CV

By Cesar Ballardini

- 10 minutes read - 2081 words

César Ballardini

Senior Software Developer · System Architect · Educator | Energy Grid & Power Systems | Vue.js · TypeScript · Python · GNU/Linux

Argentina

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.