Peter Nikolla Work History

Work History

ConnectRN, Software Development Manager (July 2022 to September 2024)                   Waltham, MA
Provide nurses with flexible work opportunities and help eradicate the healthcare staffing crisis.

  • Effective on-site and remote manager of a high-performing team, effective at delivering the business strategy. Managed 21,000 hours of development for a $7 million revenue business.
  • Impact on communication and collaboration: Optimize synchronous and asynchronous communication practices for local, nearshore, and offshore resources
  • Adjusted team operating model after two reductions in force actions
  • Manage Capital vs. Operation Expenses (80/20 split)
  • Manage two scrum teams of 5 to 7 developers, local, nearshore, and offshore.
  • Implemented Agile Scrum Ceremonies.
  • Achieved 98% Scrum burndown.
  • Worked closely with the cloud team to modernize CI/CD.
  • Hold weekly one-on-ones with all direct reports.
  • Translate the product roadmap into engineering goals for the team, communicating with the stakeholders to set expectations.
  • Deliver features for the business by working closely with the PMs, QA, and Design.
  • Work with customer facilities to integrate with their timekeeping system.
  • Drove team-building events
  • Coach and guide my team based on technical competency. I am not afraid to deep-dive to help resolve technical issues.
  • Recognize and champion team and individual success.
  • Effectively balanced project priority and resource assignments to ensure objectives are met.
  • Lead my team toward improvement while ensuring quality and on-time delivery.
  • Work closely with the Product team to manage the backlog.
  • Review and distribute relevant articles on relevant technology trends for continuous improvement.
  • Created a feature document process using Confluence, tying Confluence to JIRA epics and stories.  Linking from documentation to code.
  • Application stack – React, React-Native, GoLang, Elasticsearch, DynamoDB and MySQL, running on AWS as microservices.
  • Leading the team in adding Obversability.

Aventiv Technologies, Software Development Manager (March 2019 to June 2022)                           Southboro, MA
Transforming the lives of incarcerated individuals and their families with modern technology that radically improves connectivity to loved ones, increases access to essential services, fosters safer facilities, and reduces recidivism.

  • Manage Capital vs. Operation Expense (60/40 split)
  • Managed the IT budget for my department ($1 million)
  • Manage a high-performing team of 5 to 10 developers located across the country.
  • Hold weekly one-on-ones with all direct reports.
  • Mentor and develop team members to be better versions of themselves.
  • Translate the product roadmap into engineering goals for the team, communicating with the stakeholders to set expectations.
  • Deliver features for the business by working closely with the PMs, QA, and Design.
  • Coach and guide my team based on technical competency. I am not afraid to deep-dive to help resolve technical issues.
  • Recognize and champion team and individual success.
  • Supportive and drive my teams cross-functionally to ensure the best experience for our users.
  • Host weekly meetings for all projects and ongoing support with representatives from the relevant cross-functional teams to ensure their needs are being met and to address any issues.
  • Effectively balanced project priority and resource assignments to ensure objectives were met.
  • Review and distribute relevant articles on relevant technology trends for continuous improvement.
  • Coach my team on the ALM process established at Aventiv.
  • Take and drive ownership of projects end-to-end, caring about the total product quality and experience, even when implementation responsibility falls outside my control.
  • Guide my team toward improvement while ensuring quality and on-time delivery.
  • Build speech models and AI to analyze conversations between inmates and friends/family.
  • Application stacks: PHP/Laravel, C# .NET, Ruby on Rails, GoLang, MySQL, Postgres, and Couchbase, running on AWS and on-premises servers.

Planet Fundraiser, CTO/Co-Founder (July 2017 to Feb 2019)                                                            Birmingham, AL
Planet Fundraiser is the smartest fundraising app on the planet. It digitally connects users – passionate supporters of causes – with businesses to boost financial support for causes they care about when purchases are made

  • Managed a remote app development team in Alabama.
  • Managed an offshore team in Kathmandu, Nepal, for backend server development. 
  • Managed Product Manager and all product features. 
  • Lead Designer and Architecture
  • Controlled the IT budget and managed costs for the company, keeping AWS cost < $2,000 / month.
  • Managed strategic Technology Planning
  • Provide leadership and supervision to engineering and operations.
  • Develop using an Agile process.
  • Designed and managed a merchant/campaign portal using Angular.
  • Application stack – PHP/Laravel, node.js, express, and Arura MySQL.
    • Mobile app deployed on iOS and Android.  The app is built on Axway Titanium and uses local SQLite for storage.

