# Michael Ruth > Principal Software Engineer at Lightbits Labs Location: San Jose, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/michaelruth I'm a Software Engineer with over 20 years of experience in product development and with these key strengths: * Strong programming background in C, Python, C++, Bash, assembly * Excellent written and verbal communication, and interpersonal skills * Experience with a variety of tech (virtualization, network, storage, Linux, wireless, embedded) * Methodical and organized approach to issue tracking and multi-tasking ## Work Experience ### Principal Software Engineer @ Lightbits Labs Jan 2021 – Present | San Jose, California, United States Disaggregated NVMe/TCP Storage Clusters, Front-End Team ### Member Of Technical Staff @ TidalScale Jan 2020 – Jan 2021 Software-Defined Servers, I/O Virtualization Team ### Staff Software Engineer @ Extreme Networks Jan 2016 – Jan 2019 | San Jose Wireless Switch and AP Infrastructure * Virtualization Tech: Learn to use QEMU, KVM and libvirt, by setting up and running various VMs Learn AWS CLI tools: older ec2-utils and newer awscli, to run VX9000 images Setup and run WiNG build system, first in KVM, then in LXC, using shared source via NFS and bindfs Learn to use Docker, run WiNG components isolated in containers Convert WiNG-build LXC to Docker image, and bind-mount the shared source Use AWS Simple Queue Service for prototype debug agent that runs as container at customer, and communicates via SQS to controller process at work office * Port WiNG dataplane as VM on new Extreme switch platform: Upgrade WiNG system to 4.14.30 kernel and drivers, port NIC-dataplane patches Setup testbed with NX9600 (4x fiber ports) as KVM host, and Ixia traffic generator Study and learn PCI-passthrough and Intel SR-IOV, define VFs on host passed to ixgbevf in WiNG VM Reach demo milestone, showing high-thruput NAT routing through WiNG dataplane * Resolve customer issues as ECRT member Make bug fixes, analyze customer data, review code, and consult with team All kinds of bugs: panics, wireless infra, dataplane core mechanisms, NX mfg, HW watchdog, kernel softlockup detection * Support Aeroscout Locationing Feature Study and learn WiNG feature implementation, in dataplane and user config Port feature to several newer model APs (2017), then two more Setup two Aeroscout test labs, fix cutomer bugs Contribute to discussion and doc of proposed new auth design * Work as member of AP7612 development team Learn Qualcom/Atheros QCA wireless SoC, help port WiNG dataplane radio features Work with vendor wireless and nand drivers Study and use kernel mtd and flash subsystems, ubifs, resolve assigned bugs ### Staff Software Engineer @ Zebra Technologies Jan 2014 – Jan 2016 | San Jose Acquired by Extreme Oct 2016 * Resolve customer issues as ECRT member: Make bug fixes, analyze customer data, review code, and consult with team Assist with data analysis and code review for many customer issues All kinds of bugs: panics, wireless infrastructure, dataplane core mechanisms, NX manufacturing support * Develop and maintain software for NX product features Port WiNG kernel and driver customizations to newer kernel versions as needed NX96 throughput tuning: setup Ixia testbed to pump traffic, measure and optimize IRQ distribution of 4x 10GBps ports across 12 cores on dual Intel Xeon E5 platform Refactor RAID code used on NX96, NX95, NX75 Mentor engineer doing NX55 diagnostics * Virtualization Technology Study and learn to use AWS to run instances, do accounting, manage regions (2016) Scrape laptop image onto PC, study and learn QEMU to boot and run it as a VM (2014) ### Sr Software Engineer @ Motorola Jan 2007 – Jan 2014 | San Jose Acquired by Zebra Oct 2014 * Resolve customer issues as part of ECRT, rough average 1 to 3 per week (2007..2014) Make bug fixes, analyze traces, logs, configs and customer data, review code, setup testbeds, consult and advise team * Implement features and fix assigned bugs during WiNG dev programs (2007..2014) Initially a variety of topics like these, but later years focus more on NX products - support in dataplane for GRE tunnel (routed IP presents as a bridge port) (2010) - support gigabit fiber port on NX65, includes driver and dataplane changes (2011) - add ExpressCard support in AP boot loader (2012) - support HW refresh with programming for new PIC-based part (2012) * Create NX Product Diagnostic Software (2011..2014) Develop bootable USB and CDROM images, provides a mfg/diag environment based on WiNG kernel, used during mfg to install SW, and during HW testing and diags, supports operations for POE switch, HDD, temp/fan, mfgrom, NCM, PSU status, LCD, etc Initially for NX6500 in 2011, this evolved for NX9500, NX7500, and NX9600 * Develop RAID Support for NX products (2012..2014) Study and learn to use various HW RAID devices (Adaptec and Intel MegaRAID) Backport newer megaraid driver from later kernel to WiNG Implement python for WiNG to manage RAID, integrated with CLI and config system For NX9500 (2012), over time to support NX75 and NX96 Responsible for RAID feature, through test and release of WiNG 5.5 and 5.7, including manufacturing support, and resolving customer issues * NX Platform Lead Engineer, for NX75 (2013) and NX96 (2014) Develop WiNG and diagnostic SW to support new copper and fiber ports, new RAID controllers, PSU status detection, LCD display Port NX diagsw to new platforms, and resolve various needs and issues from HW test, manufacturing, and service diagnostics Lead resolution for all WiNG issues found NX platforms in WiNG 5.5 and 5.7 programs ### Software Engineer @ Symbol Technologies, Inc. Jan 1997 – Jan 2006 Acquired by Motorola Dec 2006 * Manage customer issues for AP4131 (legacy embedded SW, single 11b radio) and later AP5131 (Montavista Linux-based, dual 11a and bg radios): track issues status, troubleshoot problems, code fixes and new features, test/release proceses * Design and implement support for Switch/AP communications protocol on AP200/AP300, used with the original Symbol WS5x00 wireless switching product * Design and implement 802.11 radio drivers for two standalone AP products, both proprietary radio designs with custom controllers. First a PowerPC-based system with FH radio accessed via PC-Card, and later an ASIC-embedded 188-based system with integrated 11b/g radio controller. * Develop and maintain DOS PCcard support tools for ARM-based embedded wireless device, including flash update, debug console, and radio diagnostics * Entry-level: Learn and maintain Symbol 802.11 FH adapter card through end-of-product life, all software components: adapter firmware (embedded x86 assy) , flash update and diagnostic DOS utilities (C, PCMCIA), FH packet sniffer application ## Education ### BS in Computer Engineering California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/michael-ruth-87848215 --- Source: https://flows.cv/michaelruth JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/michaelruth/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-12