DevOps · Software · Platform Engineering
About
Rodney Goodin — Senior Software and Platform Engineer with 15+ years designing, building, automating, and operating enterprise software platforms across cloud and on-premise environments. Background spans software engineering, cloud architecture, DevOps, Infrastructure as Code, CI/CD automation, and platform engineering, with a track record of leading modernization initiatives, building scalable AWS infrastructure, developing enterprise Java applications, and improving developer productivity through automation and AI-assisted engineering workflows.
- Designed reusable Terraform modules supporting repeatable enterprise cloud deployments.
- Built enterprise CI/CD platforms supporting multiple engineering teams and production applications.
- Led cloud modernization initiatives using AWS, Docker, and GitLab CI/CD.
- Led database migration and performance optimization efforts, reducing client reporting query times from over 10 seconds to under 1 second.
- Designed and developed enterprise Java applications supporting public safety and emergency notification systems.
- Automated infrastructure provisioning and operational workflows using Python and Bash.
- Built Lambda-based automation to rightsize EC2 instances and clean up unused AMIs and snapshots, reducing AWS infrastructure costs.
- Supported secure government cloud environments with DevSecOps practices and compliance controls.
- Modernizing multiple production websites using Next.js and cloud-native AWS architecture.
- Active user of AI-assisted software development tools to accelerate coding, testing, debugging, documentation, and infrastructure automation.
Biography
For more than two decades, I've been designing, building, and improving software systems. My career has taken me from enterprise Java development and cloud architecture to platform engineering, DevOps, and Infrastructure as Code, but the common thread has always been the same: helping engineering teams deliver software more reliably and with less friction.
I enjoy solving the problems that slow developers down. Sometimes that's designing CI/CD pipelines, sometimes it's automating repetitive workflows, and sometimes it's improving cloud infrastructure so teams can move faster with greater confidence. I believe the best engineering solutions are often the ones that quietly disappear into the background, allowing developers to focus on building software instead of fighting processes.
Throughout my career I've worked with organizations ranging from startups to enterprise software companies and government contractors. I've helped modernize legacy systems, migrate applications to AWS, build deployment platforms, automate engineering workflows, and introduce practices that improve reliability without sacrificing developer productivity.
Rather than treating DevOps as a collection of tools, I view platform engineering as a service to the engineering organization. My goal is to create systems that are predictable, repeatable, and easy to operate, while giving developers rapid feedback and confidence in every deployment.
Outside of client work, I continue building software through Goodin Technology Solutions. Projects like PoolCzar, this website, and other cloud-native applications allow me to explore modern software architecture, AWS services, serverless computing, AI-assisted software development, and engineering practices that I can bring back to every engagement.
Technology continues to evolve, but my approach remains consistent: understand the problem, remove unnecessary complexity, automate repetitive work, and build systems that help people do their best work.
Working knowledge
- Kubernetes
- AWS EKS
Familiar with
- Helm
How I Build Software
- Start with the problem, not the technology.
- Every engineering challenge begins with understanding the people, processes, and constraints involved. I prefer to identify the real bottleneck before selecting tools or designing solutions, because the right technology is only valuable when it solves the right problem.
- Remove friction through automation.
- I look for repetitive work that slows engineering teams down and replace it with reliable automation. Whether it's CI/CD pipelines, workflow integrations, or cloud infrastructure, my goal is to let developers spend more time building software and less time managing processes.
- Build systems that are easy to operate.
- A successful platform isn't measured by how sophisticated it is, but by how predictable and dependable it becomes. I strive to create systems that are observable, repeatable, and resilient so teams can deploy with confidence and recover quickly when problems occur.
- Earn trust through reliability.
- Technical leadership isn't always about making architectural decisions. It's about consistently delivering reliable solutions, anticipating operational risks, and helping teams succeed. I believe trust is built one dependable solution at a time.
- Create safe places to experiment.
- Innovation shouldn't come at the expense of stability. Well-designed engineering platforms provide environments where new ideas, infrastructure changes, and deployment strategies can be validated before they affect production systems or interrupt developer productivity.
- Use AI thoughtfully, never blindly.
- AI is a powerful engineering tool, but it doesn't replace experience or judgment. I use AI to accelerate research, explore ideas, generate prototypes, and improve documentation, while treating every output as something to verify, test, and refine before it becomes part of a production system.
Experience
Intevity / GSSI
2018 – 2024DevOps Engineer / Configuration Manager / Security Manager
Transitioned gradually from BlackBerry AtHoc, overlapping into 2020.
- Designed and implemented enterprise CI/CD platforms using GitLab CI/CD and Jenkins.
- Built Infrastructure as Code solutions using Terraform to automate AWS infrastructure provisioning.
- Built Lambda-based automation to rightsize EC2 instances and clean up unused AMIs and snapshots, reducing AWS infrastructure costs.
- Developed Python and Bash automation that reduced manual operational effort and improved deployment consistency.
- Built an AWS EKS platform and developed working knowledge of Kubernetes operations and control-plane fundamentals.
- Led DevSecOps initiatives including security automation, vulnerability remediation, and compliance activities supporting federal government contracts.
- Collaborated with software engineering teams to improve release engineering, deployment automation, and operational reliability.
- Performed production troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and continuous platform improvements.
BlackBerry AtHoc (formerly Alerting Solutions Inc.)
2011 – 2020Senior Programmer / DevOps Engineer / Implementation Engineer
- Designed and developed enterprise Java applications supporting public safety and emergency notification systems.
- Implemented REST APIs, web applications, and backend services.
- Worked directly with customers to design, deploy, and support enterprise implementations.
- Automated deployments and application configuration.
- Supported Linux application servers, databases, and production environments.
- Led customer implementations, troubleshooting, and production support activities.
Goodin Technology Solutions
2002 – PresentFounder / Software Engineer
- Provide software engineering, cloud architecture, and technical consulting services for businesses and startups.
- poolczar.com — a cue-sports tournament, community, and commerce platform: Next.js frontend on S3/CloudFront, Python Lambda backend behind API Gateway with Cognito auth, DynamoDB, and Stripe checkout.
- soureddough.com — an artisan bakery's ordering platform: React/Vite frontend on a serverless Lambda and DynamoDB API, supporting both online Stripe checkout and pay-at-pickup.
- goodintechnology.com — this site: a statically-exported Next.js site on AWS, with GitLab CI/CD driving dev and prod deploys.
- Additional consulting: AWS cloud architecture, Terraform IaC, CI/CD pipeline development, Linux systems administration, and enterprise integrations.
Earlier Experience
- Career Element2008 – 2010
Programmer
- Led a team of 12 developing a PHP, Zend Framework, and MySQL career networking platform.
- Facilitated rapid server deployment by designing a virtual server rollout environment using AWS and GoGrid virtual servers.
- Hello Vino, LLC2010 – 2011
DBA / Mobile Software Engineer (Android Platform)
- Led database migration and performance optimization efforts, reducing client reporting query times from over 10 seconds to under 1 second.
- Led the port of an existing iPhone application to the Android platform.
- Alliance Title2005
IT Manager
- Developed seminars for Outlook, Realnet, WinForms, and other real estate technology applications.
- Supported client workstations and networks throughout Contra Costa County.
- Citibank1992 – 2001
Member Technical Staff / Lead Developer
- Developed enterprise financial software applications.
- Led software development initiatives and technical teams.
- Designed Java and client/server business applications.
Testimonials
Contact
Reach out directly, or connect on LinkedIn / GitLab.