CV
By Cesar Ballardini
- 10 minutes read - 2081 wordsCésar Ballardini
Senior Software Developer · System Architect · Educator | Energy Grid & Power Systems | Vue.js · TypeScript · Python · GNU/Linux
Argentina
- Email: cesar.ballardini@gmail.com
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cesar-ballardini
- GitHub: github.com/CesarBallardini
- Skill Keywords: katra.ballardini.com.ar/en/skills/
- Consulting Services: katra.ballardini.com.ar/en/consulting/
Basic Info
I work as a senior software developer, system architect, and technical educator. This role draws on more than 35 years of experience across software development, infrastructure engineering, and university teaching. The result is:
- Comprehensive understanding of the full technology stack, from frontend applications through backend services to underlying infrastructure
- Practical ability to design, build, automate, and maintain production systems end-to-end
- Capacity to communicate complex technical concepts with clarity – refined through two decades of university instruction
Benefits from this experience include:
- Purpose-built internal tools that translate intricate domain workflows into effective, usable software
- Automated, reproducible infrastructure that accelerates provisioning and eliminates configuration drift
- Robust GNU/Linux server and network environments, seamlessly integrated with heterogeneous systems
- Thorough documentation and structured knowledge transfer – teams gain autonomy, not dependency
Summary
| 35+ | years in IT, software development, and infrastructure |
| 25+ | years teaching at universities (3 institutions, 6+ courses) |
| 10+ | years in the energy sector (SCADA, grid optimization) |
| 300+ | managed desktops provisioned and administered |
| 350+ | users supported on SCO Unix and GNU/Linux application servers |
| $100M+ | in annual customer savings attributed to grid reconfiguration work |
| 4 | sectors served: energy, government, education, private consulting |
| 2 | languages: Spanish (native), English (professional working) |
Major Achievements
- Grid reconfigurations identified through the analysis platform I develop at NewGrid have contributed to over $100 million in annual customer savings in the U.S. Midwest (World Economic Forum)
- Introduced Infrastructure as Code practices using Ansible within a provincial government organization, establishing the first IaC environments from the ground up
- Engineered custom Debian installation media that reduced desktop provisioning from 2–3 days per machine to 5 simultaneous installations in 2 hours
- Migrated a 50-user Microsoft Windows file server to a Debian-based Samba server architected to support 300 users
- Scaled IT infrastructure to over 300 managed desktops distributed across multiple government buildings
- Established the first online Internet access and the first public-facing web server at a university campus
- Designed and deployed the first intranet at a provincial power utility serving 350+ users
- Founded and directed an IT consulting firm delivering open-source solutions to clients in maritime transport, education, manufacturing, and services
Current Focus
- Designing and maintaining an internal analysis platform used by power systems engineers to investigate grid congestion and recommend transmission reconfigurations
- Developing specialized tooling for highly qualified electrical engineers with deep expertise in grid operations and electricity markets
- Collaborating with domain experts to translate complex power systems workflows into well-structured software solutions
- Teaching programming paradigms (Smalltalk, Scheme, Prolog) at Universidad Tecnológica Nacional – 25 years and continuing
Skills
- Full-stack software development spanning modern frontend technologies (Vue.js, TypeScript, Vite) and backend services (Python, Flask, PostgreSQL), with a focus on building internal tools for domain specialists
- System architecture and infrastructure design, from bare-metal GNU/Linux servers to cloud deployments on AWS, Digital Ocean, and Tektonic
- Infrastructure automation and configuration management using Ansible and Terraform, encompassing fleet-wide convergence and reproducible development environments with Vagrant and Docker containers
- Network services engineering: DNS, DHCP, firewalls, web proxies, mail servers, backup systems (Bacula), and VPN
- Data visualization and interactive analytical dashboards using D3.js, Chart.js, and Leaflet for geospatial representation
- Heterogeneous environment integration across GNU/Linux and Microsoft Windows platforms, including file services (Samba), messaging, spam filtering, and vertical business applications
- Technical instruction and curriculum design for university courses and professional workshops, with a sustained ability to convey complex systems with precision and clarity
- Energy sector domain expertise spanning SCADA software evaluation, grid congestion analysis, and transmission topology optimization
Experience
NewGrid
Senior Software Developer January 2023 - Present | Boston, MA
- Design and maintain an internal analysis platform used by power systems engineers to investigate client grid congestion and recommend transmission reconfigurations
- Develop tooling for a team of highly specialized electrical engineers with deep expertise in grid operations and electricity markets
- Reconfigurations identified through this work have contributed to over $100 million in annual customer savings in the U.S. Midwest (World Economic Forum - Topology Optimization for Grid Congestion Management)
