Will Butler

SUMMARY

I am a software engineer who enjoys writing programs that are easy to use and code that is effortless to read. I have extensive expertise in developing infrastructure for IoT systems and non-terrestrial connectivity. I have proven experience in designing scalable systems, automating hardware testing, and integrating solutions to support secure, resilient communications and systems in challenging environments. I am passionate about solving problems in (meat)space through practical, efficient code and cross-disciplinary collaboration. I love the terminal, automating pain away, and writing Python.

SKILLS

Networking Technologies: LTE, WiFi, BLE, LoRa, MQTT, IPv6, 802.1Q

AWS Cloud: Lambda, S3, API Gateway, IoT Core, DynamoDB, IAM

DevOps: Git, CentOS/RHEL, Kubernetes, Docker, Ansible, Terraform, Bazel, Jenkins

Embedded Systems: FreeRTOS, Micropython, STM32, ESP32, I2C, SPI, UART, CAN

EXPERIENCE

SpaceX | Software Engineer II 2023-10 — Present

https://www.starlink.com

Drive progress on next generation non-terrestrial LTE networks and IoT technologies.

Enabled rapid iteration, enhanced test coverage, and standardized environments by containerizing multiple Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testbeds.
Built serverless cloud infrastructure to reduce overhead and improve system performance for large-scale IoT deployments.
Integrated security solutions leveraging TLSv1.3 (RFC 8446) standards, including mTLS, zero trust principles, and forward secrecy.
Provided technical mentorship and conducted design & code reviews to improve system reliability and team productivity.

SpaceX | Software Engineer 2022-06 — 2023-10

https://spacex.com

Worked cross-functionally on backend infrastructure, automated test solutions, and system integration for Starlink and Swarm IoT networks.

Architected end-to-end solutions for factory test automation to enable rapid, repeatable manufacturing & verification and increase first pass yield.
Developed firmware for multiple discrete HIL testbed widgets including RF validation and characterization.
Maintained Swarm's VHF IoT backend systems to support existing deployments alongside evolving use cases.

SpaceX | Test Specialist 2021-11 — 2022-06

Supported R&D + Integration of new Hall-effect Thruster technology via quick and innovative software solutions.

Designed and implemented interface and analysis software for a laser profilometer to enable high-precision measurements and performance characterization.
Developed software test frameworks to automate test procedures, reduce development time, and ensure reliable system performance across the product lifecycle.
Implemented flight software components to monitor system performance, improve diagnostics, and detect and resolve faults in mission-critical hardware.

Swarm Technologies | Test Engineer 2021-01 — 2021-11

https://swarm.space

Served as the primary software engineer for automated manufacturing testing software frameworks and testbed deployments.

Developed an automated QA testing framework that scaled production testing for 50,000 units annually, reducing touch time and improving yield.
Implemented a satellite command-and-control software demo that unlocked a multi-million dollar government contract.
Created user friendly interfaces for web and desktop applications to improve accessibility and usability of internal tooling.
Designed software solutions to integrate various testbed components such as cameras, RF switches, power supplies, spectrum analyzers, and other sensors.
Developed a Python SDK to interact with a RESTful API to streamline message retrieval, device provisioning, and automate cloud based workflows for IoT systems.

Elagatech LLC | Software Engineer 2019-12 — 2021-08

Develop firmware for a Maxim IC for use in a FIPS 140-2 certified device utilizing AES hardware encryption. (Kanguru Defender)

Developed firmware to enable AES encryption to meet stringent compliance requirements for secure data storage and transport.
Wrote low-level embedded C code optimized for a memory and storage constrained environment.

LANGUAGES

Python , Java , Bash , C/C++ , Golang , Javascript

INTERESTS

Space [ Robotics , Deep-space probe , Amateur radio ] , Automotive [ Motorsport , Porsche , Vintage Automobiles , Community , Motor Rallies ] , Sailing [ Solo Sailing , Sailboat racing , DIY repair ] , Music [ Music theory , Live Audio , Digital Mixing Consoles , Sonic Pi ]