Jack Gaffney

B.S.E. Computer Science

Relevant Coursework: Operating Systems, Embedded Systems, Computer Organization, Artificial Intelligence, Data Structures & Algorithms, Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, Physics I & II

Software Engineering Intern

• Built and deployed a full-stack internal database (Go/Gin backend, Next.js frontend, PostgreSQL, Docker Compose) that centralized fragmented workflows and improved operational scalability for the engineering team.
• Designed modular Go API endpoints that could be consumed independently, enabling seamless integration with Python-based data generation pipelines and reducing redundant data transfers.
• Implemented automated data ingestion and validation pipelines with dynamic entity linking and relationship mapping, improving reliability and reducing manual intervention across complex datasets.

Carpenter & Logistics Lead

• Constructed large-scale outdoor living spaces by applying precision carpentry techniques, coordinating multi-phase project planning, and adapting designs to structural constraints under limited resources.
• Coordinated logistics and scheduled material deliveries for seven distributed crews within a 50-mile radius, optimizing resource allocation and significantly reducing downtime across simultaneous job sites.

Engineering Intern

• Produced 2D/3D CAD renderings and detailed technical schematics, supporting cross-functional communication between engineering design and production teams to accelerate product iteration.
• Authored a comprehensive technical manual for a mechanical boat door system, allowing customers to independently complete installations and reducing reliance on on-site engineering support.

An educational x86_64 microkernel focused on memory management, scheduling, and userspace isolation.

• Implemented boot/runtime fundamentals: Limine boot path, GDT/IDT setup, fast interrupt handling, and a SYSCALL/SYSRET system call interface.
• Built kernel memory systems including a buddy allocator, 4-level paging, and slab allocation with explicit ownership boundaries.
• Designed capability-based IPC and userspace server boundaries to keep policy outside kernel space while preserving performance.

A C++17/Lua 2D engine built for predictable frame timing and scriptable gameplay systems.

• Built an ECS-style architecture with Lua scripting hooks, enabling fast gameplay iteration without recompiling core engine systems.
• Integrated physics and rendering pipelines with careful memory-management patterns to reduce allocation churn during gameplay.
• Profiled hot paths and data layout to sustain 60 FPS in benchmark scenes with 10,000+ active entities.

Research artifact showing that naive context compression can preserve answer form while silently drifting from original intent.

• Built an interactive benchmark demo with deterministic witness tables and certificate views for policy-level comparison.
• Implemented companion MCP tooling (`tropical-mcp`) for guarded retention, feasibility inspection, and auditable compaction outcomes.
• Published reproducible artifacts for independent review: Live Demo, MCP Implementation.