mechanotheist://resume/experience HTTP 200 // INDEX FOLLOW

root@mechanotheist:~$ cat /resume/experience/index.html

Experience Timeline

Career timeline for Michael Kappel, spanning more than two decades of software engineering, architecture, modernization, mentoring, and technical SEO.

experience timeline

Professional history

Each mission also has its own clean URL.

Sr. Software Engineer / Software Architect / Mentor

Info724 / Insurance 7242/2023 – 2/2026Remote

Architected AI-assisted modernization workflows and rebuilt insurance systems with a strong focus on quality, semantic search, documentation, and mentoring.

  • Architected Frontier AI Operations by deploying autonomous agent workflows using OpenAI and LM Studio APIs.
  • Implemented automated legacy-to-modern code translation and NLP-driven semantic search to bridge technical debt gaps.
  • Rebuilt a Dental Insurance Contract Management System in .NET Core with C#, TypeScript, EF Core, and Razor Pages.
  • Created screens and automated unit tests to compare claims adjudication between legacy and rebuilt versions.

Sr. Software Engineer

C+R Research4/2022 – 1/2023Chicago, IL

Built collaboration and document workflows across Microsoft Teams, Azure Blob Storage, and email-list management systems.

  • Created file sharing and collaboration workflows in Microsoft Teams through Microsoft Graph API in a C# .NET Core site with TypeScript.
  • Programmatically managed storage and retrieval of finalized checked-in documents through Azure Blob Storage.
  • Integrated MailJet and MailGun to manage clean mailing lists and subscriber communication.
  • Used asynchronous C# patterns for third-party APIs to improve responsiveness and throughput.

Software Engineer / Solutions Architect / Unit Testing Mentor

Transportation Management Technology11/2015 – 2022, part time after 2018Oak Brook, IL

Designed service-oriented frameworks, custom authentication, and reusable client-side patterns for transportation management systems.

  • Developed a service-oriented framework using JavaScript/TypeScript, RESTful ASP.NET Web Services, MVC controllers, C# repositories, and stored procedures.
  • Designed TypeScript/JavaScript patterns around third-party libraries for speed, presentation, configuration, and user settings.
  • Built custom authorization and authentication around Microsoft claims-based security with existing database structures.
  • Developed desktop interoperability between internet and desktop programs, web services, and cross-site communication from a single login.

.NET Software Engineer

ITsavvy4/2020 – 3/2022Addison, IL

Introduced Agile and DevOps practices, re-architected systems for testability, and improved client-side quality with TypeScript and QUnit.

  • Introduced the company to Agile methodology and Microsoft DevOps.
  • Rearchitected software to be unit testable and defined the unit testing strategy.
  • Helped coworkers adopt TypeScript for a stronger client-side codebase.
  • Implemented QUnit for client-side unit testing.

Software Engineer / Solutions Architect / Mentor

LongTerm Software Solutions, Inc.11/2018 – 3/2020Warrenville, IL

Improved APIs, testing strategy, SEO infrastructure, CI/CD, and quality roadmaps for large production codebases.

  • Debugged and developed with C#, TypeScript, Angular 8, JavaScript, MVC, .NET Core, Web API, and Classic ASP.
  • Generated automated integration unit testing from stored procedures to validate thousands of scenarios before deployment.
  • Created RESTful API endpoints and documentation for external consumers.
  • Helped implement sitemaps, JSON Schema, and URL improvements for SEO.

Lead Software Engineer / Retooling Mentor

RR Donnelley12/2013 – 11/2015Bolingbrook, IL

Led agile enterprise development with MVC5, EF6, design patterns, peer programming, code review, and test-first practices.

  • Helped design and develop enterprise-level projects using MVC5, EF6, design patterns, and automated unit tests.
  • Applied SOLID principles and patterns including repository, adapter, and dependency injection.
  • Used Gherkin-style comments to shape unit tests before implementation.
  • Supported quality through peer programming and code review check-in policies.

Enterprise Software Architect / Intern Mentor / CTO

Motozuma.com / BoostUp.com2/2012 – 12/2013Naperville, IL

Migrated a platform to C#, Windows Azure, SQL Azure, MVC, and automated unit testing while integrating financial APIs.

  • Migrated platform from VB ASP.NET 3.5 to C# Windows Azure and SQL Azure.
  • Re-architected the system into a multitier C# MVC 4.5 architecture with automated unit tests.
  • Integrated with US Bank and Authorize.net payment APIs.
  • Worked with Agile sprints to evolve the product based on user acceptance and stakeholder plans.

Sr Software Engineer / International Team Lead

SunGard Financial Systems10/2012 – 4/2013Lombard, IL

Led international work on a stock trading application, optimizing C#, SQL, and UI performance while mentoring testability.

  • Worked with an international team to create a stock trading application for banks.
  • Optimized C#, SQL, and UI to increase performance.
  • Trained the team on automated unit testing and writing testable code.
  • Developed in XAML using Prism and Unity Framework in C#.

Microsoft Certified Software Consultant

Magenic Technologies5/2010 – 2/2012Chicago, IL

Delivered enterprise consulting for reporting, equipment tracking, employee profile management, and clean layered architecture.

  • Worked on a system for reporting and tracking equipment issues.
  • Collaborated with client developers on an international enterprise system for employee profiles.
  • Created maintainable separation of concerns from lightweight AJAX WCF calls through SQL Server stored procedures.
  • Used peer reviews, paired programming, and code examples to keep code clean and maintainable.

Software Engineer

Morse Data Corporation11/2008 – 5/2010Chicago, IL

Developed enterprise management software, upgraded C# codebases, expanded T-SQL APIs, and delivered optimized HTML/CSS templates.

  • Developed enterprise management software for multi-channel merchants, publishers, and fulfillment providers.
  • Organized logic into models, helpers, cache, DAL, user controls, and custom control classes.
  • Migrated C# codebase from ASP.NET 2.0 to 3.5, replacing obsolete methods and adding lambda expressions.
  • Improved and expanded T-SQL APIs for client websites.

Software Consultant

Unison UCG3/2007 – 7/2008Chicago, IL

Built and maintained applications for City of Chicago and Chicago Airport System while handling sensitive data and airport clearance requirements.

  • Built, maintained, and improved applications for City of Chicago and The Chicago Airport System.
  • Worked with ASP.NET 3.5, Microsoft Ajax, XML, JavaScript, CSS, HTML, MS SQL, and Oracle.
  • Created relational database components including views, triggers, and stored procedures.
  • Helped with Oracle PL/SQL migration to ASP.NET and worked with sensitive data daily.

Software Developer

Consulting & Early Career3/2001 – 7/2008Chicago, IL

Delivered e-commerce sites, SEO-focused high-traffic sites, dynamic applications, and performance improvements across ASP.NET, ASP, PHP, MySQL, and SQL Server.

  • Completed full project development for e-commerce sites.
  • Worked directly with SEO professionals to build high-traffic websites.
  • Took over underperforming sites and dramatically improved speed, performance, and compatibility.
  • Integrated dynamic code with polished UI using advanced HTML, CSS, and Photoshop workflows.

Software Developer / Graphic Editor / HTML Specialist

AmericanEagle.com4/1999 – 5/2001Park Ridge, IL

Built dynamic Classic ASP content, optimized PSD-to-HTML production, and focused on cross-platform compatibility and speed.

  • Used Classic ASP for dynamic content and reusable site structure such as headers, footers, and navigation.
  • Cut PSD images into optimized webpages with HTML and cross-platform compatibility in mind.
  • Created light graphic design assets including icons and buttons.