- Collaborate closely with domain experts to translate complex power systems workflows into effective software solutions
NewGrid
Software Developer March 2022 - December 2022 | Boston, MA
- Joined NewGrid to develop internal tools supporting the company’s transmission topology optimization services
- Delivered software features for engineers analyzing grid congestion patterns and evaluating reconfiguration options
Secretaria de Tecnologias para la Gestion (Government Technology Office - Santa Fe Province)
Server and Application Provisioning Automation Engineer July 2016 - January 2023 | Santa Fe Province, Argentina
- Automated provisioning and configuration of virtual machines on VMware hypervisors across testing, staging, training, and production environments
- Configured OS-level services (DNS, web proxy, kernel parameters) and application stacks including GitLab, Jenkins, LDAP, Apache, PHP, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and shared filesystems
- Managed configuration convergence using Ansible and Python, ensuring consistent state across the entire server fleet
- Introduced Vagrant, VirtualBox, and Docker containers to establish reproducible testing environments for infrastructure development
- Pioneered Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices using Ansible, building the organization’s first IaC environments
- Delivered a Debian server administration course for senior technical staff
- Diagnosed and resolved server and application issues for the provincial government of Santa Fe
Ministerio de Innovacion y Cultura (Ministry of Innovation and Culture - Santa Fe Province)
Systems and Network Administrator January 2012 - June 2016 | Santa Fe, Argentina
- Scaled the IT infrastructure to over 300 managed desktops distributed across multiple buildings
- Replaced all locally attached inkjet printers with networked laser printers on a per-office basis
- Engineered custom Debian installation media that reduced desktop provisioning from 2–3 days per machine to 5 simultaneous installations in 2 hours
- Migrated centralized configuration management from Puppet to Ansible
- Interconnected all ministry buildings to the Internet, enabling remote administration and diagnostics from headquarters
- Deployed government applications for the Culture area including cultural heritage (Patrimonio Cultural) and open-source library and catalog software
- Advised on and implemented free software adoption strategies across the ministry
Ministerio de Innovacion y Cultura (Ministry of Innovation and Culture - Santa Fe Province)
Systems and Network Contractor June 2008 - December 2011 | Santa Fe, Argentina
- Established the IT ticketing system to track work items, coordinate procurement of components and supplies, and build an institutional knowledge base of issues and resolutions
- Laid the operational foundation for IT services within a newly created government area
- Migrated a Microsoft Windows file server (50 users) to a Debian-based Samba server scaled to support 300 users
- Deployed the primary server on Debian GNU/Linux, using vserver to create container-like virtual machines hosting internal services
- Provisioned DHCP servers across principal buildings to streamline machine onboarding and support roaming executive laptops
- Deployed DNS infrastructure for internal web services, including PAC (Proxy Auto-Configuration) support
- Implemented and configured Bacula backup system for full server backup to magnetic tape
- Developed automatic Internet failure detection across principal buildings, enabling transparent failover to an alternative proxy server to maintain web access
- Introduced Puppet for centralized configuration management across the desktop and server fleet
- Diagnosed and resolved network, operating system, and application issues across the ministry’s infrastructure
- Administered GNU/Linux desktop networks, server installations, and network services
Universidad Tecnologica Nacional Facultad Regional Santa Fe
Head Teaching Assistant - Programming Paradigms March 2001 - Present | Santa Fe, Argentina
- Instruct students in functional, logic, and object-oriented programming paradigms using Pharo Smalltalk, Racket Scheme, and SWI Prolog
- Guide students through hands-on implementation of programs across multiple paradigms
- Coordinate junior and senior teaching assistants
- 25 years of continuous involvement in the course
Universidad Tecnologica Nacional Regional Santa Fe
Head Teaching Assistant - Operating Systems Design & Implementation June 2010 - May 2015 | Santa Fe, Argentina
- Directed hands-on laboratory sessions focused on the comprehension, modification, and extension of the MINIX 3 operating system
- Students explored the internals of a microkernel architecture, learning to read assembler and write C code for device driver servers, file system servers, hardware and software interrupt handling, and CPU scheduling
- Supervised student projects involving kernel-level C programming and operating system internals
Self Employed - IT Consultant
Freelance IT Consultant August 2000 - Present
- Independent system administration, software development, and technical training services
- Migrated client file servers from Microsoft Windows to Debian-based Samba servers
- Deployed and configured firewalls, mail servers, web servers, database servers (PostgreSQL, MySQL), and network infrastructure