HVNnet, Inc., my consulting company (July 2013 to July 2017)                                                          Sturbridge, MA
These are consulting jobs at various companies; my roles included Architect, Lead Developer, and Software/Project Manager.

Quertle, Inc. – A Biomedical Artificial Intelligence Platform – Architect and Project Manager.

  • Manage a team of overseas developers. Managing releases and milestones.
  • Translating user requirements into technical requirements and creating a set of milestones for product development.
  • Work closely with the CEO on all development needs.
  • Interface to Authorize.Net for payments.
  • Design ETL for biomedical data feeds.
  • Implemented an Agile process.
  • Application stack – Java using the Spring framework, Hibernate, JSP, PostgreSQL, and Lucene.

Chip Rewards – Enterprise Engagement Solution – Director of Development. 

  • Managed a software development and QA team in Alabama and a remote development team in Serbia.
  • Managing releases and milestones.
  • Member of the board of senior management, reporting to the CEO.
  • Worked closely with the Product Manager to specify new features and enhancements.
  • Application stack –
    • Front-end stack uses HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, jQuery, and Ruby on Rails.
    • Back-end stack is Java and PostgreSQL.  This ran in a multitier environment; all data was encrypted. Data consisted of PII and PMI data.

CVS – Pharmacy and Retail stores – Store Solution Architect.

  • Duties included network and software solutions for store systems. 
  • Reviewed projects for estimates and scheduling.
  • Managed multi-million-dollar projects with top-level visibility.
  • Utilized Java, C++, Shell, and C#.

MedSentry – Patient pill dispenser and monitoring – Architect and Lead Developer.

  • Lead new development and features.
  • Architected and developed a server portal for administrators to configure the pill dispenser and monitor its usage.
  • Architected and Developed REST-like Web Services to interface with the pill dispenser.  The admins used the data captured to monitor and adjust pill dispensing.
  • Develop using an Agile process.
  • Application stack – PHP/ Laravel and MySQL, interfacing the call center—running on AWS EC2 with encrypted drives.
  • Developed code in VB for a tool to fill the pill dispensers.  The tool used a camera to detect whether pills were in the cup.

MyChurchCircle – A Faith-focused social media site – Architect and Project Manager. 

  • Managed a team of offshore developers.
  • Translating user requirements into technical requirements and creating a set of milestones for product development.
  • Managed server environment.
  • Develop using an Agile process.
  • Application stack – PHP/ Zend Framework, MySQL, and interface to Facebook.  Running on Amazon EC2 instance.

Cazena – Solutions for deploying NoSQL databases to the cloud – Architect and Lead Developer.

  • Managed and developed Web Application prototyping.
  • Created specifications that QA used for testing.
  • Application stack – Ruby on Rails with REST Web Services running an Amazon EC2 instance.

Kaburst – Social media networking platform – Lead Developer and Project Manager. 

  • Translated requirements into technical requirements and created a set of milestones for product development.
  • Designed and implemented features.
  • Managed server environment.
  • Develop using an Agile process.
  • Integrated with Authorize.Net for payments.
  • Application stack –  C# .NET framework and MSSQL.

Energy Software Solutions – BackOffice suite for home fuel delivery companies – Architect and Project Manager

  • Managed a team of offshore developers.
  • Translated user requirements into technical requirements and created a set of milestones for product development.
  • Develop using an Agile process.
  • Application stack – PHP/Symphony 2 framework and PostgreSQL. Running on Amazon EC2.
  • Managed, architected, and built a second product, an online fuel ordering system. 
  • Application stack – PHP/ Laravel and MySQL.

HytRate – Intent Engine to drive brand on e-commerce – Architect, Designer, and Developer. 

  • Translated user requirements into technical requirements and created a set of milestones for product development.
  • Developed original prototype for proof of concept.
  • Develop using an Agile process.
  • Application stack – PHP/Laravel and MySQL.
  •  Running on Amazon EC2 instance.

