Hello! I am a software engineer with 30 years experience specializing in C++ and distributed systems. I've designed and written desktop, server, and embedded applications. My work at NASA spans spaceflight-certified architectures, real-time data processing, and end-to-end deployment on embedded Linux, ground systems, and cloud-enabled tooling. I enjoy leading cross-disciplinary teams, modernizing development processes, and delivering reliable, well-tested software. I have hands-on experience across the software lifecycle—from design and prototyping with C++, JavaScript/TypeScript, and Python to automated testing, containerization with Docker, and ML-assisted data analysis for mission science.…

Rolando J. Nieves

Hello! I am a software engineer with 30 years experience specializing in C++ and distributed systems. I've designed and written desktop, server, and embedded applications. My work at NASA spans spaceflight-certified architectures, real-time data processing, and end-to-end deployment on embedded Linux, ground systems, and cloud-enabled tooling. I enjoy leading cross-disciplinary teams, modernizing development processes, and delivering reliable, well-tested software. I have hands-on experience across the software lifecycle—from design and prototyping with C++, JavaScript/TypeScript, and Python to automated testing, containerization with Docker, and ML-assisted data analysis for mission science.…

Available to hire

Hello! I am a software engineer with 30 years experience specializing in C++ and distributed systems. I’ve designed and written desktop, server, and embedded applications. My work at NASA spans spaceflight-certified architectures, real-time data processing, and end-to-end deployment on embedded Linux, ground systems, and cloud-enabled tooling.

I enjoy leading cross-disciplinary teams, modernizing development processes, and delivering reliable, well-tested software. I have hands-on experience across the software lifecycle—from design and prototyping with C++, JavaScript/TypeScript, and Python to automated testing, containerization with Docker, and ML-assisted data analysis for mission science.

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Skills

Experience Level

C++
Expert
Docker
Expert
Django
Expert
JavaScript
Expert
Keras
Expert
MongoDB
Expert
Python
Expert
TensorFlow
Expert
Node.js
Expert
AngularJS
Expert
Kubernetes
Expert
PostgreSQL
Expert
TypeScript
Expert
React JS
Beginner
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Language

English
Fluent
Spanish; Castilian
Fluent

Work Experience

Software Architect at National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Kennedy Space Center, FL
July 1, 2011 - Present
Led architecture and development for NASA spaceflight software, including MSolo mass spectrometer and LEAF plant habitat projects. Directed implementation by a team of software engineers, developed a C++-14 event-driven framework, created unit-test libraries achieving 100% code coverage, built multiple MSolo/LEAF applications, and delivered Yocto-based embedded Linux images, REST/WebSocket back-ends, TensorFlow-based ML tooling, Docker packaging, and DAO dashboards. Also implemented a DDS-to-MQTT bridge, Grafana visualization services, and Kubernetes/GitLab-based deployment pipelines.
Software Engineering Lead at National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Kennedy Space Center, FL
July 1, 2011 - October 16, 2025
Led a department of 20 developers across five teams delivering the NASA Launch Control System (LCS) command/control software. Fostered cross-disciplinary collaboration, ensured successful delivery of two LCS iterations, and explored virtualization to optimize operator station configuration. Modernized tooling, migrating from ClearCase to AccuRev and from ClearQuest to Jira, and contributed to achieving CMMI Level 2 certification for the software department.
Senior Software Engineer at National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Kennedy Space Center, FL
December 1, 2007 - October 16, 2025
Maintained C++ telemetry processing applications for Windows and Linux supporting LSP campaigns; served as Mission Telemetry Engineer for Mars Reconaissance Orbiter (MRO) and Pluto/New Horizons launches; designed de-interleaving of spacecraft data and developed a Linux kernel PCI driver for baseband input hardware.

Education

Master of Science in Computer Engineering at University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2020
Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering at University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
August 1, 1991 - May 1, 1996
Focus on Software Engineering; Graduated with University Honors

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Government, Software & Internet, Professional Services
    paper DDS to Node.js Add-on Generator

    Toolkit that compiles Data Distribution Service (DDS) Interface Definition Language (IDL) into Node.js C++ add-on source code that can be used to write JavaScript/TypeScript back-end applications that interact with a DDS domain.

    https://www.twine.net/signin

    paper The Foundation

    Modern C++ application framework that eases the writing of event-driven applications targeting embedded and server computing environments.

    https://www.twine.net/signin