Nick Garner

Nick Garner

Creator, Automator, Autodidact

I create proofs of possible.


The Highlights

My current focus, since 2017, is rapid solution integration and automation. Many of the hardware/software projects I've developed were created solo, in a 'heads down, hoodie up, EDM on' situation under very tight timelines. A large portion have moved from that initial PoC to production status. A sample of some of the development projects is below.

Since 2009, I have started three companies in the IoT and internet-based remote radio control domains and have owned the hardware design and software development, to various extents, for each. One, started in 2013, was acquired in 2022. The other two are still operating as steady-state start-ups with little maintenance required.

In addition to hardware and software development; I have an extensive background in large-scale enterprise network engineering. I've spent many years of my professional life as a network security engineer, network engineer, and architect starting in the United States Marine Corps, moving on to a nationwide financial instition, Washington Mutual, then consulting for Fortune 50s via Cisco's Advanced Services group as a Network Consulting Engineer and Solution Integration Architect, and currently a principle solutions architect at Denali AI.

I teach several courses for Pearson including AWS Developer certification, general AWS use, and Certified Ethical Hacking.

Patents

11592322, 11307062 - Method and apparatus for remote monitoring and management of storage using machine learning and data analytics

The Certs

Cisco CCIE * 2 - Security & Enterprise Infrastructure
AWS Developer and Solution Architect
ISC2 CISSP
ECCouncil Certified Ethical Hacker

Work

2017 - Present

Denali AI

Principle Solution Architect

  • Developed Proofs of Possible showcasing capabilities of solutions when integrated using software, hardware, and firmware as part of sales exercises.
  • Machine vision / machine learning defect detection
  • Universal Robots remote command and control
  • Pre-sales solution consultation
  • AWS SME
2022 - Present

SlitherSense, LLC

Everything

  • Solely brought to market
  • Hardware Design
  • Firmware Development
  • Backend
  • Frontend
  • Cloud DevOps (AWS)
2016 - Present

Pearson

Instructor

  • Live and Recorded instructor for:
  • AWS Developer Associte Certification
  • Certified Ethical Hacker
  • AWS Developer Hands-on
2007 - 2017

Cisco Systems

Solution Integration Architect

  • Post-sales, large-scale network design consulting focusing on enterprise LAN, WAN, DC.
  • Cisco Live Speaker
  • Multicast Virtual Team SME for Layer 2
  • Three patent evaluations
  • Cisco Press Technical Editor
    Multicast Vol I and II
  • Network Consulting Engineer
  • Developed a system for real-time (µs) network topology diagramming.
2013 - 2023

TeleSense

Co-founder, HWE/SWE

  • Hardware, firmware, software development of all TeleSense hardware products
  • Development of cloud-hosted solutions to transport data to demarcation point of hardware/software
2002 - 2007

Washington Mutual

Network Security Engineer

  • Design and deployment of network security solutions
  • Developer of in-house automation tools
1997 - 2001

United States Marine Corps

Network Security Engineer

  • One of 8 Marines responsible for on-prem and field-based firewalls and edge routers globally.
  • Worked alongside civilians.
  • Late nights with books and barebones computers began my love of all things *nix and scripting.
  • Automated several operational tasks.
  • Ask me about being wrongly interrogated by NCIS on two different occasions sometime.

Projects Over Time

The following timeline lists some of the large projects I've led. Most names and proprietary information omitted. Further details can be provided when possible during discussion.

2023

Inference and Manipulation Engine

  • Edge compute assembly
  • Jetson for MV ML
  • Local switching
  • Local camera termination
  • IP/NEMA rated for Industrial use
2023

Standard Automation Architectures

  • Policies, procedures, guidelines documentation for a-la-carte, bespoke automation architectures to support machine vision and machine learning defect detection and collaborative robotics.
2023

Van Dwell Timing

  • Developed a system to time vans from entry to exit in a loading facility.
  • RFID entry and exit points
  • Tagged vans
  • MQTT transport of tag events
  • Backend system to collection of tag events
  • Front-end system for display and correlation of entry/exit events and elapsed time.
  • Moved forward to large-scale PoC and on-track for nationwide deployment.
  • Tech/Lang/Proto: Node.js, MongoDB, Express, MQTT
2023

Envelope damage detection via Machine Vision

  • Machine vision system to detect defects in sealed envelopes
  • Tech/Lang/Proto: Python, Greengrass, Amazon L4V, Jetson
2023

Printed Circuit Board QA via Machine Vision

  • Developed a system on embedded linux to:
  • Move a camera down a gantry
  • Capture photos
  • Evalute images against MV model deployed in Amazon Lookout for Vision
  • Trigger stack light to indicate success/failure
  • Tech/Lang/Proto: Python, Greengrass, Amazon L4V, Jetson
2023

AWS Dev. Assoc. DVA-C02 Course for Pearson

  • Content and demos for live and recorded training sessions.
  • Tech/Lang/Proto: Over 50 services in AWS.
2022

SlitherSense

  • Founded SlitherSense
  • Developed hardware gateway (schematic, layout, manufacturing, enclosure, etc.)
  • Gateway Firmware in C (MQTT, Wi-Fi provisioning, remote command and control, etc.)
  • Backend development (Node.js, MongoDB, MQTT)
  • Frontend development (Node.js, MongoDB, MQTT) scalable to 10s of 1000s users
  • Deployed in AWS
  • DevOps tools authored to ease administrative tasks.
2022