- Integrated GNU/Linux server applications with Microsoft Windows environments including messaging, spam filtering, virus detection, and vertical business applications
- Conducted GNU/Linux system administration and performance analysis training for sysadmin teams at client organizations
Netmanagers
Owner March 2006 - December 2011 | Argentina
- Founded and directed an IT consulting firm specializing in open-source and Free Software solutions for business infrastructure
- Designed and implemented network infrastructure strategies for clients in maritime freight transport, web-based educational platforms, manufacturing, and service industries
- Applied deep expertise in GNU/Linux and Free Software to deliver cost-effective, reliable alternatives to proprietary solutions
- Evaluated and strengthened logical security across client environments
- Cultivated long-term client relationships through strategic IT consulting and sustained technical support
Universidad Catolica de Santiago del Estero
Adjunct Professor March 2005 - July 2011 | Rafaela, Argentina
- Artificial Intelligence: taught search algorithms, knowledge representation, and logic using Python
- Software Engineering for Internet Applications:
- Project-based course structured around weekly team deliverables
- Students selected their language (Python, PHP, or Ruby) and worked with PostgreSQL on a shared virtual server from day one, replicating professional development workflows
- Course culminated in a formal presentation to IT managers and business owners from the local community, connecting soon-to-graduate students with prospective employers
Universidad Adventista del Plata
Adjunct Professor August 2001 - February 2011 | Villa Libertador General San Martin, Argentina
- Taught four courses: Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, Advanced Database Systems, and Introduction to Programming
- Instruction delivered across multiple languages including Python and C
Empresa Provincial de la Energia de Santa Fe (Provincial Power Utility of Santa Fe)
Software Supervisor December 1989 - August 2000 | Santa Fe, Argentina
- Administered firewalls, DNS, NIS, mail systems, and database systems for a provincial power utility
- Provided second-tier technical support on SCO Unix and GNU/Linux application servers serving 350+ users
- Evaluated and selected relational database management software and SCADA systems
- Installed, configured, and performance-tuned firewalls, application servers, and desktops
- Managed internationalization (I18n) and localization (l10n) of user-facing applications
- Evaluated and selected hardware and development tools for the portable meter input system
- Designed and deployed the company’s first intranet
- Trained technical staff on systems and tooling
Universidad Tecnologica Nacional - Facultad Regional Santa Fe
Sysadmin & Postmaster March 1996 - March 1998 | Santa Fe, Argentina
- Established and administered the first online Internet access on the university campus
- Deployed the faculty’s first public-facing web server with stringent security configuration
- Managed UUCP, firewall, DNS, and mail systems
- Configured remote-boot GNU/Linux desktops on a Novell NetWare-based laboratory network, providing students access to graphical web browsers
- Delivered technical support to all departments within the faculty
Universidad Nacional de Rosario
Software Developer February 1988 - December 1989 | Rosario, Argentina
- Developed educational software using Micro-Prolog and carousel slide automation
- Engineered a student records management system for tracking academic records including courses, examinations, and grades
- Analyzed and developed administrative software systems using the Clipper Summer ‘87 compiler
Education
Universidad Tecnologica Nacional (UTN)
Ingeniero en Sistemas de Informacion (Information Systems Engineer) – 2002
Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR)
Electronics (coursework) – 1982 - 1988
Escuela Industrial Superior - UNL
Tecnico Nacional, Mecanico Electrico (National Mechanical-Electrical Technician) – 1975 - 1980
A technical and vocational secondary institution operated by Universidad Nacional del Litoral, specializing in industrial education with rigorous emphasis on practical trade training across three pathways: Construction, Mechanical-Electrical, and Chemistry.
Certifications
- Machine Learning – Coursera – Issued Sep 2014
Top Skills
System Architecture · Infrastructure Automation · Technical Training
Extended Skills
Development: Software Development, Vue.js, TypeScript, Python, PostgreSQL
Infrastructure & Automation: GNU/Linux, DevOps, Infrastructure as Code, Ansible, Terraform
Virtualization & Cloud: QEMU, libvirt, Vagrant, Docker, AWS, Digital Ocean, Tektonic
Management & Practice: Time Management, Team Coordination, Free Software / Open Source, System Administration
Languages
- Spanish – Native or Bilingual
- English – Professional Working
Volunteer Experience
GIAIT UTN FRSF
Programming Instructor 1993 - 1998 | Santa Fe, Argentina
- Instructed students in multiple programming paradigms: functional, logic, and object-oriented
- Member of GIAIT (Grupo de Informatica Aplicado al Ingles Tecnico) research group
LUGLi (Linux User’s Group del Litoral) Argentina
Member 1996 - 2010
- Active member of a regional community dedicated to GNU/Linux, Free Software, education, and free content
Skill Keywords
A comprehensive, categorized index of technical keywords is available at the Skill Keywords page.