Claire Knutson
Senior Software Engineer
I design systems that make complex work feel simple, bringing clarity and reliability to how devs and customers experience software. My approach blends grounded software principles with product intuition, empathy across teams, and adaptability in fast-changing technical landscapes.
Strengths
- Cross-team technical leadership
- Strategic product mindset
- Mentorship & knowledge sharing
- Driving developer productivity
- Clear, collaborative communication
Core Skills
Languages & FrameworksGolang / .NET Core / C# / SQL / Cypher / OpenAPI / JavaScript / Svelte / GraphQL / Bash / VB.NET
Systems & ArchitectureDistributed Systems / API & Data Design / Microservices / Dependency Injection / Unit of Work / System Reliability / Observability
Data & StorageSQL Server / Neo4j / Redis / JSON / XML / Data Modeling & Schema Evolution
Quality & DeliveryAutomated Testing / Code Review Practices / Code Quality & Static Analysis / Continuous Integration / Release Management / Agile & Iterative Delivery
Cloud & InfrastructureAWS / Azure / Docker / Terraform / GitHub / CI/CD Automation / Infrastructure as Code
Collaboration & MentorshipCross-Functional Collaboration / Developer Enablement / Documentation & Knowledge Sharing / Mentorship / Jira & Workstream Coordination
Engineering PrinciplesClarity Over Cleverness / Simplicity in Design / Reliability as Empathy / System Thinking / Continuous Learning / Shared Ownership
EducationBrown College, Mendota Heights, MNAAS in Computer Programming
HighlightsFounded Bold Minds Tech to explore how developer tools can reduce cognitive load and make engineering more enjoyable. Designed and built Traverzer, a Go-based platform that rethinks schema management through a schema-on-ingestion model, using Neo4j for graph storage and Redis for caching.Full experience →
HashiCorpEnhanced AgentsServed as lead engineer for a new core service that connected customers' private infrastructure with HCP Terraform. The Agent Broker enabled secure hybrid execution of Terraform workflows, eliminating the need for self-hosted agents and expanding HCP Terraform into a new enterprise product tier.
- Architected the service from design through production, defining communication models and operational boundaries between private and cloud environments.
- Worked closely with the Product team to define and refine integration contracts, debug cross-feature behavior with private version control systems, and maintain delivery continuity during product transitions.
- Led design and implementation reviews, mentoring engineers and establishing clarity-focused patterns for distributed systems and service ownership.
DuffyPersonal Trainer ServicesDesigned and developed, with client and internal teams, multiple web applications enabling fitness professionals to publish services, manage reviews, and highlight their personal brand.
Experience- Delivered an authenticated platform with self-service publishing and manager review workflows, reducing review time and driving internal adoption.
- Implemented a public-facing website that included testimonial submissions, consultation wizards, and direct contact requests, increasing referral opportunities for fitness professionals.
- Built on Azure (SQL, Storage, Active Directory) with C#, Entity Framework, and microservices designed for scalability and maintainability.
- Applied CI/CD through Bamboo and incorporated SonarQube quality gates and automated tests to ensure reliable, repeatable releases.
FounderBold Minds Tech
Jun 2025 – Present- Defined the product vision and technical roadmap with a focus on developer experience and maintainability.
- Designed developer-first APIs and ingestion workflows that simplified data modeling and reduced complexity for engineers.
Senior Software EngineerHashiCorp / Remote
Oct 2022 – Jun 2025- Led development of the HCP Terraform Agent Broker, enabling secure hybrid execution between private infrastructure and Terraform Cloud.
- Partnered with a product team to define service contracts, coordinate feature development, and debug interactions between the Agent Broker and customer-facing integrations with private version control systems.
- Stepped into temporary Product Management responsibilities during transitions, providing continuity across planning cycles, ensuring delivery focus, and maintaining alignment between engineering and product roadmaps.
- Designed and delivered an application secrets auditing tool integrated with a new internal service catalog, improving visibility and auditability of credential use across services.
- Mentored engineers in system design and review practices, emphasizing reliability, clarity, and sustainable delivery within distributed teams.