Designing systems that improve the way software is built.
Current Focus
I'm currently focused on building developer platforms, AI-assisted engineering workflows, and educational software that improves the way software is built.
Building
Project Pulse
Active DevelopmentCommercial automated assessment platform for software engineering education.
Weird AI
Active DevelopmentEducational LLM project focused on building transformer concepts from first principles.
AI Engineering Lab
PrototypeHybrid local/cloud environment for spec-driven software development.
Researching
Topics currently shaping my thinking about developer platforms and the future of software engineering.
Writing
Architecture Notes
Short design essays on software architecture, platform engineering, AI workflows, and developer tools.
Conference Proposals
Developing talks around Project Pulse and AI-assisted software engineering environments.
Portfolio Case Studies
Documenting selected projects as architecture-focused case studies.
Next
- Complete the first version of this portfolio site
- Publish the Project Pulse case study
- Write the first Architecture Note
- Prepare a conference proposal for the AI Engineering Lab
Name: Charles Almond
Profile: Software Architect
Email: charles@charlesalmond.com
Website: https://www.charlesalmond.com
Areas of Expertise
Software Architecture
Enterprise application design, clean architecture, distributed systems
Platform Engineering
Developer platforms, CI/CD, automation, infrastructure
AI-Assisted Development
LLMs, local AI, agentic workflows, spec-driven development
Backend Systems
.NET Core, Java, REST APIs, authentication, distributed services
Infrastructure
Linux, Proxmox, Ceph, networking, high availability, observability
Federal Public Trust Clearance
Granted in support of GSA software modernization work through nChannel
About me
I design software systems, developer platforms, and educational technologies that make software easier to build, teach, and maintain. My career spans more than two decades of professional software development alongside leadership in higher education, where I've developed curricula, authored textbooks and publications, and built tools that improve the software engineering learning experience. My work spans modern backend development with .NET Core and Java, API design, distributed systems, authentication and identity, DevOps automation, virtualization, AI-assisted software engineering, and cloud-native development.
Today I serve as a Computer Science and Software Engineering professor at West Virginia University at Parkersburg, where I focus on bringing real-world engineering practices into the classroom. Rather than teaching technology in isolation, I build production-style learning environments that expose students to modern software architecture, CI/CD pipelines, Linux infrastructure, networking, cybersecurity, virtualization, and AI-powered development workflows. Many of these projects include custom tooling that provides students with immediate feedback while reducing instructional overhead, blending software engineering with practical educational technology.
Beyond teaching, I continue to design and build software systems, developer tools, and infrastructure projects. Recent work includes a configurable Java assessment platform, AI development environments built on self-hosted infrastructure, modern REST APIs using OAuth2 and OpenID Connect, containerized development platforms, and high-availability virtualization environments based on Proxmox and Ceph.
I have also founded my own independent software company focused on developer tools, educational technology, and software engineering utilities, Zenic Systems, LLC.
I am also the author of an open educational textbook on object-oriented programming in Java and have published articles on cultivating entrepreneurial mindset in higher education. From 2023–2025 I served as WVU Parkersburg's inaugural Distinguished Chair of Entrepreneurship, leading initiatives that integrated entrepreneurial thinking across academic programs. In 2025 I was honored to receive the Bernard P. McDonough Faculty of the Year award.
Whether I'm designing software platforms, mentoring engineers and students, or speaking about software architecture and AI-assisted development, I'm motivated by building systems that make other developers more effective.
Resume
Software architect focused on developer platforms, AI-assisted development, backend systems, and technical leadership.
Professional Summary
Charles Almond
Software architect with more than 20 years of experience designing enterprise software, developer platforms, backend systems, and technical infrastructure. My work focuses on building systems that improve how software is developed, taught, tested, deployed, and maintained.
- Parkersburg, WV
- charles@charlesalmond.com
- https://www.charlesalmond.com
Areas of Expertise
Architecture & Platform Engineering
- Software Architecture
- Platform Engineering
- Distributed Systems
- Developer Experience
- Backend Systems
- DevOps & Automation
- AI-Assisted Software Development
- Technical Leadership
Selected Technical Achievements
Project Pulse
Designed and implemented a configurable Java assessment platform using reflection, behavioral testing, JSON-driven configuration, and automated reporting to provide immediate feedback on programming assignments.
AI Engineering Lab
Designed a hybrid AI-assisted software engineering environment combining self-hosted infrastructure, local language models, cloud AI services, Git-based workflows, and CI/CD pipelines.
Weird AI
Developed an educational LLM project focused on teaching language model development from first principles using tokenization, attention mechanisms, transformer architecture, testing, and CI/CD workflows.
Open Educational Software Engineering Resources
Authored an open educational textbook on Object-Oriented Programming in Java, including supporting labs, presentations, and instructional resources for semester-long instruction.
Professional Experience
West Virginia University at Parkersburg
2000 - Present
Professor of Computer Science • Software Architect • Program Coordinator
Software Architecture & Engineering
- Designed enterprise software systems supporting instruction, assessment, and academic operations.
- Built developer platforms emphasizing automation, CI/CD, testing, and modern engineering workflows.
- Designed REST APIs, mobile backends, authentication systems, and cloud-ready applications.
- Developed AI-assisted software engineering environments and developer tooling.
Platform Engineering & Infrastructure
- Architected virtualization infrastructure using Proxmox, Ceph, Linux, HAProxy, and automated provisioning.
- Built production-style development environments for software engineering education.
- Automated provisioning, deployment, and CI/CD workflows using GitHub Actions, Jenkins, and Woodpecker.
- Designed scalable environments supporting hands-on development and experimentation.
Educational Technology
- Created Project Pulse, an automated assessment platform for programming instruction.
- Developed Weird AI, an educational LLM project for teaching AI from first principles.
- Built laboratory infrastructure supporting programming, Linux, networking, cybersecurity, mobile development, and software engineering courses.
- Authored an open educational textbook on object-oriented programming with Java.
Academic & Technical Leadership
- Coordinated multiple Computer Science, Information Technology, and Software Engineering degree programs.
- Led curriculum modernization around software architecture, testing, DevOps, cloud infrastructure, AI, and developer workflows.
- Served as the inaugural Distinguished Chair of Entrepreneurship from 2023–2025.
- Recognized as Bernard P. McDonough Faculty of the Year in 2025.
Senior Software Developer
2011 - 2013
nChannel, Inc.
- Developed enterprise integration software connecting e-commerce platforms, ERP systems, point-of-sale systems, and custom business applications.
- Built integrations using C#, .NET, SQL, and backend service architectures.
- Developed connectors for QuickBooks, eBay, ASPDotNetStorefront, and custom client systems.
Education
My educational background spans analytical reasoning, information security, technology leadership, and software engineering, providing a multidisciplinary foundation for designing secure, maintainable software systems.
M.S. Certificate, Software Engineering
West Virginia University
Graduate-level certificate consisting of 15 credit hours from the Master of Science in Software Engineering curriculum.
M.S., Technology Management
Concentration in Information Security
Marshall University
B.A., Political and Economic Philosophy
Wheeling Jesuit University
Developed a strong foundation in analytical reasoning, ethics, communication, and structured argumentation.
Connect With Me
I'm always interested in discussing software architecture, platform engineering, AI-assisted development, speaking, consulting, and collaboration opportunities.