• Technologies: C, JavaScript, HTML5, React, Markdown, bash, GitHub, GitHub Actions, Docker, Clusters, Data Center, Machine Learning, git
• Role:
  • Set strategic direction for working with open source ecosystem
  • Worked with hardware and software architects to plan, execute, and support features
  • Set strategic direction for overhauling the customer experience for Intel graphics on Linux

Personal Projects

1995 - 2023: Photo Management Software

• Languages: C, JavaScript, PHP, HTML5, CSS, Polymer, React, SQL
• Role: Personal photo management software, including facial recognition
• Image classification, clustering, and identity

2020 - 2025: Eikona Android App

• OS: Android
• Languages: Java, Expo, React
• Role: Maintainer for Android port

2019 - 2023: Peddlers of Ketran

• Languages: JavaScript, React, NodeJS, HTML5, CSS
• Features: Audio, Video, and Text chat. Full game plus expansions.
• Role: Self-hosted online multiplayer clone of Settlers of Catan

2025: Ze-Monitor

• C++ utility leveraging Level Zero API to monitor GPUs
• https://github.com/jketreno/ze-monitor

Education:

• Studied computer science at University of California San Diego, Oregon State University, and Portland State University
• In his senior year of completing a bachelors degree, James left college to work full time for Intel Corporation

JAMES KETRENOS software architect, designer, developer, and team lead Beaverton, OR 97003

james@ketrenos.com (503) 501 8281

Professional Summary

James Ketrenos is an experienced software architect, designer, developer, and team lead with over two decades of expertise in Linux-based systems. Leveraging his strong problem-solving skills and deep technical knowledge across various domains including LLMs (Large Language Models), RAG (Relevance-Augmented Generation), and AI development, James brings a unique blend of industry experience to the table. His latest projects include 'Backstory,' an interactive GPT application that offers potential employers with insights into candidates.

Skills

Languages: C, C++, Python, Assembly, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Typescript, Java Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment, Build and Release, and Packaging Systems spanning multiple project domains and infrastructures SDKs and APIs for Internal and External Products (W3C, Tizen, MeeGo) Large Language Model (LLM) evaluation, selection, and deployment Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) including data curation, processing, and searching Fine-Tuning LLMs Extending LLMs with tool capabilities (llama3.2, qwen2.5)

Professional Experience

Backstory | Software Architect | 2025 - Present Developed an interactive LLM application that streamlines content generation and information processing for job candidates. Built a full-stack React web UI and backend using RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) techniques. Utilized Python, C/C++, JavaScript, TypeScript, React, HTML5, CSS, NodeJS, Markdown, git to create the project. Contributed significantly in developing the project using both Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and fine-tuned approaches.

Intel Graphics Software Staff Architect and Lead | Software Engineer, Intel Corporation | 2018 - 2024 Redefined how Intel approaches graphics enabling on Linux to meet customer and product timelines. Spearheaded internal projects to prove out the developer and customer deployment experience when using Intel graphics products on Linux. Worked closely with hardware and firmware teams to scope and define architectural solutions for features such as firmware deployment and telemetry data collection from Intel GPUs in the data center. Deployed internal LLM instances for developer access to those capabilities without exposing content to the cloud Architected, prototyped, built, and deployed build and release infrastructure that improved efficiency and developer insight Collaborated across various business units and geographies, integrating multiple development and validation methodologies aligned with executive objectives. Worked with hardware architects to plan, execute, and support features for Intel graphics software. Led multiple internal development projects involving customer-facing features for the Linux data center environment.

Open Source Evangelist | Software Architect, Intel Corporation | 2000 - 2018

• Set strategic direction for working within the open-source ecosystem as part of the Intel Open Source Technology Center (OTC). Educated teams on the benefits and working model of Linux.
• Contributed to the development of various open-source software projects such as MeeGo and Marblin. Played a key role in defining software architecture for handheld devices, tablets, IoT, smart appliances, and emerging technologies.
• Worked across Intel organizational boundaries to educate teams on Linux's benefits and working model.
• Built proof-of-concepts to illustrate potential and opportunities for open source software adoption within the company. Contributed to Linux kernel driver work, including development of initial drivers for wireless hardware.
• Frequent resource to help businesses understand various open source licensing models and how they can be used

Developer Journey Web Infrastructure Lead | Software Architect, Intel Corporation | 2004 - 2017

• Designed and built a comprehensive web infrastructure for engineers to document DIY processes, including the use of React and Polymer frameworks. Led a team in managing content submitted via extended markdown formats such as images and videos.

Robotics Engineer | Software Architect, Intel Corporation | 1998 - 2003

• Developed a robotic vision-controlled Stewart platform capable of playing the marble Labyrinth game. Worked on image recognition and tracking applications using Python and NodeJS.

Education

• Attended University of California San Diego, Oregon State University, and Portland State University
• During senior year in college, James began working full time at Intel and stopped pursuing a degree.

Personal Projects

Eikona Android App | 2016 - 2024

• Developed Android port of Eikona application utilizing Java, Expo, and React technologies.
• Maintains new releases targeting the latest Android APIs.

System Administrator | 1995 - present

• Maintains a small cluster of servers providing email, photo management, game servers, and generative AI deployments.