WowMeDeals – Deal site for consumers – Architect, Designer, and Developer. 

  • Translated user requirements into technical requirements and created a set of milestones for product development.
  • Designed and implemented features.
  • Develop using an Agile process.
  • Integrate with several Affiliate Marketers via REST web services.
  • Application stack – PHP/Laravel and MySQL.
    • Front end running in WordPress.
  • Running on Amazon EC2

WDeanMedical – Medical Practice Software – Software contributor

  • This was a fun side project.
  • Worked on billing interface. 
  • Application stack – Java with a MySQL backend.

IneoQuest, Inc., Principal Software Engineer (March 2011-June 2013)                                              Mansfield, MA
Provides video network intelligence technologies and solutions that enable companies to monitor, gather, aggregate, and analyze video data across their video network. 

  • Principal Software Engineer to work in the R&D group on next-generation products.
  • Worked in a small team to architect and develop the next-generation products for the OTT space. 
  • Product had a client component and a server component. The client component ran on handheld devices (iOS), while the server was written in Java and ran on Tomcat with a MySQL DB. 
  • Front-end was an HTML client using ExtJS, JQuery, and FusionCharts components.
  • Server’s collection component used ActiveMQ to collect large amounts of data in real-time.
  • Architected and developed the Silverlight, Android client, and the Java server.  Our team reported directly to the president of the company. The project was highly visible to the leadership team.
  • Collaborated on one of our flagship products for the next major version release.  This version is concerned with new features and stability.  I introduced the Agile process for the release.
    • Developed a functional specification for the new features. The team is adopting the specification template.
    • The product is written in Java running in Tomcat with an ExtJS and FusionCharts front end. 
  • Modified some back-end code written in C/C++.  This was legacy code that needed new features added.
  • I designed and implemented a Media Server.  The server will take MPEG-TS multi-program video feeds from our probe products and stream video to the client. It is written in Java and runs on Tomcat.
  • I leveraged the Wowza server to transcode the video into HTTP streams (Apple HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), Adobe HTTP Dynamic Streaming (HDS), and Microsoft Smooth Streaming). 

Verisk Health, Principal Software Engineer/Project Manager (July 2009-March 2011)                      Waltham, MA
Enterprise Health Analysis SAAS solution

  • Hired as a Principal Software Engineer overseeing the development of new features. Duties include engineering interface between Cheshire, CT, Jersey City, NJ office, and Waltham office.  Tasked with interfacing with clients/ Jersey City, NJ, Designing and architecting key features in the current product lines. Work with offshore Nepal developers to implement features.
  • Leveraged a small team to bring a new customer from Virginia on board our BI-OLAP Cube Analysis platform.  This was the first customer brought on board after acquiring the OLAP technology.
  • Participated in a 2-day data summit to determine data needs for our Analysis platform for customers—application using SSAS and VB.
  • The Project Manager is responsible for setting up a new Windows-based environment and developing functionality currently running on an IBM mainframe for Workers Compensation, Jersey City. 
  • I created the project schedule, leveled resources, created network architecture, and set up the GlobalSCAPE Enterprise FTP Server and scripting.
  • Primary interface between Jersey City, New Jersey business unit, Waltham development/IT, and offshore Nepal development team. Spend time between the Waltham, Jersey City, and New Jersey offices.
  • Managed weekly meetings between New Jersey and Nepal. Served as the primary interface for customers sending and receiving data on the new platform. Responsible for mapping data for West Virginia Worker’s Compensation from previous vendors. Developed an application using C#, VB, and SSAS.
  • Presented Extreme Programming as an agile technology to the engineering department. I am also a member of the Agile Committee for Verisk Analytics, Verisk Health’s parent company.
  • Leading the effort to get Scrum implemented into development at Verisk Health.
  • Worked on a team to develop company policies and procedures needed for an audit with a large retail customer.

