Interested in hiring me?
Contact me at laeren at gmail.com
Last updated on January 20, 2015
Resources
Highlights
Versatile engineer with deep web development experience, from back-end systems building and production automation, to front-end coding/design and feature requirements gathering, to project and release management
- Strong XML/HTML/CSS/Perl/shell scripting/Source Depot skills, and significant PHP development history
- Familiar with JavaScript/PowerShell/Java, MySQL/SQL/PostgreSQL, and git
- Deep globalization/localization experience and passion for the international web
- Extensive experience designing and scripting automation for complex processes
- 15 years cross-platform technology experience in both corporate and academic environments
Professional experience
Web Production Engineer
ExtraHop
Seattle, WA
01/2015—present
Newbs don't have resume-able bidness.
International Project Engineer / Production Engineer / Senior Content Engineer
Microsoft
Redmond, WA
11/2006—11/2014
Led round-the-clock international team supporting http://windows.com in 36 languages and 62 markets, from Windows 7 beta release through Windows 8.1; worked with cross-functional partners worldwide to continuously deliver locally relevant content and expand platform capabilities
Devised method for and worked with engineering to implement feature that allowed simultaneous work against current/future site: ability to publish ahead and merely “flip the switch“ to reveal content reduced Windows 8 launch to < 1 hour process vs. 17 hours for Windows 7
Designed/developed various tools/scripts that enabled constant scale as site grew to web’s 10th most-visited, with 10,000+ pages generated via 300,000+ XML files; many of these tools were adopted outside team or incorporated into core platform functionality
Worked closely with site management, content authors, localization and engineering to identify requirements for and help spec and improve http://windows.com’s CMS/pipeline/rendering platform
Acted as functional team lead all-up during multiple and extended management changes, and directly managed multiple onsite and offshore vendor teams
Trained both full-time and vendor engineers; drove team buy-in on lightweight documentation model that increased documentation coverage from near-zero to near-complete in < 6 months
Owned global front-end look and feel for http://windows.com, ensuring that all sites (including East Asian and right-to-left languages) rendered properly at all responsive breakpoints
Designed/developed custom style model that enabled site managers and content authors to deliver complex experiences without breaking brand or requiring involvement from engineers
Took over failing http://explore.live.com launch 1 month from release and successfully managed execution to original schedule, and later planned/executed migration to http://windows.com
Implemented predictable cadence, triage process, structured request model, and code review methodology for team, and created technical support model for self-service publishers
Oversaw technical consolidation of pre/post-sales content across all markets/multiple products onto http://windows.com; managed the Windows 7-8 and Internet Explorer 8-11 global releases as well as the full migration of all localized Vista content simultaneous with Windows 7 launch
Owned all international production tasks for Vista's localized Help site end-to-end; worked with site management to identify requirements for new site features and designed/developed several front-end features including an RSS parser for integrating partner content
Localization Program Manager
Microsoft
Redmond, WA
9/2005—11/2006
Managed multiple content projects, including Windows Vista and Windows Media Player 11, end-to-end, both as part of a collaborative team and solo
Specialized in automating tasks such as file management and bug analysis for Vista content team localization effort; designed/implemented comprehensive audit automation that was key to accurately shipping such a complex product in 34 non-English languages
Co-designed/developed content build system that enabled delivery of all localized in-product Vista Help content; built localized Windows for verification and troubleshooting of user assistance content; consulted on international build process/automation opportunities for multiple teams
Successfully partnered with core build team to design and implement global build solution for WMP11 content, removing need for separate English/non-English systems
Designed/developed general file management automation that dramatically reduced check-in errors across multiple projects; became team’s go-to technical person for a variety of internal tools
Took on ownership of neglected internal SharePoint site/external SharePoint portal; fully revamped information architecture and functionality
Localization Program Manager (contract)
Siemens Business Services @ Microsoft
Redmond, WA
5/2005—9/2005
Managed check-ins/coordinated testing of localized builds for HTML and CHM content for the legally-mandated Windows XPN release; built dynamic CHM content to make and validate in-house technical fixes
Troubleshot content bugs for over 20 languages and either fixed in-house/drove outsourced fixes depending on available resources/schedule and regulatory impact
Analyzed complicated localization status of Slovak/Slovenian XP Help, including automating depot retrieval and file comparisons, to ensure shipping with legally-compliant and appropriate content
Edited Flash content/audio for Japanese “dynamic tour," using Macromedia Flash and Sound Forge
Conducted post-project translation memory analyses using Trados
Research Assistant (unpaid, for-credit)
Department of Technical Communication, University of Washington
Seattle, WA
1/2003—9/2005
Instrumented/administered sites using PHP/Perl to run web-based experiments on information design
