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Nick Karnik
Nick KarnikStaff Software Engineer & Engineering Leader
TypeScriptReactDeveloper ExperienceNodeJSAI

Experience

Plutonic
Founder & Fractional CTO
Plutonic Consulting
May 2025 – Present Current

Providing fractional CTO support, AI strategy, and scaling guidance to founders. Helping teams move faster with clear product bets, strong execution, and systems that are simple to maintain. Focus on pragmatic AI integration and developer experience optimization.

AI StrategyTechnical LeadershipFractional CTOTeam Scaling
Google
Staff Software Engineer / Engineering Manager
Google
May 2022 – Apr 2025

Led technical direction and hands-on engineering for Gemini Code Assist, integrated into VSCode and IntelliJ IDEs. Implemented a symbol table generator across multiple languages, increasing context for LLM, reducing tokens, and significantly improving code completion acceptance rates.

GoTypeScriptNode.jsKubernetesGCPLLM
Salesforce
Senior Engineering Manager
Salesforce
Oct 2019 – Apr 2022

Built CI pipeline (TACO) enabling 100+ partners to test connectors across Tableau/Salesforce stack. Delivered REST and native Salesforce connectors; owned Web Data Connector platform. Managed a team of 35+; drove hiring, mentoring, and technical strategy. Created Connector SDK adopted across the Tableau ecosystem.

TypeScriptNode.jsChromiumCI/CDTeam Leadership
T-Mobile
Director Of Engineering
T-Mobile
Nov 2018 – Oct 2019

Hired a diverse team of 25 engineers in six weeks; managed four product teams totaling 35+ engineers across T-Mobile Retail Mobility. Delivered custom desktop & mobile applications for the T-Mobile / Sprint merger. Architected and implemented a portable Test Automation Framework that runs in-app.

Team LeadershipRapid HiringMobile DevelopmentTest Automation
Fullstack Consulting
Principal / Founder
Fullstack Consulting
Mar 2018 – Nov 2018

Trained 100+ students in React, Node, GraphQL; created technical content for YouTube and dev.to. Consulted on MVPs and scale-up projects with clients including Hims, ForHers, CopBot, and Sensei Ag. Built and delivered mobile applications using React Native for early-stage clients.

React NativeGraphQLTrainingConsultingMobile Apps
Treasure Technologies
CTO
Treasure Technologies
Sep 2017 – Mar 2018

Built a fin-tech analytics product integrating with banks via Plaid and custom APIs. Accepted into Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Program; led engineering and technical vision.

FinTechPlaid APIBanking IntegrationTechnical Leadership
Jobbatical
CTO
Jobbatical
Apr 2017 – Aug 2017

Migrated monolith to microservices; rebuilt CI/CD, monitoring, and deployment pipelines. Led platform modernization and org scaling during growth phase.

MicroservicesCI/CDPlatform ArchitectureDevOps
Gates Foundation
Senior Software Engineer
Gates Foundation
Sep 2012 – Oct 2016

Built simulation and visualization tools for malaria, HIV, TB, polio, and more. Developed software and spatial models featured in Bill Gates' TED Talk "The next outbreak? We're not ready." Collaborated with organizations like WHO, ministries of health, NGOs, and universities.

Data VisualizationSimulationGlobal HealthScientific Computing
Microsoft
Software Development Engineer
Microsoft
Aug 2006 – Aug 2012

Led multiple Bing teams including Bing Together, Task Framework, Ecosystem, Core Answers, Seasonal Answers, Structured Data, Commerce Relevance, and Commerce Data Pipeline. Architected Big Data Validation Framework (Engineering Excellence Award Nominee). Built JS memory profiling tools for Outlook Web Access; developed Naive Bayes sentiment classifiers for Bing Shopping.

Big DataJavaScriptMachine LearningOutlook Web AccessBing
Compass Technologies
Lead Software Engineer
COMPASS Technologies
Nov 2005 – Aug 2006

Architected and developed next-generation Access Control Security System using C++ and C#. Optimized real-time alarm processing for distributed systems. Led team expansion and mentored junior developers in TCP/IP networking and security protocols.

C++C#TCP/IPDistributed SystemsTeam Leadership
Blue Hippo Funding
Software Engineer
Blue Hippo Funding
Jul 2003 – Oct 2003

Developed CRM system in VB.NET, C#, and ASP.NET using SQL 2000. Focused on UI ergonomics and data access design patterns. Built service to monitor orders and dynamically generate PDF files for warehouse printing. Integrated with Cisco Phone Switch for call tracking.

VB.NETC#ASP.NETSQL ServerCRM Systems
The Globalist
Software Engineer
The Globalist
Jan 2002 – Jul 2003

Developed CRM system in C# using SQL Server 2000. Gathered requirements from end users and designed ergonomic UI for business and contact data access. Integrated task and appointment scheduler with Microsoft Outlook. Built error reporting system with XML web service integration.

C#SQL ServerOutlook IntegrationCrystal ReportsXML Web Services
Meds Publishing
Web Application Developer
Meds Publishing
May 2000 – May 2001

Converted VB 6 applications to ASP applications. Gained early experience in web development and application modernization. Worked on database design and user interface improvements for medical publishing platform.

VB 6ASPWeb DevelopmentApplication Migration
University of Maryland
Web Developer
University of Maryland
Oct 1999 – May 2000

Designed, implemented and tested a faculty expertise management tool in ASP using Access 2000. Maintained Engineering Research Center's website during undergraduate studies. Gained foundational experience in web technologies and database design.

ASPAccess 2000Web DevelopmentDatabase Design

Notable Projects

Gemini
Gemini Code Assist
gemini-code-assist
2022 - 2025

Led technical direction and hands-on engineering for Google's AI coding assistant, integrated into VSCode and IntelliJ IDEs. Implemented a symbol table generator across multiple languages, increasing context for LLM, reducing tokens, and significantly improving code completion acceptance rates.

GoTypeScriptNode.jsKubernetesGCPLLM
Tableau
TACO Toolkit & Connector SDK
Tableau
2019 - 2022

Built a robust CI/CD pipeline (TACO) enabling over 100 partners to test and deploy Tableau connectors efficiently. Created a Connector SDK widely adopted across Tableau's ecosystem, simplifying web data connector development.

TypeScriptNode.jsChromiumCI/CDSDK Development
Gates Foundation
Malaria Simulation Platform
Gates Foundation
2012 - 2016

Developed advanced simulation and visualization tools for malaria, HIV, TB, and polio research. Created software and spatial models featured in Bill Gates' TED Talk "The next outbreak? We're not ready." Collaborated with WHO, ministries of health, NGOs, and universities worldwide.

Scientific ComputingData VisualizationGlobal HealthSimulationResearch
Videoly
Videoly Platform
Videoly Platform
2007 - 2009

Co-founded video mail platform allowing users to send video messages via webcam or upload existing videos through email accounts. Accepted into YCombinator 2007. Experimented with ad-based and paid revenue models for consumer space and B2B platform services.

Ruby on RailsFlexAmazon EC2/S3YCombinatorVideo Streaming
RoomToday Platform
RoomToday Platform
RoomToday Platform
2014 - 2016

Co-founded and built a real-time, last-minute hotel booking platform. Raised $1.6M and led the acquisition by Simasindo and Northcliff Ventures. Developed mobile apps and real-time property management systems used by hotel partners across Asia and Europe.

React NativeReal-time SystemsMobile AppsStartup