Michael Pinna - Curriculum Vitae

• 5 years commercial software development experience, mostly writing C for Linux (both kernel and user-space code).
• Day-to-day experience with bash and perl scripting, UNIX tools, vim, and debugging tools (eg gdb, tcpdump).
• Linux server administration including email/web/DNS server management.
• Strongly analytical and quick-thinking. Good at quickly identifying and implementing "the right fix" for problems.
• Free software contributor.
• An eye for finding ways to automate time-consuming repetitive tasks and to avoid error-prone techniques.
• An effective and enthusiastic communicator and team-worker.

First year: First class honours (fourth in class).

Second year: First class honours (eighth in class).

Third year: Upper second class honours.

Subjects studied: Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.

Project work: Java code for fast factorisation of large integers. C code for a secure distributed card game [download ps/pdf] with no trusted server.

A-Level and similar: Double Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry (all grade A); AS-Level German (B); STEP Mathematics I (S).

GCSE: 5 at grade A* and 3 at grade A.

Work on Settlements, Position and Cash Reconciliation, and Reporting, as well as internal Build System and other infrastructure.

Day-to-day development work using C++, Perl and Oracle.

Ongoing development of the customer-visible C application and underlying embedded Linux OS. Developing new features, performing testing and bug-fixing, and making improvements to general code quality.

I designed and implemented:

• The firmware upgrade mechanism.
• The internationalisation framework.
• The wired and wireless network setup system.
• Mechanisms to ensure errors or error-prone code are found quickly before they can cause problems.
• The scripts used for autogenerating a complete filesystem image binary from source code.
• Many other tools to automate common development and administrative tasks.

Other duties:

• Chairman of User Interface committee.
• Customisation of third party code, including work on the Linux kernel and wireless device drivers.
• Installation and continued administration of numerous Linux servers, including some custom server software.
• Pre-sales technical support and liaison with prospective customers.
• Company social secretary.

Implementation of routines in C++ to factorise polynomials.

Polishing of a computer algebra system to be embedded in the product.

Security evaluation of a complex interactive website.

Parsing of tabular data obtained from the Web in various different formats.

Design and implementation of an on-screen virtual keyboard.

Representing the company at various international conferences.

Six months summer Java work, resulting in sponsorship of my final two years at University with the offer of full-time employment on graduation.

Learned Java, and designed and implemented a customer-facing user interface.

I speak fluent Italian and have a reasonable knowledge of German.

I am passionate about popular music, both live and recorded, and have recently started learning the guitar.

I administer a colocated Debian Linux server which provides a wide range of Internet services for a large group of friends.

I am a keen sportsman, having represented my University at Rugby Fives, doing a lot of cycling, playing social Squash and working out in the Gym.

I travel widely in Europe and beyond.