TR Thomas Ruch
SYSTEMS ENGINEER › PROBLEM SOLVER › ALWAYS LEARNING

Thomas Ruch

Principal Software Engineer
Embedded Systems • Robotics • Data Engineering

I build high-performance systems from physical hardware to intelligent data platforms.

⇩ Download Resume in LinkedIn
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20+Years Experience
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C / C++ / Python / SQL / Go
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Target Roles:Principal / Staff
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Performance • Reliability • Systems • Data

From Sensor to Insight

DIFFERENT DOMAINS. ONE SYSTEM.

Embedded engineering helps me understand where data comes from.
Data engineering and analytics help me understand what that data can become.

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Physical World

  • Real environments
  • Machines
  • People
  • Physical processes
→
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Sensors / Hardware

  • Sensors
  • Peripherals
  • Controllers
  • Cameras
  • Hardware interfaces
→
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Embedded Software

  • C
  • C++
  • Drivers
  • BSP
  • Real-time software
  • Hardware interfaces
→
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Linux / RTOS

  • Linux
  • QNX
  • FreeRTOS
  • Embedded platforms
  • Device management
  • Concurrency
→
⌘

Distributed Systems

  • TCP/IP
  • APIs
  • Containers
  • Backend services
  • Observability
  • Scalability
→
▤

Data Engineering

  • SQL
  • ETL
  • Databases
  • Data pipelines
  • Storage
  • Processing
→
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Analytics / ML

  • Analytics
  • Statistical modeling
  • Machine learning
  • Decision-making

What I Build

SYSTEMS ACROSS THE STACK.

▦ Embedded Systems

CC++LinuxQNXFreeRTOSDevice DriversBSPARM Cortex-M/ASTM32

Software that interfaces directly with hardware, sensors, peripherals, and real-world systems.

⚯ Robotics & Edge Systems

Machine VisionTCP/IPHardware IntegrationSensor IntegrationEmbedded LinuxReal-Time Systems

Software connecting sensing, computation, networking, and physical systems.

⌘ Distributed & Backend Systems

GoDockerRedisAPIsNetworkingPerformance Optimization

Reliable systems designed for scalability, observability, concurrency, and low-latency performance.

▤ Data Engineering & Analytics

PythonSQLETLMySQLPostgreSQLMicrosoft SQL ServerInformix

Data-intensive systems, pipelines, databases, and analytics workflows engineered for correctness and performance.

Selected Engineering Work

REAL PROBLEMS. REAL SYSTEMS.
View Full Experience →

Philips

R&D Embedded Software Engineer, Contract
June 2026 - Present
CURRENT
Next-generation FDA-regulated medical device.Embedded Systems
C++FreeRTOSSTM32U5ARM Cortex-M33Device DriversI²CHardware Validation
  • TUSB320 USB Type-C controller driver
  • Sensirion I²C flow sensor driver
  • STM32U5 watchdog implementation
  • Reusable hardware interfaces
  • Firmware initialization and fault-recovery
  • On-target hardware validation

Independent Software Engineering

Principal Software Engineer
May 2025 - June 2026
Systems Architecture
Multi-tenant sales compensation platform.
GoReactTypeScriptTailwind CSSMySQLRedisDocker
  • Configurable commission rules, tiers, accelerators
  • Auditable calculation with full traceability
  • Sub-second transaction calculations
  • Strict tenant isolation
  • Ten-fold performance improvements

Heart Pump

Life-Sustaining Medical Device
Embedded Systems

Engineered embedded software for a life-sustaining medical device, contributing to successful FDA regulatory approval.

C++QNX RTOSQtARM Cortex-A8BSP
  • Managed device BSP and architecture
  • Multithreaded design, testing, post-production support

Distributed Railway Automation Systems

Distributed Systems

Enhanced and debugged distributed railway automation software while improving system reliability.

C++QtDockerSquish

RoboCup Autonomous Robots

Robotics

Built vision, tracking, networking, and low-level systems for autonomous robotic soccer platforms.

CC++ASMMachine VisionKalman FilteringTCP/IPLinux

Enterprise Data Systems

Data Engineering

Built and optimized enterprise reporting and data workflows, including nightly ETL across multi-terabyte datasets.

SQLETLMulti-Terabyte Data
▥ Reduced critical SQL query execution times from hours to seconds.

Experience Snapshot

A DIVERSE PATH. A CONSISTENT THEME.
PhilipsEmbedded platform development
Independent EngineeringSystems architecture
IQ IncMedical + railway systems
Dream CenterEnterprise data systems
Steel City AirsoftHardware + distributed systems
Ohio UniversityRoboCup robotics

Education

FOUNDATIONS FOR WHAT COMES NEXT.
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M.S. Data Science

University of Pittsburgh

Expected Dec 2027
GPA: 4.0
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M.S. Computer Science

Ohio University

Coursework completed
Thesis not completed
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B.S. Telecommunications

Minor in Computer Science
Ohio University

LET'S BUILD WHAT'S NEXT

Thomas Ruch

Principal Software Engineer

resume@thomasruch.com linkedin.com/in/ThomasRuch

Interested in principal and growth-to-staff opportunities spanning embedded systems, robotics, distributed systems, and data engineering.