Thomas Leon Highbaugh

LLM Engineer | Software Engineer | Systems Architect

Trenton, Florida

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SUMMARY

Cutting-edge AI Engineer specializing in Large Language Model development, prompt engineering, and multi-agent system architectures. Expert in implementing RAG pipelines, fine-tuning transformer models, and deploying production-scale LLM applications. Proven track record in building intelligent automation systems that leverage advanced AI capabilities to solve complex business challenges.

EDUCATION

California State University East Bay

2009 – 2014 | Bachelor of Arts

  • Major: Political Science
  • Minor: Economics
  • GPA: 3.9

Las Positas Community College

2018 – Present | Associate of Science/Continuing Education

  • Major: Computer Science
  • GPA: 4.0

Codify Academy

2018 | Certificate

  • Subject: Front End Development

SKILLS

  • LangChain
  • RAG
  • Agentic AI
  • AutoGen
  • Swarm Engineering
  • OpenAI API
  • Prompt Engineering
  • LLM Fine-tuning
  • Vector Databases
  • Multi-Agent Systems
  • Python
  • FastAPI
  • React
  • TypeScript
  • NixOS
  • PostgreSQL
  • AWS
  • Docker

EXPERIENCE

AI Engineer & LLM Specialist

Jan 2023 – Present | Self-Employed

  • › Engineered multi-agent AI systems using LangChain, AutoGen, and Swarm Engineering for complex workflows, including the Fiction Fabricator project for long-form content generation with RAG architectures.
  • › Deployed production LLM solutions with scalability and cost optimization, implementing vector databases (Pinecone, Weaviate) for semantic retrieval and managing local vs. hosted API deployment strategies.
  • › Applied prompt engineering, fine-tuning, and RLHF principles to optimize LLM performance, integrating OpenAI API and Hugging Face Transformers for domain-specific adaptations.

Full Stack Web Developer

Mar 2020 – Dec 2022 | Self-Employed

  • › Built responsive web applications using React, TypeScript, and modern JavaScript frameworks with RESTful APIs and database integration (PostgreSQL, MongoDB).
  • › Implemented CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions and deployed cloud-native applications using Docker, NixOS infrastructure-as-code, and AWS services.
  • › Collaborated on agile development projects, improving code quality through testing frameworks and maintaining scalable, maintainable codebases.

Computer Repair Technician

Mar 2018 – Present | Freelance

  • › Provided expert computer repair services to individuals and businesses, diagnosing and resolving hardware and software issues effectively.
  • › Demonstrated proficiency across diverse operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux) and hardware components, offering tailored solutions, including hardware upgrades, software installations, and malware removal.

Assistant Manager

May 2012 – Apr 2018 | Pet Food Express

  • › Trained and supervised staff in product knowledge, customer engagement, and sales techniques, ensuring a top-notch shopping experience for customers.
  • › Maintained a pristine and organized store environment, fostering maximum customer satisfaction.
  • › Demonstrated deep expertise in the pet food industry, including trends, products, and competitors, providing customers with informed recommendations and advice.

Executive Assistant

Jun 2009 – Dec 2011 | 360 Custom Closets and Cabinets

  • › Provided high-level administrative support to the small business executive, managing schedules, travel arrangements, and coordinating meetings and events.
  • › Managed communication on behalf of the executive, including answering phone calls and emails, ensuring timely and professional responses to inquiries and requests.
  • › Maintained relationships with vendors, clients, and external stakeholders, ensuring professionalism and alignment with the business's values.