TeleSense LoRaWAN Architecture Redesign

  • Redesign of the TeleSense LoRaWAN product line and implementation to use AWS IoT Core
  • Deployed in AWS
  • Tech/Lang/Proto: AWS: Lambda, SQS, IoT Core, LoRaWAN
2022

Cradlepoint Mountaineer

  • Achieved Cradlepoint Moutaineer certification
  • Fourth in the world.
2022

Automated Tablet Provisioning System

  • MV fixture for simulating human interaction with a mobile device (phone/tablet)
  • On-board embedded linux and C
  • USB HID emulation
  • Text extraction from photo, custom protocol sends HID protocol info to the device.
  • Purpose: simulate the required taps and keystokes to move a tablet from initial power-on to shipment to customer
  • 2.3x faster than humans doing the same job
  • In production in a facility provisining approximately 10,000 tablets per month.
  • Developed a fleet management tool to interact with all provisioners at once and monitor status.
  • OTA firmware updates
  • Tech/Lang/Proto:C, Node.js, Python, MongoDB, Express, Custom Protocols for USB HID C&C
2022

HoloLens Keep-the-Lights-On (KTLO) PM Checklist

  • PoC for a KTLO checklist application on HoloLens
  • Tech/Lang/Proto: C#, Node.js, MongoDB
2022

Helium 5G and IoT Deployment

  • Deployed and continually partipate in the Helium LoRaWAN and 5G networks.
  • Tech/Lang/Proto: LoRaWAN, 5G
2022

TeleSense acquired by UPL Decco

  • UPL Decco acquired TeleSense to bolster it's post-harvest offerings.
2021

SOTI Megamove

  • Developed a backend and front-end system to automate mass moves of devices under MDM management using the SOTI API.
  • Tech/Lang/Proto: NodeJS, JS, REST
2021

Distributed Workforce Solution

  • Developed a solution for user-based provisioning of a cellular router on the home Wi-Fi network.
  • "Make it as easy as a NEST thermostat."
  • Uses Cradlepoint NCOS SDK, on-router Python
  • Camera, QR code redirections, etc.
  • AWS Lambda integration
  • Tech/Lang/Proto: Python, NCOS SDK, AWS Lambda, AWS SNS, API Gateway, AWS EC2
2020

Real-time Location Services for Contact Tracing

  • Wi-Fi and BLE Beacon based tracking solution for pandemic exposure protection and tracking
  • Tech/Lang/Proto: NodeJS, AWS, REST, Cisco DNA Spaces, Mist Location Services
2020

Security Services

  • Defined organizational structure and offerings for a new Security Services Practice.
2020

TeleSense Silo Monitoring Solution

  • Design and development of hardware/software based solution for monitoring the quality of stored grain.
  • Provides input to AI/ML models for grain quality prediction
  • Tech/Lang/Proto: C++, MQTT, Cellular, I2C, UART, Battery charge, etc.
2019

Digital Transformation Center

  • Designed network architecture and layout for a digital transformation center to showcase technologies from Cisco and others.
2018

Network Architecture Assessments

  • Post-sales consultation on Network Architecture, QoS, L2/L3 design, etc. for several prominent west coast HQ'd companies.
2018

Spectre and Meltdown Whitepapers

  • Whitepapers on the impact of Spectre and Meltdown
2018

TeleSense Cellular Spear

  • Design and development of hardware/software based solution for monitoring piles of grain using a spear form factor.
  • Provides input to AI/ML models for grain quality prediction
  • Tech/Lang/Proto: C++, MQTT, Cellular, I2C, UART, Battery charge, etc.
Pre-2017

TeleSense Hardware/Software Development

  • Cold chain monitoring solution, hardware, software, back/front end
  • Refridgerator truck monitoring and fleet management solution
  • Sprinkler controller for a chain of hotels
  • Conveyor vibration analysis for a beer bottler
  • Tech/Lang/Proto: Multicast, Raw sockets, MySQL, PHP
2018

Children's Hospital Location Services PoC

  • Wi-Fi/BLE based location services use-case demos
  • Follow-me printing
  • Tailgating detection and hardware-based alerting system
  • Donor greet in lobby based on cell phone SDK integration
  • Ask the building demo where the user could talk to a box and receive information (AWS Polly and Transcribe and decision trees)
  • Tech/Lang/Proto: Python, C, MQTT, BLE, Wi-Fi, I2C, PCB design
2013-2017

Cisco Live Speaker

  • Global presenter at Cisco Live US and EU.
  • Tech/Lang/Proto: Cisco Nexus Data Center Operational Best Practices
2016

Cisco Press Technical Editor

  • Technical editor for Vol I and II of the Cisco Press Multicast books.
  • Tech/Lang/Proto: Multicast
2007-2017

Cisco Advanced Services

  • Network Consulting Engineer - Post-sales, proactive network design and security consultation
  • Solution Integration Architect - Pre/Post-sales cross-domain integration consultation
  • Tech/Lang/Proto: Multicast
2015

OSPF Topology Monitoring and Mapping

  • Designed a system for real-time monitoring of OSPF topology updates
  • Used novel method of doing mute neighbor relationships via GRE tunnels to populate a local LSDB per-area
  • Provided microsecond precision disgramming of the OSPF topology via GraphQL
  • Tech/Lang/Proto: Multicast, Raw sockets, MySQL, PHP

My Interests


Making things work. That's it. I love my job and I don't stop until it works.

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