Amcomm Wireless, Inc.  ProServices Division, Project Manager (Feb 2009-July 2009)                      Sturbridge, MA
IT solutions for small business

  • Project Manager / Technical Liaison to perform damage control with a Tier-1 client.   
  • Tasked with all client interactions and providing technical guidance for Amcomm’s software and network engineers dedicated to this client.  Successfully regained the client’s confidence while mentoring a select senior engineer whom Amcomm was promoted to Project Manager.
  • I managed an offshore team that developed a tracking system used by the Amcomm IT department.  The application stack is PHP with MySQL.

Aveksa, Inc., Principal Software Engineer (Jan 2008-Feb 2009)                                                             Waltham, MA
Identify Governance purchased by RSA.

  • Hired as a Principal Engineer tasked with all aspects of the application, from UI to the database.  The application was coded in Java with an Oracle back end running in Apache Tomcat.
  • Worked between the 3 layers—UI, middle tier, and the Oracle back end.  Responsible for UI components, reports, install scripts, and UI to Hibernate interfaces.
  • UI written using HTML, JavaScript, AJAX, and Java
  • Reports in Java and a 3rd party package (Jasper Reports)
  • UI interface to Oracle database through Hibernate.
  • Oracle datasets, including tables, views, and stored procedures.
  • Oracle datasets created using PL/SQL create scripts and migrate scripts.
  • PHP program to kick-start sandbox servers.
  • Borne Shell script for install scripts.
  • Next-generation UI using GWT.
  • Optimized very large SQL queries with very large views.
  • Responsible for selecting a BI dashboard and reporting tool for the next-generation product. Evaluated Pentaho, inetSoft, iDashboard, and Jasper

BioWisdom, Inc. Principal Software Engineer/Architect (Jan 2007-Jan 2008)                                     Maynard, MA
Delivers intelligence for the Healthcare Industry and helps clients navigate the complex scientific and commercial issues involved in developing successful healthcare products.

  • Designed and implemented UI for SIP (Safety Intelligence Program), a Web application using JSP, Spring MVC, SRS database, Oracle database, Hibernate, JavaScript, HTML, and JSTL
  •  Leveraged Dreamweaver to design pages.  This was a joint venture with a major pharmaceutical company.

OmniViz, Inc., Principal Software Engineer/Architect (Mar 2001-Dec 2006)                                      Maynard, MA
Visual intelligence software is a complete solution for all data visualization, uniquely supporting text, numeric, and categorical information analysis.

  • I worked on all OmniViz’s developed products- OmniViz, RefViz, OPE (OmniViz Pathway Enterprise), and OPE Web (Web Interface to OPE)- and led two projects. 
  • Lead Engineer for UI design and implementation, lead 2–3-man team.
  • Java desktop application written in Swing.
  • Designed a Wizard that uses XML to define the wizard and actions and also uses JAXB to read the XML.
  • Designed and implemented OML (OmniViz Markup Language) used to launch OmniViz with instructions to process data, uses JAXB to read XML.
  • Designed and implemented Project Window, a tree representation of Data Sets and Views.
  • Integrated with 3rdy party Jars.
  • Helped follow up sales leads and schedule demos and sales.
  • The Visual Basic program exports data to Excel to display data and charts.
  • Wrote a C# utility that downloaded stock data from the internet, converted stock data, and adjusted for splits to a format that OmniViz can easily read.
  • Added many features to all parts of the tool.
  • It was active as a UI/Integration signoff of all new feature specifications.
  • RefViz (www.refviz.com)
    • RefViz is a light version of OmniViz used for text processing.  This is a joint venture between OmniViz, Inc. and Thomson Scientific.
      • Lead Development Engineer of version 1.0 led 4 other engineers.
      • Java desktop application written in Swing.
      • Reconfigured parts of OmniViz Tools/Visualizations together with a new UI.
      • I adjusted the Java code to work on Windows and Mac.
      • Worked with Thomson to develop, test, and market products.
  • OPE (www.omniviz.com)
    • OmniViz Pathway Enterprise is a biological pathway tool that uses Oracle and GKP to store biological information.
      • Lead Engineer for UI design and implementation, led 4 other engineers.
      • I worked on the integration of OPE and OmniViz to work seamlessly together.
    • Implemented search interface and complicated JTables for search results display.
  • OPE Web (www.omniviz.com)
    • This is a Web interface to the OPE product, which is the main interface for most scientists researching pathways.
      • Designed and implemented web interface using JSP, Java, JavaScript, CSS, and DHTML
      • Worked with customers to design look and feel and control flow.

