
Karl Smeltzer
Software and research engineer, sometimes writer
Welcome! I'm an engineer with broad experience in software and security research, building and shipping production-quality distributed systems, and academic research. I have a Ph.D. in computer science with a focus on programming languages.
My expertise and interests lay at intersection of several inter-related domains:
- Language Implementation: Compilers, virtual machines, interpreters, optimization, linkers, loaders, assemblers. I have hands-on experience modifying clang and LLVM.
- Language Design: Domain-specific languages, type systems (Hindley—Milner, dependent types), lambda calculus, grammars, formal semantics.
- High-assurance Software: Formal verification, Rocq/Coq, authentication, authorization, payments.
- Polyglot Programming: Deep experience with Rust, C, C++, Haskell, Python, LLVM IR, Scheme/LISP, assembly.
- Shipping Real Software: I have designed, built, maintained, and shipped complex, distributed software to millions of customers. AWS, SQL, Postgres, Docker, Terraform, etc.
- Teaching and Documentation: Communicating about complex ideas. I have worked as university-level instructor for programming language coursework, and have a peer-reviewed publication record. I enjoy building learning materials and technical writing.
If you are working or hiring in some combination of these areas and looking for a deeply experienced engineer, feel free to reach out!