Jack of all trades and master of many. Combines a strong academic and research background with the pragmatic and business-savvy experience of founding and running a successful commercial software company. Experienced in many languages and types of systems, from backend big data pipelines in C++/Python to end-user Objective-C/Mac/iOS software design and development. Approaches problems with the high-level strategic viewpoint of a business owner—is this even the right problem to be solving?—and pushes to improve products in all aspects, not just programming, using a wide variety of skills. Well-experienced in the many trials and tribulations of running a small software business, including product planning and development, payroll and human resources, advertising, and customer service.

Staff Software Engineer @ Led various teams in Shopping and Cloud. From September 2011 to Present (4 years 4 months) Greater Pittsburgh AreaPresident/Janitor @ Owner/manager/lead developer of a successful independent Mac software company. Involved in every facet of product design and development, business/employee management and administration, and infrastructure and storefront design and development. Grew the company from a hobby in grad school to a successful small business. Left the company going strong in the hands of a former employee due to a change in personal focus. From January 2003 to September 2011 (8 years 9 months) Adjunct Professor @ From January 2009 to December 2010 (2 years) Graduate Technical Intern @ From May 2006 to September 2006 (5 months) Graduate Technical Intern @ From May 2005 to August 2005 (4 months) President/Project Director @ From December 1999 to January 2001 (1 year 2 months)

MS, Computer Science @ Carnegie Mellon University From 2002 to 2007 BSx2, Computer Science, Mathematics @ The University of Texas at Austin From 1999 to 2002 Benjamin Rister is skilled in: Objective-C, Cocoa, C++, C, Linux, Software Development, Software Project Management, Big Data, Distributed Systems, BSD, Carbon, Computer Science, Python, Git, Ruby, Object Oriented Design, iOS development