# Thane Frivold > Software Engineer at Philo Location: Redwood City, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/thane I particularly enjoy working on the cusp of exploration (research and rapid prototyping) and actualization (product development and launch), seeing a project through from concept to final delivery, along what is often a winding road beset with business and technical challenges. Ideally working in a small, focused team, I take a "hands-on" approach to designing, coding, testing, and deploying software and systems, all the while taking into account the "long view" with attention to user experience, security, performance, scalability, compliance, monitoring, and maintenance. ## Work Experience ### Software Engineer @ Philo Jan 2016 – Present ### Chief Architect @ Red Giant Inc Jan 2009 – Jan 2016 | Palo Alto, California Red Giant (redgiantmobile.com) offers a card product with unique features allowing users, in real-time, to lock and unlock their cards, see updates on balance and spending, on-screen receipts, budgeting, categorization, and more. - Drove system architecture and software development process for all backend server code - Primary contributor to many backend components, including a consumer-facing JSON API (powering our iPhone app), administrative web UI, and analytic reports on system and user behavior - Managed evolving backend architecure of a suite of lightweight modules accessing multiple databases and communicating on a distributed message bus, designed for scalability as well as PCI compliance - Developed modules to communicate with various external services (APN, SMS, AWS/SES, FAX) and most notably, multiple issuers to manage the card life-cycle, transfer funds, apply credit/debit card controls, manage ACH transfers, and parse/report purchase transactions in real-time - Integrated external KYC (Know Your Customer) service for customer identity validation and added AML (Anti-Money Laundering) policy checks and alarms - Worked closely with DevOps team to attain PCI DSS 3.1 certification, adapting the system architecture, server implementation, and database organization as needed to comply with security, role separation, and audit requirements, all while maintaining an efficient deployment work flow - Implemented server support for card and token validation, making Red Giant the first non-bank entity to offer in-app Apple Pay card enrollment ### CTO @ GroupVine Jan 2009 – Jan 2014 | Los Altos Hills, CA - As 1 of only 2 developers in a 5-person start-up, served as a primary contributor to the server development, database design and optimization, network operations and security, maintenance of email reputation, web UI/UX design, and overall product development - Architected and lead an “emergency” transition from dedicated servers to 100% AWS hosting using EC2, S3, RDS and other services over the course of 10 days - Integrated with a 3rd party subscription payment platform to provide a for-fee service offering - Developed a custom browser-based editor for our Engagement Widgets using jQuery/AJAX ### Senior Systems and Software Architect @ Nokia Jan 1999 – Jan 2008 | Mountain View, CA // San Francisco, CA // Palo Alto, CA Over nearly 10 years, held various positions in product teams as well as directed research efforts: - Led overall software design and development of the embedded firmware for the Nokia Wireless Router (RoofTop) product line, after Nokia's acquisition of Rooftop Communications - Managed the Quality Assurance team in the development of overall processes, regression test cases, and production acceptance tests - Coordinated software development, integration, and testing across three different sites: California, Finland, and Hungary - Managed architecture team for N-Gage online, multiplayer gaming offering, covering the realtime game servers, XMPP services, web services, and content management system - Created first prototype of SNAP Mobile, used to secure further business commitment, and managed the follow-on technology pilot, integrating SNAP Mobile into a HK operator’s service offering, managing the rapid development of core infrastructure and new games, analyzing and correcting critical end-to-end performance issues, and overseeing operator billing integration. - Provided technical due diligence for early and late rounds of M&A activities - Working in a 3-person team, collectively designed, developed, and rapidly deployed an external hosting platform for internal, early stage projects and university collaboration research to foster open innovation. ### Principal Software Engineer @ Rooftop Communications Jan 1996 – Jan 1999 | Mountain View, CA - Led software design, implementation, and testing for contract (DARPA) research as well as commercial product projects focused on wireless mesh protocols - Oversaw and contributed significantly to software developed in a unique, proprietary framework permitting cross-compilation for multi-node simulation or single node embedded product targets - Developed radio, Ethernet, and serial device drivers for embedded prototypes and products - Developed a Java-based graphical network management tool for wireless mesh networks - Developed Layer 2 and Layer 3 protocols for wireless system coordination and management - Implemented TCP, Mobile IP, and IP multicast modules for embedded wireless products ### Software Engineer @ SRI International Jan 1986 – Jan 1996 | Menlo Park, CA Software design, implementation, and integration to rapid prototyping efforts for contract research projects, over 10 years, with increasing levels of technical and managerial responsibility. Major projects included: - Computer and network intrusion detection research, development, and deployment - Analysis and implementation of reliable distributed database algorithms - Development of a map-based situation awareness application for dismounted soldiers - Development of a modular map scanning, registration, and preparation software package - Research and development of a multi-media remote collaboration system - Risk analysis of computer and network security for commercial and government clients - Development of fuzzy-set models and tools to analyze human visual perception data ## Education ### B.A. in Computer Science Dartmouth College ### French Language and Literature School Year Abroad (SYA) ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/tjfrivold --- Source: https://flows.cv/thane JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/thane/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-11