Supported research and development project designed to advance utilization efficiency and scientific discovery at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS).   Assisted PI with project management and operational plans.

Rockwell Collins - Simulation and Training Solutions – Sterling, VA   (Feb 2005 - Mar 2012)

Principal Technical Project Manager
Senior Software Engineer (2005-2010)

Hands on technical leader of IR&D simulation projects and programs including planning, budgeting, tracking performance, and reporting earned value results. Experienced opportunity leading engineering team in development of new scalable software architecture including multi-threaded, multi-computer, real-time software framework. Development included avionic interfaces (ARINC-429 / ARINC-708), embedded discrete / analog I/O, operating system abstraction, database (RDBMS), networking, and real-time processing services. Serving as technical project manager for military and commercial product line sustainment, research, and development.

Served in lead software project engineer role for  CORE™ simulation architecture design, development, and sustainment

Served as technical project manager for IR&D military simulation architecture product line

Developed product technology roadmaps and execution plans

Proposed, planned, estimated, and technically lead development projects

Managed project / program budgets and earned-value performance

Supported and lead technical proposal efforts for flight simulation training devices and upgrades

Performed post-delivery software troubleshooting, analysis, and corrective modification support

Northwest Airlines, Inc. – Eagan, MN    (Apr 1998 - Oct 2002 / Nov 2003 - Feb 2005)

Specialist Software Systems Engineer – Simulator Engineering 11/03-02/05

Senior Software Systems Engineer – Simulator Engineering 6/99-10/02

Software Systems Engineer – Simulator Engineering 4/98-6/99

Provided solutions for software related aircraft and simulator systems discrepancies on flight training devices and full flight simulators from various manufacturers: Opinicus, CAE, Link, Atkins & Merrill, Thales , Thomson-CSF

Developed and integrated software to simulate aircraft modifications in simulators using various programming languages, development computers, and operating systems.  Simulated aircraft: DC-9, DC-10, A320, A330, B727, B747,  B757.  Operating systems: Linux, MPX, AIX, DOS, UNIX, Windows. Software languages: C, C++, Fortran, Assembly, Pascal, GP-4.  Computer systems: PC, IBM RISC 6000, Gould/Encore Multi Sel, VAX, PDP 11-45, GP-4, Sun.

Responsible for evaluating results of recurrent simulator tests required to maintain FAA qualification 

Developed software for avionic updates on simulators 

Enhanced/maintained navigational database update system

Developed/updated host computer visual system interface software

Designed/developed systems & solutions to aid maintenance personnel and provided engineering support to troubleshooting efforts 

J. F. Taylor, Inc. – Lexington Park, MD      (Oct 2002 - Nov 2003)

Software Engineer

Worked at customer site, Navy - NAVAIR Manned Flight Simulator

Designed and developed aircraft (CH-47F) cockpit lighting object-oriented software model to simulate cockpit lighting in new prototype simulator. Cockpit lighting Computer Software Configuration Item (CSCI) designed and developed utilizing formal software design processes and procedures including development of the following documents: Segment Design, Software Requirements Specification (SRS), Software Design Document (SDD), and Interface Design Document (IDD)

 Developed Instructor Operator Station (IOS) software to display flight plan waypoint information and interface with an Avionics model monitoring 1553 data

 Developed Trainer Test Procedures and Results Report (TTPRR) sections as part of test IPT for use during acceptance testing of simulator to verify all systems function correctly and meet applicable requirements. Played significant role in developing the following test sections: Flight Instruments - EHSI, EADI, CGI, Standby Instruments, etc; Data Loader Unit (DLU); Heads Up Display (HUD); Mission Multifunction Display (MFD) Multifunction Control Unit (MFCU), Digital Map System (DMS); Radar Signal Detecting Set - AN/APR-39A; Counter Measures – AN/ALQ-156 and Flare Dispenser M-130; Control Loading; and Visual System – IG, Displays, Night Vision Goggles (NVG)

Flight Safety International, Inc. – St. Louis, MO      (Dec 1996 - Apr 1998)

Part-time Simulator Technician

Maintained flight simulators from various manufacturers (CAE, Flight Safety, Atkins & Merrill, Link)

Updated and corrected simulator software: FORTRAN, C, PDP assembly, and SP1 image modeling systems

Operated and repaired host and display computers: VAX 11/780, PDP 11/45, PDP 11/55, GP-4, Concurrent 3250XP, TI 980, Sperry-Univac 76/77

Maintained image generation systems E&S - SP1, Novoview 6000, McDonnell Douglas - Vital IV

LTC Solutions – St. Louis, MO         (Feb 1996 - Apr 1998)

Programmer / Analyst

Member of development team for a large medical records database application written in FoxPro

Completed development of program to convert data into new software package

Responsible for software releases and builds

Publications

[1]   Reitz, D. and Blaisten-Barojas, E. ‘Monte Carlo Study of the Crystalline and Amorphous NaK Alloy’, Procedia Computer Science, Volume 108, 2017, Pages 1215-1221. International Conference of Computational Science (ICCS) 2017, Zurich Switzerland  [pdf]

[2]  Land, W. H., Jr., Mckee, D., Reitz, D. ‘Teaching Computational Intelligence for Engineers in the 21st Century via Distance Learning’, SUNY Conference on Instructional Technology, CIT 2005, Binghamton, NY, 23-26 May, 2005. [pdf]