Hello! 👋

I'm Chris Pickett

Software Engineer

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About Me

I'm a problem solver. I have taken a winding career path through several different specialties, ultimately realizing that I'm primarily a generalist: someone who gets things done and goes where they are needed. I am passionate about improving developer experience and tooling, automating as many tedious or boring tasks as possible to ensure the team's output is high quality. I have a love of learning, engrossing myself in new technologies and creating side projects to explore how new programming languages, technologies, and services can be used to build robust, interesting applications.

C++C#GoTypeScriptDart/FlutterPythonLuaUnreal Engine 3/4/5UnityGitPerforceLinuxiOS/Android

Experience

Staff Software Engineer

Tanium

Aug 2024 - Present
  • Backend development for Go web services supporting IT endpoint management software
  • Native platform client/server development for endpoint management software

Founder

Pernicious Games, LLC

2014 - Present
  • Created Windows Phone/Surface tablet, Android, and iOS apps
  • Built websites for myself, hobbies, and a few small businesses
  • Contract programming for Gearbox Software on Borderlands 3 and Gearbox Publishing on Penn & Teller VR: F U, U, U, & U (Oculus Quest)
  • Contract work on Gearbox SHiFT web/backend services and SDK for titles including Borderlands 3 and Godfall

Principal Engineer

Stray Kite Studios

May 2019 - Aug 2024
  • Anything and everything to help a startup get off the ground
  • C++ development in Unreal Engine 4 and 5, including contracting on Fortnite
  • Office network management, build scripts, and supporting tools

Senior Programmer

Magic Leap

Oct 2017 - May 2019
  • External developer support specialist for companies building apps on Magic Leap hardware in Unreal Engine 4
  • Built SDK examples and demo apps in Unity and Unreal Engine 4 showcasing the Magic Leap AR headset
  • Administered the Dallas office's Perforce server for content developers
  • Wrote Go-based, containerized, AWS-hosted web apps for web-based application services

Programmer -> Technical Director

Gearbox Software

Jun 2006 - Oct 2017
  • Started as a gameplay programmer on Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
  • Became Xbox 360 platform specialist, then Lead Programmer, then Technical Director
  • Tools programming, release engineering, and backend web API development across several roles

Quality Assurance

Ritual Entertainment

Dec 2005 - Jun 2006
  • Tested the SiN series of games while finishing a Bachelor's degree at UT Dallas
  • Represented Ritual at E3, showing SiN Episodes: Emergence to press and gamers

Front Counter/Technician Assistant

Data Doctors

Dec 2004 - Apr 2005
  • Maintained computer systems and handled front counter customer service
  • Built internal web applications, including an employee time clock

Computer Technician

Electronic Outpost

1999 - 2002
  • Handled computer maintenance and repairs for the store
  • Created and maintained the store's website

Education

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

University of Texas at Dallas

Aug 2002 - May 2006
  • Elective coursework in computer and network security, databases, and technical writing