Heikki Gruner
San Francisco,CA
Summary
Software engineer with 20 years of experience designing high-performance Linux systems and large-scale internet infrastructure. Specialized in translating complex problem domains into cohesive software architectures built around clear conceptual models and intuitive abstractions. Recognized for creating highly composable systems that remain understandable, maintainable, and extensible as they grow, with deep expertise in C, C++, Go, networking, and distributed systems.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Software Engineer
Anzenna
San Francisco, CA
12.2024 - 02.2026
- Developed integrations with enterprise cybersecurity platforms including CrowdStrike, Microsoft Defender, Google Workspace, and Snowflake, enabling correlation of security telemetry across disparate data sources.
- Owned the platform's remote endpoint execution capabilities, designing the infrastructure used to deploy, execute, and collect results from customer-managed Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.
- Developed cross-platform endpoint data collection software that safely interacted with operating system facilities to acquire forensic and security data unavailable through vendor APIs.
- Expanded the platform's detection capabilities by enabling targeted collection of machine-specific evidence, improving investigations beyond analysis of centrally aggregated event logs.
- Applied systems programming expertise to bridge low-level operating system behavior with large-scale cloud-based security analysis pipelines.
Staff Software Engineer
TrueAccord
San Francisco, CA
02.2021 - 11.2023
- Initiated, architected, and led the full lifecycle creation and launch of a new high-volume payments orchestration system, written in Go utilizing AWS infrastructure.
- Achieved wide set of project requirements, including significant reduction in cloud-resource costs, critical increase in reliability, and a design for straightfoward maintainability/extensibility.
- Formulated and executed a phased deployment approach to ensure a seamless transition from existing payment systems.
Senior Software Engineer
RStor
Saratoga, CA
02.2019 - 01.2021
- Conceived and implemented geolocation-aware load-balancing and failover solution for core data-center hosted product offering, ensuring key site-reliability functionality.
- Developed code customizations to Nginx source (C), achieving high-efficiency reverse proxy of large HTTP requests.
- Architected asynchronous distributed storage replication model.
- Designed and implemented internal tool (C++) for high-performance concurrent replication of files across networked file systems.
Lead Software Engineer
Cloudmark
San Francisco, CA
07.2010 - 03.2018
- Led ongoing design and development of content analysis engine (C/C++), guiding evolution of its architecture and capabilities.
- Achieved orders of magnitude performance increases repeatedly over several major releases.
- Implemented full lua integration for embedded logic scripting within content analysis engine.
- Created PHP extension modules (C/C++), exposing custom content analysis functionality to internal web applications.
- Acted as point person for various technical subjects, such as Unicode and sender authentication (DKIM, DMARC, etc).
- Provided company representation to several industry standard development efforts, including IETF RFCs for DMARC.
Owner / Principal Software Engineer
Foundament
San Francisco, CA
10.2008 - 07.2010
- Authored strict XHTML and cross-browser compatible CSS and JavaScript (utilizing jQuery and prototype).
- Created object-oriented web application framework in PHP, and custom web applications utilizing it.
- Designed relational database schemas to fit project requirements.
- Worked closely with designers, as well as originating designs considerate of appearance and usability.
Software Developer
Cogent Economics
San Francisco, CA
07.2006 - 10.2008
- Core developer on main product offering, a data-driven native frontend desktop application, using C#/.NET.
- Contributed to all facets of the software suite, ranging from database interfacing (MSSQL), to user interface design and performance engineering.
- Designed and implemented applications for internal processes, such as licensing and client management tools
- Led development of all web-based projects.
System Administrator
Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
Menlo Park, CA
07.2005 - 12.2005
- Responsible for real-time monitoring, remediation, and development of automation initiatives within a computing infrastructure with over 1500 Linux servers.
- Developed technique for remotely managing BIOS configurations on hosts without IPMI or a separate management interface, utilizing RS-232 serial interfaces.
- Utilized deep understanding of IP networking, and technologies such as DHCP, DNS, PXE, Kerberos, and AFS (Andrew File System).
Education
San Francisco City College
San Francisco, CASkills
- C and C
- Go
- Linux system programming
- Win32 system programming
- Network administration
- Internet protocols
- Relational databases
- Distributed systems
- Payment systems
- Real-time graphics (DirectX)
- Media production
Timeline
Senior Software Engineer
Anzenna
12.2024 - 02.2026
Staff Software Engineer
TrueAccord
02.2021 - 11.2023
Senior Software Engineer
RStor
02.2019 - 01.2021
Lead Software Engineer
Cloudmark
07.2010 - 03.2018
Owner / Principal Software Engineer
Foundament
10.2008 - 07.2010
Software Developer
Cogent Economics
07.2006 - 10.2008
System Administrator
Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
07.2005 - 12.2005
San Francisco City College
Related Experience
- 25 years experience audio production/mixing
- Front of house mixer
- Location sound recordist
- Re-recording mixer
- Home studio recording/production
- Musician (singer/tubist)
Interests
- Audio engineering
- Real-time systems
- Embedded systems
- Machine learning
- Hardware engineering
- Data visualization
- Human interfaces
- Virtual reality
- IOT / Home automation
- 3D Printing
- Cinematography