Cyd La Luz

Software Engineer with 10+ years of experience in AI, cybersecurity, and full-stack development.

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cyd@laluz.ai · linkedin.com/in/quetzaluz · github.com/quetzaluz · gitlab.com/cydl · stackoverflow.com/users/2578505

• Current:

  Modernizing real estate with Ender, building websites for local charities, and AI research.

  Just started my role with Ender working with a great team of other former MAANG engineers. The charity websites I maintain include an auction website for a local church and a site helping low-income people pay their utilities. In terms of AI research, I have tested experimental models for Anthropic.

• Google:

  Implemented emergency calling for Waymo cars using SIP/PSTN protocols and managed an on-call shift of 20+ engineers. Scaled backend systems for Google Security Operations.

  Served with Google (Alphabet) for five-plus years, earning a promotion and the top-tier PERF rating only 1% of engineers receive. I would have stayed forever if not for the shift to in-office-only teams. Secure, scalable work migrating Mandiant software to GCP, building calling software for Waymo, and more.

• Meta:

  Developed AI moderation algorithms for Facebook Groups and Marketplace.

  Completed a one-year contract-to-hire position with Meta. Got offered a full-time role, but I also received offers from Amazon and Google in the same period. Went with Google because working for them was always my dream. Shipped a lot of good work in a short amount of time.

• Tesla:

  Principal backend engineer for the Tesla Data & Analytics team, supporting over 40 analysts company-wide. Also worked on an auditing platform for Powerwall and related installations.

  Served with Tesla for two and a half years as a Software Engineer, supporting a team of more than fifty data analysts alongside one other engineer. Won first place in a company hackathon and contributed significantly to open-source code used by Tesla systems.

• Gigster/Virtasant:

  Completed multiple contracts for major companies, including developing an AI Photo Culling platform for Canon, which demoed at CES 2020 and received positive press.

  Working with Gigster/Virtasant has exposed me to great opportunities with various companies and projects, spanning anything from military contracting to corporate research in chemical engineering.

• Languages & Technologies:

  Java, Kotlin, Python, JavaScript (React, Node.js), Ruby, C#, Rust, Go (Golang), PHP, Kubernetes, Docker, SQL, R, Redux.js, NLP/LLMs, and Computer Vision.

  There is a lot more here I haven't listed, such as working with Meta's bespoke Hacklang PHP language.

• Domains of Expertise:

  Cloud security, cybersecurity, AI, data pipelines, full-stack web development, DevOps, containerization, on-call leadership, operations, scaled backend systems.

  I am a modest person so I dislike the term "Domains of Expertise." While I hesitate to call myself an expert, others have called me one, and have paid me to consult and speak at conferences.

• About me personally:

  Grew up poor but learned to hack library terminals at age 9; built and administered online games by age 13. Volunteers extensively, including supervising a homeless shelter for two years and maintaining a website today that helps low-income people pay utilities.

  I am sorry I hacked those terminals but I wanted to play telnet-based games! I still read plenty of books at that library, and also won multiple national writing awards in middle school and high school.

• Cybersecurity Certifications:

  • GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst (GCIA)
  • GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)
  • GIAC Defensible Security Architecture (GDSA)
  • GIAC Strategic Planning, Policy, and Leadership (GSTRT)
  • GIAC Security Leadership (GSLC)
  • GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC)

  Certifications earned during work on a Master's degree in Cybersecurity with SANS Technology Institute.