Developed, tested, and documented unobtrusive tools to track research data online
Created overall framework for generalized web experiments that continued as basis for research team’s work for several years
Assisted with graphical and statistical data analysis using Excel and SPSS, conducting literature reviews, writing and editing journal and conference articles, and presenting at conferences
Graduate Assistant
Educational Partnerships and Learning Technologies, University of Washington
Seattle, WA
12/2003—5/2005
Supported variety of departmental technology initiatives, including researching/testing technology options for the department, administering several infrastructure systems including the Big Brother and LDAP servers, and providing technical support to administration staff
Administered/developed new content and tools/databases for internal training program using PHP and MySQL; co-managed program itself and assisted with hiring/training/managing staff working in computing labs
Edited reference site for Walk-In Workshop Program, contributing to award for excellence in electronic instructional materials in 2004; provided support to workshop instructors including curriculum design and backup teaching services
Provided database (MySQL and PostgreSQL) and web development/standards (PHP, HTML, CSS) consulting services for various departmental projects
Process Engineer (internship)
Process and Technology Center, Sumitomo Kagaku
Osaka, Japan
6/2003—12/2003
Modeled powder behavior, using Insights neural network software, for plant-design prediction from base powder properties
Developed Excel VBA tools to analyze neural network data
Applied understanding of underlying chemical/physical processes to develop and document explanations for successful prediction models
Worked with prototype team to plan experiments for model verification
Volunteered English translation and editing services for journal articles and conference presentations
Seattle Public Schools Coordinator
Educational Partnerships and Learning Technologies, University of Washington
Seattle, WA
6/2002—6/2003
Recruited, interviewed, trained, and placed qualified college students as technical support staff in the Seattle Public School district
Administered and created new content and tools for the program web site (PHP, MySQL)
Communicated with principals and other school district officials at regular intervals to assess computing needs in the district; provided regular feedback and other management support to staff
Designed, bug tested, and documented a separate departmental software project, a web-based scheduling and general staff management tool
Edited documentation for a variety of other departmental projects
Computer Lab Consultant
Student Access and Computing Group
University of Washington
10/1999—6/2002
Provided cross-platform software support for UW students, faculty, and staff in the two campus general-access computing labs
Taught walk-in workshops on HTML, Photoshop, and Unix to UW students, faculty, and staff, and organized and taught training workshops for other student staff
Promoted to assistant network lead and installed, configured, and maintained several dozen Windows and Unix infrastructure servers
Specialized in printer system administration and hardware maintenance; reduced printer downtime to less than 2 days (from 3-5 before) within 2 months
Researched and wrote a departmental style guide; edited documentation for a variety of other departmental projects.
Education
M.S. |
Technical Japanese (Technical Communication Focus) |
University of Washington |
9/2002—6/2005 (3.78 GPA) |
Localization Certificate |
University of Washington Extension |
9/2004—6/2005 |
|
B.A. |
Japanese Linguistics |
University of Washington |
9/1997—6/2002 (3.56 GPA) |
B.S. |
Chemistry |
University of Washington |
9/1997—6/2002 (3.56 GPA) |
Publications
Spyridakis, Wei, Barrick, Cuddihy, and Maust. "Internet-Based Research: Providing a Foundation for Web Design Guidelines." IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 2005
Wei, Evans, Eliot, Barrick, Maust, and Spyridakis. "Influencing Web Browsing Behaviour with Intriguing and Informative Hyperlink Wording." Journal of Information Science, 31, 5, 433-445, 2005
Cuddihy, Wei, Bartell, Barrick, Maust, Leopold, and Spyridakis. "Conducting Remote, Internet-based Experiments on Web Design." Proceedings of the IEEE International Professional Communication Conference, 2005
Wei, Cuddihy, Barrick, and Spyridakis. "Conducting Usability Research through the Internet." Proceedings of the Usability Professionals' Association 2005 Conference, 2005
Wei, Maust, Barrick, Cuddihy, and Spyridakis. "Wikis for Supporting Collaborative Writing." Proceedings of the 52nd Annual International Technical Communication Conference, 204-209, 2005
Cuddihy, Wei, Barrick, Maust, Bartell, and Spyridakis. "Methods for Assessing Web Design through the Internet." CHI '05 Extended Abstracts of the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 1316-1319, 2005
Barrick, Maust, Spyridakis, Eliot, Wei, Evans, and Mobrand. "A Tool for Supporting Web-Based Empirical Research: Providing a Basis for Web Design Guidelines." Proceedings of the IEEE International Professional Communication Conference, 189-193, 2004
Evans, Wei, Eliot, Barrick, Maust, and Spyridakis. "The Effect of Informative, Intriguing, and Generic Hyperlink Wording on Web Browsing Behavior." Proceedings of the 51st Annual International Technical Communication Conference, 313-317, 2004
Awards
2006 Recipient: Microsoft "Gold Star" for initiative and problem solving in designing build system for localized Windows Vista assistance content
2004 Recipient (group): ACM SIGUCCS Competition, Electronic Instructional Classroom Materials, Second Place
2002 Recipient: Henry S. Tatsumi Scholarship for excellence in the study of Japanese