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Jonathan Sandusky
Senior Software Engineer
Minneapolis,MN
Summary
Dynamic Senior Software Engineer with over 10 years of experience in software engineering, including more than 9 years at Target, specializing in the design and scaling of enterprise-grade systems. Expertise includes backend and frontend development using Kotlin, Java, and React, with a proven track record in leading complex data migrations, optimizing performance, and mentoring engineers. Currently pursuing a B.S. in Data Science while enhancing applied machine-learning skills to integrate intelligent solutions into production systems. Recognized for driving modernization initiatives that reduce operational risk and deliver resilient, scalable systems that effectively bridge data and engineering.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Software Engineer
Target Corporation
02.2016 - Current
- Led Teradata decommission and migration to modern data stack: planned and executed migration strategy, migrated read paths, and ensured secure Database as a Service transitions for production workloads.
- Migrated 21+ billion Elasticsearch documents from bare-metal to OpenStack V3 using Elastic reindex and task API with zero downtime and resource-efficient orchestration.
- Designed and implemented DNS/load-balancer routing and configuration switch to enable staged rollouts and safe rollback between legacy Teradata reads and new Elasticsearch as a Service cluster.
- Built recursive nested aggregations and multi-level financial analytics in Elasticsearch, improving analytics depth and query efficiency for Planning and Financial Compare tools.
- Implemented Redis caching layers to reduce Elasticsearch load and improve response times for heavy aggregation queries.
- Developed Forecasting and Assortment Planning tools with React and ag-Grid, integrated React Query and GraphQL local debugging, and added Cypress end-to-end tests for critical flows.
- Directed project realignment efforts during organizational changes, streamlining onboarding processes, facilitating agile ceremonies, expediting issue resolution, and tracking OKR progress to maintain delivery momentum.
- Engineered a secure secrets management solution leveraging Vault and Terraform, automating credential rotations for over 300 microservices and reducing security incident risks by 95% across production environments.
- Led the development of scalable microservices architecture, improving application performance and reducing system downtime significantly.
- Mentored junior engineers in best coding practices, fostering a collaborative environment and enhancing team productivity.
- Spearheaded the implementation of Agile methodologies, streamlining project workflows and accelerating delivery timelines across teams.
- Designed and optimized RESTful APIs, enhancing data retrieval efficiency and improving user experience on key platforms.
Software Developer
Cengage Learning (Brooksouce)
11.2013 - 02.2016
- Implemented server‑side templates and integrated Endeca (enterprise search and guided‑navigation) to index content and enable faceted search for better discovery and editorial workflows.
- Designed and launched RESTful services for National Geographic Learning using Spring and Hibernate to support content APIs and stabilize response behavior.
- Migrated the department to Git, standardizing version control and accelerating releases.
- Automated Tomcat deployments with Python scripts, eliminating manual steps and cutting deployment errors.
- Built a Groovy sitemap generator to expand site crawl coverage and aid SEO.
- Maintained scalable Java web applications to ensure system reliability and user satisfaction.
- Partnered with cross‑functional teams to deliver software features and streamline project delivery.
Search and Rescue Communications Specialist (E4)
United States Coast Guard
09.2000 - 09.2004
- Managed emergency communications and operations coordination.
- Maintained mission logs and ensured accuracy of operational records.
- Recognized for calm, reliable performance in critical situations.
- Acted as SAR boat crew member: launched, recovered, and operated 45-ft/25-ft rescue boats during emergency response missions.
- Conducted surface searches using visual, radar, and AIS contacts; coordinated search patterns and sector sweeps with on-scene commander.
- Coordinated multi-agency emergency radio traffic and relays, facilitating rapid information flow and mission execution during time-critical search and rescue operations.
- Coordinated emergency response communications, enhancing situational awareness and operational efficiency during critical search and rescue missions.
- Operated advanced communication systems to maintain seamless contact among units, ensuring timely and effective response to emergencies.
- Trained junior personnel on communication protocols and equipment utilization, fostering team competence and operational readiness in the field.
- Implemented standardized communication procedures, improving response times and coordination across multiple agencies during rescue operations.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Data Science
University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)
Adelphi, Maryland08-2027
Associate of Applied Science - Software Development
Sinclair Community College
Dayton, OH01.2013
Skills
Kotlin
Micronaut
Kafka
CI/CD
Data engineering (ETL & Analysis)
Test automation
Javascript/React
Spring
Java
Polyglot data stores
Machine Learning
Elasticsearch
Graphql
Interests
Timeline
Senior Software Engineer
Target Corporation
02.2016 - Current
Software Developer
Cengage Learning (Brooksouce)
11.2013 - 02.2016
Search and Rescue Communications Specialist (E4)
United States Coast Guard
09.2000 - 09.2004
Bachelor of Science - Data Science
University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)
Associate of Applied Science - Software Development
Sinclair Community College