Benjamin Michael Waters
Lead Systems Architect & Full-Stack Engineer
📍 San Francisco, CA / Remote
Professional Summary
Full-Stack Software Engineer and Applied AI Engineer with a B.S. in Computer Software Engineering and over two decades of hands-on experience designing, developing, and deploying business-critical applications, internal tools, and data pipelines. Founder of TLRD.AI, building privacy-first search and AI tooling (Kotlin Multiplatform, Next.js, Django). Embeds directly with operational stakeholders to turn ambiguous requirements into reliable solutions, and uses agentic coding tools (Claude Code, Cursor, Google Gemini) to ship faster.
Verified Experience
Founder / Full-Stack Software Engineer / Applied AI Engineer
TLRD.AI • 2026-01
- Architected and built a cross-platform context-menu search utility from the ground up using Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP), maximizing shared business logic while keeping native performance.
- Authored software design specifications defining the multiplatform architecture, data flow, and boundaries with platform-specific APIs.
- Engineered native OS context-menu integrations that capture and process text selections without interrupting the user's workflow; used Next.js for a responsive, state-driven UI.
- Sole developer across the full lifecycle: architecture, interface design, testing, and deployment. Also building AI tools that extract verified skills from codebases and turn them into quantitative ATS resumes.
AI Trainer
Handshake AI Fellowship • 2026-10
- Develop and evaluate domain-specific prompts to assess large language model performance; analyze outputs for scientific accuracy, clarity, and depth.
- Improve model understanding through expert review and feedback, supported by independent research.
Freelance Web Developer & Software Consultant
Self-Employed • 2005-08
- Partnered directly with non-technical clients to translate operational needs into maintainable Drupal, Django, and Next.js web applications and custom tools.
- Designed custom RESTful APIs, database schemas, and admin dashboards across retail, food co-op, and healthcare clients, owning the lifecycle from scoping through deployment and training.
Systems Administrator & Web Developer
Springfield Food Co-op • 2011-05
- Embedded with store operations to build automations: batch point-of-sale price imports, inventory reconciliation, and custom reporting that saved hours of manual entry weekly.
- Designed and maintained responsive, mobile-friendly HTML5 Drupal websites; managed Windows systems, networking, and user provisioning.
- Wrote user documentation and trained non-technical staff to drive adoption of new tools.
Information Technology Specialist (Intern)
Springfield Hospital • 2008-08
- Supported daily IT help-desk operations in a mission-critical healthcare setting, resolving computer and network issues for hospital staff.
Database Administrator & Software Developer (previously Frontend Developer and GIS Technician)
Geographic Data Technology, now TomTom • 1998-08
- Built a system to catalog and search 60,000 maps, with a custom barcode-scanner checkout; profiled SQL Server and wrote stored procedures to cut search response time to 0.2 seconds.
- Built ConTrack (Microsoft Access) to track and assign GIS editing tasks; trained new employees and taught cross-training classes in MS Access database development.
- Recognized as Employee of the Month for work on the Library Catalog.
Technical Proficiencies
Python
TypeScript
JavaScript
Kotlin
Dart
PHP
Bash
HTML5
CSS3
Visual Basic
Docker
Docker Compose
GitLab CI/CD
GitHub Actions
Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)
Proxmox
Caddy
Cloudflare Tunnels
AWS
Hetzner
PostgreSQL
Microsoft SQL Server
SQLite
PostGIS
Microsoft Access
Claude Code
Cursor
Google Gemini
GitHub Copilot
Syncthing
Matrix Synapse
React
Next.js
Node.js
Express
Kotlin Multiplatform
Jetpack Compose
Flutter
Django
Django REST Framework
Drupal
Ember.js
Drizzle ORM
flutter_vodozemac
Key Projects
SearchWith.app
['Kotlin', 'Kotlin Multiplatform', 'Android', 'AIDL IPC', 'Next.js', 'AES-256-GCM', 'Claude Code', 'Google Gemini']
Privacy-first search orchestrator with fast native performance and an air-gapped core.
- Decoupled core routing logic from isolated service providers across strict IPC boundaries; built a cloud sync service with client-side zero-knowledge AES-256-GCM encryption.
- Shipped the full application suite using agentic AI pair programming (Claude Code, Google Gemini) for prompt engineering, automated refactoring, and multi-module integration.
SearchWith.site & Browser Extensions
['Manifest V3', 'AES-256-GCM', 'PBKDF2', 'Chrome', 'Edge', 'Firefox']
Privacy-first search hub and cross-browser extensions supporting 80+ search engines and AI models.
- Implemented client-side AES-256-GCM encryption with PBKDF2 key derivation for passphrase-protected history and zero-trust cloud sync.
- Refactored monolithic code into single-responsibility domain controllers (engine management, cryptographic vault, sync engine).
Contribs.app
['Django REST Framework', 'PostgreSQL', 'Kotlin', 'Jetpack Compose', 'Python', 'Docker Compose', 'Git']
Free, open-source political contributions transparency engine created as a VTSU Senior Capstone.
- Engineered Python ETL pipelines that normalize thousands of JSON records into a relational schema, exposed through modular serializers, viewsets, and routers.
- Containerized with Docker Compose and automated Git post-receive deployment hooks; used agentic coding tools to speed prototyping and test coverage, earning an A grade.
Resistance.chat
['Flutter', 'Matrix Protocol', 'flutter_vodozemac', 'SQLite', 'Docker', 'Synapse', 'PostgreSQL']
Free, open-source secure coordination engine for social actions.
- Implemented end-to-end encryption using flutter_vodozemac with an offline-first SQLite cache, backed by a Dockerized Synapse and PostgreSQL backend.
Proxmox Homelab Linux Virtualization Server
['Proxmox', 'Linux', 'Caddy', 'Syncthing']
Self-hosted Proxmox / Linux environment running containerized services, a Caddy reverse proxy, and Syncthing file sync across local hardware and VPSs.
- Architected and maintain containerized services, reverse proxy routing, and file sync infrastructure.
TLRD.AI & SearchWith.app Discourse Support Server
['Discourse', 'Ember.js']
Discourse community support server for the TLRD.AI and SearchWith.app products.
- Run and maintain community support infrastructure.
Autonomous Configuration Agent & Internal Tooling
['Next.js', 'TypeScript', 'Express', 'Drizzle ORM', 'Docker', 'SSH']
Extensible CLI automation engine using modular action packs.
- Designed automation for remote service configuration, provisioning, node bootstrapping, health verification, and secure SSH credentialing.
Allergy Assistant
['Django REST Framework', 'PostGIS']
UVM team project: geospatial restaurant finder.
- Developed geospatial features and backend services using Django REST Framework and PostGIS.
Springfield Food Co-op Website Redesign
['Drupal', 'PHP', 'HTML5']
Redesign of Springfield Food Co-op website to improve mobile experience.
- Rebuilt website interface using Drupal, PHP, and responsive HTML5.
GIS Mapping Resource Library Database
['SQL Server', 'Microsoft Access', 'Visual Basic']
Database and checkout system for cataloging and searching 60,000 maps.
- Cataloged 60,000 maps with barcode-scanner integration and optimized stored procedures to achieve 0.2-second search response time.
Education
Bachelor of Science, Computer Software Engineering
Vermont State University
Cyberethics research on cell-site simulator protocols, mobile communication security, and data privacy. Coursework: Database Systems (A+), Object-Oriented Design (A+), Advanced Web Development (A+), Software QA & Testing (A), System Architecture, Operating Systems.
Coursework toward B.S. Computer Science
University of Vermont
Associate of Science, Computer Systems Management
Community College of Vermont