TekCel, Inc. Senior Software Engineer/Consultant (Jan 2001-Feb 2001)                                            Hopkinton, MA
Build robots used in the semiconductor industry.

  • Hired as a contractor to help design and implement a new user interface for plate storage and server equipment. 
  • The user software runs on Windows NT and is written in Visual Basic, MS Access, and XML. My responsibilities included designing and implementing a Pick-List OCX.

3COM, Inc. Senior Software Engineer/Consultant (February 1998 to March 2001)                            Marlborough, MA
Digital electronic manufacturer

  • Tasked with adding a database for the BAS test group.
  • Worked with QA to add a database to store test results; the database used is MySQL and runs on a Linux and/or Sun Solaris machine.  The UI is web-based and written in PHP, HTML, and JavaScript.  The database also interacted with the automated test environments.
  • Automated STG lab testing. Automation code is written in Expect/Tcl, Perl, Java, JavaScript, PHP, and C. 
  • The Expect/Tcl and Perl code runs on a Sun workstation and Linux Servers. 
  • The script-code telnets and FTPs to PCs running Windows 95 to configure them and get them to make a PPP connection to the device under test. 
  • The code collects results and emails them to selected users.  The tests can be configured using a Java Application and a PHP3 application.  
  • The automation uses Chariot for throughput results and Abacus for Voice results, PSQM, and MOS.
  • Added callback and port client spoofing to RAS1500.
  • Assisted in the release of the product, helping fix other features. 
  • I leveraged the SDS debugger, UNIX development environment, Sniffer (RADCOM), and code written in C.

Dynamic Automated Systems, Inc., Senior Software Engineer/Consultant (Aug 1997-Jan 1998)        Westwood, MA
Build robots used in the semiconductor industry.

  • Tasked with porting and upgrading their robot software running on a C31 processor and Windows NT. 
  • The code was written in C and C++.  Ported the Windows C++ code to the embedded Tartarn C++ compiler.

Southbridge Computer Associates, Inc. (Sep 1996-July 1997)                                                                Southbridge, MA
Owner – A full-service Computer Company. 

  • Sales, daily operation, customer satisfaction, and software design for all environments, including the Internet.
  • Designed and coded in HTML, Visual Basic, and MS Access.

Beyond Software Associates, Inc. (Jan 1996-Dec 1998)                                                                          Southbridge, MA
Owner – A full-service Computer Company. 

  • Initiatives included overseeing the company’s daily operations, sales/marketing, customer satisfaction, and engineering work.
  • Designed and coded custom embedded real-time and Windows software.
  • Designed and coded Web pages, HTML, CGI, Perl, Java, Visual Basic, C, C++
  • Offered Internet connections through our agent program with ZipLink.

Simplex Timer Recorder Senior Software Engineer (Jan 1993 to March 1996)                                    Gardner, MA
Time Equipment and Fire Alarm manufacture purchase by Tyco

  • Initiative and design, integration, and release of all electromechanical products utilizing software.  All code is written in C, C++, and Assembly.
  • Lead Engineering on the Data Collection Terminal project.  Interacted with all Engineers and Managers.  Was responsible for tracking work schedules.
  • Helped define and design Terminal Hardware and Software.
  • I coded the Delphi and Visual Basic test procedure to test communications between the PC and terminal.
  • Designed and coded Communications Module (Engine) on PC to communicate with the terminal, Windows SDK 16 and 32 bits.
  • Rewrote communications for the final product to MFC.
  • Lead 3 other engineers.
  • I added Communications to Heritage II with a Windows interface using Delphi to evaluate communications hardware.
  • Wrote Heritage II Windows Emulation using Delphi.
  • Updated Consecutive Software per customer’s request.
  • I coded and tested the Heritage II software upgrade revision 1.7.  The first release of the Spanish and French clocks.  Enhancements requested by customers.
  • I worked with the team to design a new time clock, Heritage I.
  • I consulted on the design and coded programming mode in C of Bravo Time Stamp using the 6805 microprocessors.  The product is sold through mass-market channels.
  • Responsible for Consecutive Calculating Time Clock design, code and integration hardware integration, and product release. Consecutive based on Heritage II.
  • Worked with manufacturing to set up a Webtron printer to print timecards with bar codes and timing marks.
  • Responsible for Heritage II Calculating Time Clock design, code, and integration. 
  • The software is real-time embedded software written in C and 8051 Assembly, using Archimedes Compiler and Assembler.
  • Established coding environment and document standards for all electromechanical products.
  • I worked with field engineers on beta testing of Heritage II.
  • I worked with the sales/service force on Heritage II installation problems.
  • Implemented DOS Emulation to test embedded application code on PC, using Borland C++.  Also implemented a prototype using Visual Basic and Visual C/C++.

