Engineering Portfolio
Michael D. Penn
Full-stack architect & AI engineer. 31+ years shipping production software. Solo-built a SaaS platform with 393 components and an AI pipeline that generated 117K+ files in 33 days.
Technology Stacks
Four production stacks, used in anger. Not a wish list — these are technologies I've shipped with.
Modern Web / React
PrimaryMicrosoft / Enterprise
EnterprisePython / AI-ML
AI/MLCross-Cutting
DevOpsFeatured Engineering Work
Production systems I architected, built, and shipped. All metrics are real, not projections.
CriticalThink HR
Solo Technical Founder · 0-to-1 SaaS Platform
Next.js 15 · React 19 · TypeScript 5 · Supabase · PostgreSQL · Capacitor 8 · Python
AI-powered HR certification exam prep platform with 6,500+ SHRM exam questions, real-time analytics dashboards, predictive readiness scoring, and native iOS app. Built entirely solo from blank repo to production.
Technical Highlights
- Multi-provider AI orchestration (Gemini, Claude, GPT)
- Offline-first SQLite ↔ PostgreSQL sync architecture
- Row-Level Security across all 206 tables
- Admin panel: question bank management, user analytics, bulk ops, AI content review
- Psychometric validation pipeline for exam items
- Analytics dashboards with predictive readiness scoring (Recharts + real-time streaming)
- Native iOS via Capacitor 8 (95% complete) with Background Sync
- Feature-first modular architecture
AI Media Pipeline
Solo Engineer · Industrial-Scale Content Generation
Python · Vertex AI · Cloud TTS (Chirp3-HD) · FFmpeg · Playwright · Supabase
Production pipeline that ingests exam questions from PostgreSQL, generates dual-speaker executive dialogue scripts via Gemini, renders visual slides via headless Playwright, synthesizes dual-voice audio via Google Cloud TTS, and assembles broadcast-standard video with FFmpeg.
Technical Highlights
- Vertex AI batch mode → 50% cost reduction in script generation
- Broadcast-standard audio: -14 LUFS at 48kHz/192kbps
- Dual-speaker synthesis: Chirp3-HD voices (Enceladus host + Aoede analyst) with SSML
- Hardware-accelerated encoding: NVIDIA NVENC → Windows MediaFoundation → Intel QuickSync fallback chain
- Parallel processing with ThreadPoolExecutor
- Deterministic audio timing (no Whisper alignment needed)
- Dual-format video: YouTube 1920×1080 + LinkedIn 1080×1350
- Slack webhook notifications for pipeline monitoring
SCMS 2.0
Senior Solutions Architect · Enterprise System Modernization
C# · Blazor · .NET Core 8 · SQL Server · Google Vertex AI · Document AI
Complete modernization of the Sports Contract Management System serving USA Today sports writers/editors and sports attorneys nationwide. AI-driven contract analysis, parsing, and database insertion. Replaced decade-old infrastructure.
Technical Highlights
- AI contract parsing: Vertex AI + Document AI extracts multi-season coaching agreement terms
- Automated email parsing: hMailServer captures contracts → auto-inserts into database
- Web services for USA Today periodic data updates
- Enterprise-grade: security, compliance, legal industry requirements
- Client relationship started at Spencer Fane LLP (2010) → followed stakeholders to WME/Endeavor
- Originally built for Marquette School of Law as teaching tool
Pipeline Architecture
The AI media pipeline that produced 117K+ files in 33 days. Six-stage processing with hardware-accelerated encoding.
Ingest
Supabase PostgreSQL
Generate Scripts
Google Gemini
Render Slides
Playwright Headless
Synthesize Audio
Cloud TTS Chirp3-HD
Assemble Video
FFmpeg + NVENC
Upload + Track
Supabase Storage
Enterprise Track Record
Selected engagements from 31+ years of production engineering across telecom, financial services, healthcare, higher education, and e-commerce.
Charter Communications
Director, Enterprise Integration · 1999 – 2006 (7 years)
Managed team of 20+. Led Order Automation system architecture. Created Enterprise Business Services team for reusable SOA patterns. Cross-functional coordination across EAI, EDW, CMS, billing vendors.
C#, ASP.NET, SQL Server, BizTalk, SharePoint, Web Services, Oracle
Wells Fargo Advisors
Business Systems Consultant · 2009 – 2011
Key Client Solutions 4Front Portal (SharePoint + ExtJS). FA Reporting Dashboard. Automated monthly data loads from VBScript/Access mess → SSIS + C# + SQL Server.
C#, ASP.NET, SQL Server, SharePoint, ExtJS, jQuery, Sencha Touch, SSIS
Centene Corporation
Senior Software Engineer · 2013 – 2014
Designed enterprise data management app. Pivoted backend from SQL Server MDS to MongoDB when MDS proved insufficient. SSIS processes pulling from Oracle + Teradata. HIPAA-adjacent enterprise environment.
C#, ASP.NET, SQL Server, MDS, Tibco EMS, MongoDB, Oracle, Teradata, SSIS, SSRS
Washington University in St. Louis
Application Architect · 2013 – 2014
Rewrote PowerBuilder/SQL Server 2005 Admissions System to C#.NET/SQL Server 2012. Converted DTS packages to SSIS. Proposed SSRS replacement for InfoMaker reports.
C#.NET, SQL Server 2012, SSIS, SSRS, PowerBuilder (legacy migration)
HRTrainingClasses.com
Co-Founder · 2017 – 2023
Built and scaled portfolio of e-learning platforms from zero to consistent profitability. Full product lifecycle: dev, marketing, sales, support, accounting.
Full-stack web, marketing automation, SEO, analytics
Certifications
HR certifications combined with AI engineering skills — relevant for HR Tech, workforce analytics, and AI-powered people platforms.
Compliance Experience
StarrPointSoftWave.com (healthcare), ABF/RedCard (insurance claims: EOBs, benefit checks, electronic payments)
Wells Fargo Advisors — internal compliance frameworks, reporting dashboards
ABF — claims processing for insurance companies and third-party administrators
Centene Corporation — enterprise healthcare data management, Unified Member View
Let's Build Something
Available for consulting engagements, technical leadership roles, and engineering challenges that serve a purpose greater than the bottom line.
All repositories are private — confidential work with entrepreneurs and enterprise clients.