William A. Gimbel

Enhanced the Rails-based Grants Management System by refactoring core modules to boost extensibility and simplify maintenance. Redesigned the user interface with new frontend components and upgraded existing ones using ViewComponent, Turbo, and Stimulus. This transition replaced outdated JavaScript and jQuery code with encapsulated, reusable UI components, creating a more interactive experience and simplifying testing. Importantly, built a new full-stack functional component that allows applicants to input detailed Activity-Based Budgets directly into their online applications. Additionally, integrated Cypress-driven end-to-end tests to expand test coverage beyond current unit and system tests. Subsequently, reinstated as an ongoing half-time employee to continue leading development.

Developed new systems to enhance automation within the business. Created and deployed Ruby on Rails applications that communicate with each other and integrate with legacy systems through RESTful APIs. The focus areas included Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Insurance Tracking, and partner-facing Claims APIs. The OCR and Insurance Tracking systems manage large volumes of documents simultaneously, utilizing AWS Textract and Tesseract (an open-source OCR engine).

All systems are deployed on AWS, using Capistrano and Ansible. The databases are managed with PostgreSQL RDS. Some applications are containerized with Docker or run inside Docker containers.

Led all software development and infrastructure initiatives for a state agency. Built a proprietary grants management system using Ruby on Rails, effectively connecting data to a public Drupal website. Migrated server infrastructure to a private cloud with cutting-edge VMware technology and enhanced the network to ensure reliable redundancy in connectivity, data storage, and capacity.

Led hands-on project tasks including architecture, design, coding, and deployment of CIRM's Ruby on Rails-based Grants Management System. Developed a metadata-driven framework that streamlined the definition of deliverables, significantly reducing deployment time and resulting in ready-to-review online deliverables. Introduced a stereotype abstraction layer to enhance control over internal namespaces, eliminate redundant meta-definition code, and accelerate deliverable deployments. Built a RESTful JSON web service to automate access to current grant application data on the CIRM public website, which was Drupal-based. Reimplemented key high-traffic routes with improved front ends and more aggressive data caching, alleviating SQL query bottlenecks in data-heavy visualizations, thus improving performance and user experience.

Initially served as a contract IT Advisor at Infonetica, Inc., supporting the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) from April 2010 to May 2012, before progressing to the role of Staff Director of Information Technology in May 2012.