Hampshire Instruments Project Manager (1989 – 1993)                                    Marlborough, MA
Design/Manufacture of an X-Ray Lithography Stepper. Worked in Constrol Systems group. Responsibile for system software, integratin, setup/configuraiton and customer support.
Project Manager (January 1993)

  • Responsible for scheduling/managing a $1.4 Million contract between Hampshire and AT&T/DARPA for software/hardware upgrades to their existing 5000 X-Ray Lithography Stepper.
  • Responsible for coding and testing 30% of all code and coordinating activities of the other software/hardware engineers for coding/testing.
  • Responsible for purchasing/evaluating software/hardware for contracts.
  • Responsible for test procedures/documentation for all upgrades.
  • Worked closely with Vice President and CEO on all contract upgrades and payment schedules.
  • Evaluated Roles based systems.

Senior Software Engineer (1992 to 1993)

  • Lead efforts to upgrade the user support tool (job/reticule editor) to better fit the system needs.
  • Responsible for software upgrades to existing 5000 X-Ray Lithography Stepper.
  • Responsible for in house system setup/configuration.
  • Trained users on the operation of the system.
  • Demonstrated 3500 User Interface/Control system at SEMI-CON West trade show.  Interviewed potential customers for a better and more user friendly Interface.

Software Engineer (1991 to 1992)

  • Designed/Implemented 3500 User Interface running on a HP720 workstation.  The software is comprised of C/C++ code, Teleuse builder Motif menus, D code and run through Object Center for runtime error checking.
  • Managed contracting group for 3500 User Interface.
  • Worked closely with Marketing/Documentation to designed 3500 User Interface.
  • Worked closely with other senior engineers to define 3500 control system architecture.  Architecture comprised of User Interface, SDM (Shared Data Manager), Logger Task, Timer Task, PC (Process Control), and Database.
  • Part of a three man screening and hiring team.
  • Part of a team evaluating hardware platform and software tools to use for 3500 Control System.

Software Engineer (1989 to 1991)
5000 X-Ray Lithography stepper, designed, coded, tested, and integrated.

  • Part of team, which designed 5000-system architecture.  System consists of a material handler, four-axis stage, laser, alignment system, control system, job/reticule editor, and a user interface.  System controlled by MTOS real time OS controller and DOS PC’s, written in C.  This ended up being an Assembly Project.
  • Designed/Implemented 5000 User Interface.
  • Wrote graphics driver to talk to a Raster Graphics VGA board.
  • Wrote communications driver for 8530.
  • Wrote driver for a MicoTouch & Carrol Touch, touch screen.
  • Wrote driver for SMC (Stepper Motor Control).
  • Wrote code to access remote floppy drive RS232 communications.
  • Designed/Implemented four axis motion stage code.
  • Made enhancements to robot code, control task code, utility code, and expose (laser) code.
  • Designed/Implemented pneumatic controller code; written in Intel Basic.
  • Setup/ran customer demos.

Simplex Time Recorder Software Engineer (July 1987 – Oct 1988)                                                          Gardner, MA
Two man software team. Designed and implemented software for a Microprocessor Time Recorder.

  • Designed/Implemented MMI (Man Machine Interface), Diagnostic routines, Fonts, Keypad driver and interface monitors, Data Base access sorting and copy routines.
  • All development was done on a DEC micro and run on a 8051 emulator.
  • Real time software written in Assembly for 8051 micro controller.