Contact

ddejohn@pm.me

At a glance

Team leader on two student-designed-and-built engineering payloads flown on NASA suborbital sounding rockets. Four years of Python experience. Applied mathematician with diverse skill set and extensive background in solving complex problems across a wide variety of problem domains. Interested in astrodynamics, numerical analysis, computational physics, control theory, backend software engineering, data analysis, and machine learning.

Skills

Languages

Python, Julia, Java, Haskell, SQL

Tools

Git, LaTeX, Jupyter, Docker, Bash, Tensorflow, Flask, PyTorch, YAML, Excel, matplotlib, numpy, Pandas, plotly, regular expressions

Mathematics

Numerical analysis, computational mathematics, computational physics, linear algebra, partial and ordinary differential equations, Monte Carlo simulation, Markov chains, stochastic processes, probability, statistics, Fourier theory, multivariable calculus, vector calculus, descriptive and inferential statistics, predictive modeling, linear regression, logistic regression, polynomial regression, abstract algebra, group theory

Miscellaneous

RESTful APIs, data analysis, data visualization, Linux, object-oriented programming, functional programming, multiple dispatch, pattern matching, relational databases, machine learning, test-driven development, version control, maintainability-first mindset, agile, scrum

Education

Applied Mathematics, B.S., Metropolitan State University of Denver

September 2017 - May 2020

  • Majored in applied mathematics with a concentration in differential equations and numerical analysis
  • Minored in computer science and physics
  • Awarded academic honors, Dean’s List, President’s List, Provost’s List, Mathematics and Computer Science department Certificate of Achievement

Experience

Lead Curriculum Developer - Data Science Prep & Precourse, Galvanize

February 2020 - August 2021

  • Designed curriculum in probability, statistics, calculus, linear algebra, machine learning, and computer science for our Data Science immersive program
  • Taught large-scale online classes in the aforementioned topics
  • Spearheaded multiple large-scale overhaul projects related to our curriculum structure, pedagogical approach, and content quality
  • Established standardized workflows, project tracking, version control discipline, and code reviewing protocols for all of our content creation processes
  • Wrote entire new modules of material in various advanced topics that pushed the limits of our Learning Management System’s capabilities, and significantly raised the bar for the quality of our program’s content
  • Redesigned the technical interview to a data-collection-oriented process and paved the way for our team to perform analysis on our technical interview process
  • Utilized Python, Pandas, Numpy, PostgreSQL, and the Salesforce API to perform data analysis on technical interview results and applicant performance

Math, Stats, and CS Tutor, Metropolitan State University of Denver Math & CS Department

January 2018 - May 2020

  • Official tutor for the MSU Math & CS department
  • Tutored extensively in differential and integral calculus, ordinary and partial differential equations, linear algebra, probability, statistics, abstract algebra, proofs, programming, numerical analysis, and computer science

Electrical Team Lead, Metropolitan State University of Denver RockSat-X

September 2015 - June 2016

  • Awarded one of five payload spots in an extremely competitive program involving colleges around the country, and multiple in-depth design reviews with NASA
  • Fulfilled strict design requirements involving payload exposure to vacuum, atmospheric reentry, and splashdown waterproofing
  • Managed parts research, circuit design process, team progress meetings
  • Designed power delivery interface for complex payload requirements

Test/Integration Team Lead, Community College of Denver RockSat-C

October 2014 - June 2015

  • Awarded one of eight payload spots among dozens of competing universities around the country, after a months-long process of design iteration and design reviews with NASA
  • Designed detailed payload testing and integration procedures
  • Improved flight code for crucial experiment task
  • Complete success of multiple flight experiments, one of only three totally successful payloads

Personal Projects

Conway’s Game of Life

Summer 2021

  • A NumPy-oriented implementation of Conway’s game of life with options for fixed or periodic boundary conditions
  • Fast, novel approach using NumPy
  • Robust initial seed generation

DnD Shell

Summer 2021

  • A pure-Python shell program for making ability checks and saving throws under the D&D 5e ruleset
  • Can read a character sheet in the form of a yaml file

Fantasy weapon and armor generator

Summer 2019 - present

  • Procedurally generated weapons and armor for a text-based game written in Python which provides richly detailed descriptions and unique names for fantasy world building
  • Two different interfaces: a CLI client, and a Discord bot

Spacecraft flight operations software library

Fall 2018 - present

  • Developed an organized library containing all of my simulated spacecraft flight code, involving massive decoupling and restructuring of the main library, major refactoring of methods, and general improvements across an extensive codebase

Skycrane-style Mars rover landing simulation

Spring 2018

  • Fully automated skycrane-style rover landing involving interplanetary transfer phasing, ballistic aerocapture trajectory, and hoverslam terminal descent

Satellite constellation deployment simulation

Fall 2016

  • Designed an n-satellite geostationary constellation launch vehicle and deployment program
  • Developed an interplanetary relay network launch vehicle and deployment program

Apollo-style launch-to-splashdown moon landing simulation

Spring 2017

  • Implemented trans-lunar phasing and injection maneuvers; orbital circularization and inclination adjustment; descent orbit transfer phasing, quartic braking phase, and high-precision targeted terminal descent guidance; orbital rendezvous and docking; targeted atmospheric reentry

Dark-side transit time calculator

Summer 2015

  • Self-taught basic two-body orbital mechanics in order to calculate maximum planetary shadow-cone transit time for spacecraft in elliptical Kepler (non-perturbed) orbits