---
name: Paul Halvorsen
keywords: python, backend developer, REST API, database management, security, MySQL, git, docker, testing, performance optimization
left-column:
    - "Email: paul.halvorsen@pm.me"
    - "Phone: +1-410-236-4665"
right-column:
    - "GitHub: github.com/malwhile"
    - "LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/paul-halvorsen"
    - "Blog: flow.halvo.me"
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fontenc: T1
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---

## Professional Summary

Backend Engineer with 15+ years of experience developing scalable server-side applications, REST APIs, and database systems. Expert in Python, MySQL, and test-driven development with a proven track record of optimizing backend performance and implementing security best practices. Passionate about building reliable infrastructure and writing clean, testable code.

## Core Technical Skills

**Languages:** Python (Advanced), Rust, C, GoLang | **Databases:** MySQL, SQLite, SQL/NoSQL | **Backend:** REST APIs, JSON, Nginx | **DevOps:** Docker, Git/GitLab CI/CD | **Testing:** Pytest, Unit Testing, Integration Testing | **Security:** Encryption (RSA, AES), Authentication, Data Protection | **Frameworks & Tools:** Tokio, TDD, pytest

## Professional Experience

### Software Engineer | Abnormal AI
\resumedate{**January 2026 – Present**}

- Develop and maintain Python-based data aggregation services for multi-region deployments (US East, US West, EU West)
- Design and optimize real-time storage and long-term data management systems handling customer data at scale
- Implement performance optimizations including auto-scaling and compression, improving efficiency by up to 70%
- Write comprehensive unit and integration tests using pytest; maintain high test coverage
- Collaborate with 5-person team on monorepo architecture and continuous integration pipelines
- Build and manage infrastructure using GoLang and Python for data pipeline orchestration

### Sr Software Engineer | Binary Defense
\resumedate{**April 2022 – October 2025**}

- Architected and implemented Python backend libraries for cross-platform event monitoring (Windows, Linux, macOS)
- Designed REST APIs for secure communication between client endpoints and backend services
- Optimized backend services, achieving 60-80% improvements in memory and network traffic reduction through intelligent filtering and compression
- Implemented encrypted SQLite database layers with secure key storage (DPAPI, freedesktop.secrets)
- Built end-to-end integration testing framework spinning up pre-configured VMs and automated test servers
- Executed performance profiling and optimization on data processing pipelines handling millions of events
- Developed Python libraries for network traffic monitoring with event-driven architecture and regex-based filtering
- Maintained CI/CD pipelines (GitLab) for compilation, testing, and deployment across platforms
- Implemented security hardening: public key pinning, certificate transparency validation, secure key exchange protocols

### Security Software Engineer | Parsons
\resumedate{**April 2018 – November 2020**}

- Designed and built back-end file storage service supporting concurrent multi-user access with role-based access control (RBAC)
- Implemented REST API for file management with web and CLI interfaces
- Managed MySQL database with advanced indexing and optimization strategies
- Developed data deduplication logic to eliminate redundant storage and support multi-user read access
- Built custom serialization protocol optimizing network traffic and data transfer
- Implemented LDAP integration for enterprise user authentication

### Security Software Engineer | NSA
\resumedate{**November 2011 – April 2018**}

- Designed and maintained MySQL databases holding CVE data, exploit information, and system fingerprints
- Built REST JSON APIs for real-time data transfer between web interfaces and backend services
- Implemented query optimization and indexes reducing query latency by 50%+
- Developed backend web services using PHP, Python, and Java supporting thousands of concurrent users
- Created secure communication protocols and custom serialization for limited-bandwidth environments
- Deployed backend systems on Tomcat, Apache, and Nginx across Linux and Windows platforms

### Systems Engineer | NSA
\resumedate{**September 2009 – November 2011**}

- Managed infrastructure supporting 130+ RHEL servers across 10+ systems
- Developed Python automation scripts for system monitoring, health checks, and remediation
- Built reporting systems integrating with Web APIs for real-time alerting and status tracking

### Software Developer | Salisbury University
\resumedate{**November 2006 – May 2008**}

- Built C++ backend for risk assessment system supporting real-time data processing and reporting
- Designed database schema for scenario storage and analysis
- Collaborated with Geographic Information Systems team to integrate maps and spatial data

## Education

**Master of Science in Computer Science** | University of Maryland Baltimore Campus (2013)
- Thesis: "Stateless Detection of Malicious Traffic: Emphasis on User Privacy"

**Bachelor of Science in Computer Science** | Salisbury University (2009)
- Graduated Magna Cum Laude

## Security Clearance & Certifications

- CompTIA Security+ (Expired 04/04/2024)
- Expired TS/SCI Clearance

## Open Source & Projects

- **testct** & **ctclient** (Rust) - Certificate transparency testing, validation, and monitoring tools
- **baseball-nn** (Python) - Machine learning project using TDD and pytest
- **sjles-pta-vote** (Go, TypeScript) - Full-stack community platform with REST APIs