Eric is available for hire
Hire EricEric LaMar
Verified Expert in Engineering
Graphics Engineer Developer
Davis, CA, United States
Toptal member since November 23, 2023
Bio
Eric is a seasoned software engineer with a PhD in computer science and 20 years of professional experience. He is passionate about computer graphics, has a strong command of C++, and specializes in volume rendering and multiresolution techniques for scientific and medical visualization. Eric has worked for renowned companies like Intel and Meta, and he has excelled as a research scientist in various computing projects, including prestigious grants from NASA and the National Science Foundation.
Portfolio
Meta
C++, Falcor, Visual Studio, Computer Graphics, 3D Visualization...
Auris
OpenGL, C++, Visual Studio
Thermopylae Sciences + Technology
Python, C++, 3D, Data Visualization, Linux
Experience
- C++ - 20 years
- Computer Graphics - 15 years
- Data Visualization - 15 years
- 3D Visualization - 15 years
- OpenGL - 15 years
- Algorithms - 10 years
- Windows - 10 years
- Linux - 6 years
Availability
Part-time
Preferred Environment
Windows, Visual Studio, C++, OpenGL
The most amazing...
...feat I've had was winning a National Science Foundation (NSF) Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant to build a series of GPU-based cluster computers.
Work Experience
Graphics Software Engineer
2021 - 2023
Meta
- Developed software to automate the testing process for various aspects of the optical geometry in the next generation of augmented reality (AR) glasses.
- Created rendering passes to be integrated into a multi-pass rendering framework.
- Built algorithms to support the augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) rendering system.
Technologies: C++, Falcor, Visual Studio, Computer Graphics, 3D Visualization, 3D Graphics Engines, GLSL
Graphics Software Engineer
2020 - 2021
Auris
- Developed an application for the visualization of medical ultrasound data.
- Worked on the user interface of the medical ultrasound system.
- Conducted in-depth analysis of the system's performance, focusing on its visualization capabilities.
Technologies: OpenGL, C++, Visual Studio
Software Engineer
2017 - 2020
Thermopylae Sciences + Technology
- Designed and built an application for a geographic information system.
- Performed bug identification and triaging tasks for the geographic information system.
- Conducted thorough diagnosis of the identified issues and successfully resolved them to ensure the system's functioning and reliability.
Technologies: Python, C++, 3D, Data Visualization, Linux
Software Engineer
2015 - 2016
Anatomage
- Developed an application for dental visualization and workflow management.
- Converted the application code from Microsoft Foundation Classes to the Qt framework, ensuring compatibility with Windows and Mac operating systems.
- Implemented a more advanced rendering algorithm to upgrade the application.
Technologies: C++, OpenGL, Xcode, Visual Studio, Data Visualization, 3D, 3D Visualization, GLSL
Simulation Engineer
2013 - 2014
Intel
- Developed an application for simulating in-processor graphics hardware.
- Diagnosed and debugged test scripts for the graphics hardware simulator.
- Assessed the technical risks associated with the product and actively led the development and implementation of mitigation plans.
Technologies: OpenGL, C++, Git, Linux
Software Developer IV
2010 - 2013
General Atomics
- Designed and developed mini graphics applications tailored for displaying signal data.
- Developed and maintained a multi-panel, site-security visualization software.
- Investigated and developed algorithms for license plate recognition.
- Created a motion-tracking algorithm for a multi-panel visualization system.
- Translated the codebase of the gasoline-from-algae simulation system.
Technologies: JavaScript, C++, OpenGL, Linux
Senior Scientist
2006 - 2008
Vital Images
- Analyzed issues and developed algorithms to improve rendering performance and image quality.
- Conducted thorough research to identify suitable technologies for acquisition or in-house development.
- Designed and implemented a new capability within a major, industrial-grade medical visualization package.
- Improved the instrumentation and diagnostics of the 3D visualization engine.
Technologies: C++, OpenGL, Windows, Visual Studio, 3D Math, Technical Leadership, GLSL
Senior Scientist
2004 - 2006
Institute for Scientific Research
- Served as a principal investigator for the Computing and Visualization Environments (CAVE) project, funded by NASA under the NCC5-557 program.
- Established research priorities and goals for a five-member team.
- Investigated parallel-distributed environments and virtual data techniques for earth-imagery data products.
- Contributed as a principal investigator for the West Virginia Computing and Communication Grid (WVCCG) project, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under grant number NSF #0320888.
- Developed parallel, GPU-based visualization and simulation codes.
- Received a $400,000 NSF grant #0521109 to build several GPU-based visualization clusters.
- Managed the high-performance computing and visualization facility at the Institute for Scientific Research (ISR).
- Developed a wandering-animation extension for the OGC Web Map Service (WMS) protocol.
- Acted as a liaison to (SC)^2, a regional effort encompassing West Virginia and Pennsylvania, aimed at developing high-performance computing expertise.
Technologies: C++, OpenGL, MPI, Computer Graphics, 3D Math
Research Scientist
2001 - 2003
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- Implemented a temporal caching scheme that significantly reduced the amount of data loaded for time-varying data by up to 90%.
- Accomplished a 75% reduction in the amount of data rendered for scientific visualization by using image caching on a distributed-memory parallel rendering cluster.
- Characterized error types and developed error-mitigation techniques, decreasing image error by 50%.
- Organized and facilitated workshops to improve participants' understanding of the visualization software product, expanding on the software's structure and operation.
- Achieved a significant time saving of six months in the development process by rectifying errors and enhancing the functionality of the visualization system. Trained scientists in the advanced system features.
- Consulted on deliverables and research priorities on a tri-lab-funded contract with Kitware concerning the introduction of adaptive mesh refinement techniques into the visualization toolkit (VTK).
- Facilitated the seamless exchange of information and data between the home research department and the Stellar Evolution research project.
Technologies: VTK, MPI, C++, Python, 3D Graphics, Data Visualization, GLSL, Algorithms
Experience
Simulator and Tester for Geometric Optics
A C++, Python, and HLSL-based application to simulate various aspects of the geometric optics of the next-generation augmented reality (AR) glasses. I was the sole contributor to this endeavor. While this project was not completed under my involvement, I saw a significant way to its completion.
Education
1995 - 2000
PhD in Computer Science
University of California, Davis - Davis, CA, USA
Skills
Libraries/APIs
OpenGL, VTK, MPI
Tools
Visual Studio, Xcode, Git
Languages
GLSL, C++, Python, JavaScript, Python 3
Paradigms
Agile Software Development
Platforms
Windows, Falcor, Linux
Other
Computer Graphics, 3D Visualization, 3D Math, 3D Graphics, Algorithms, 3D, Data Visualization, 3D Graphics Engines, Technical Leadership
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