Don Setiawan

Hi, I’m Don—Principal Research Software Engineer at UW’s Scientific Software Engineering Center (eScience). I build reliable, user‑friendly scientific software with Python, the web, geospatial analytics, and cloud data engineering, and I love collaborating across multi‑institution teams through programs like Hackweek. Previously I led software and research support for the UW Ocean Observatories Initiative (Regional Cabled Array) and worked at the Applied Physics Laboratory on cross‑institution data analysis systems. I’m a UW School of Oceanography alum; outside work I enjoy photography, music, and time in nature with my wife and our two dogs—fresh air fuels creativity.

1. 2023 — Present

   Principal Lead Research Software Engineer · UW eScience Institute - Scientific Software Engineering Center (SSEC)

   Develops and implements sophisticated software applications and systems that support research across diverse fields, including Geodesy, Astronomy, and Oceanography. Ensures robustness and scalability for all software built, with focus on open-source development and community engagement.

   • Python
   • GitHub
   • Cloud Infrastructure
   • Open Source Development
   • AI/LLM
   • Software Architecture
2. 2018 — 2023

   Software Development Engineer · UW School of Oceanography

   Designed and implemented container-based, distributed, microservices systems for processing and delivery of real-time oceanographic data. Built geospatial platforms and data visualization web applications, and developed Python libraries for processing ocean sonar data in the cloud.

   • Python
   • Docker
   • Kubernetes
   • Microservices
   • PostgreSQL
   • Terraform
   • AWS
   • Prefect
   • Dask
   • JupyterHub
3. 2016 — 2018

   Environmental Data Specialist · UW Applied Physics Laboratory

   Developed scientific software to support researchers in geospatial data analysis from multiple environmental domains. Automated processing tasks and managed Java web applications on cloud and local servers.

   • Python
   • PostgreSQL
   • PostGIS
   • GDAL/OGR
   • GeoServer
   • Thredds Server
   • AWS
   • Java Tomcat

• Caustics

  GPU-accelerated, automatically-differentiable gravitational lensing pipeline for next-generation astronomical research.

  • Python
  • PyTorch
  • GPU Computing
  • JAX
  • Automatic Differentiation

  
• Echopype

  A Python library built to enable interoperability and scalability in ocean sonar data processing for biological information.

  • Python
  • Xarray
  • Dask
  • Zarr
  • NetCDF

  
• GNATSS

  Community Seafloor Global Navigation Satellite Systems - Acoustic (GNSS-A) Transponder Surveying Software for geodetic research.

  • Python
  • GNSS
  • Scientific Computing
  • Geodesy

  
• Hackweeks: Community Learning Events

  Organizing and teaching at Geohackweek and Oceanhackweek - innovative workshops fostering collaborative learning in geospatial and ocean data science.

  • JupyterHub
  • Docker
  • Conda
  • Git/GitHub
  • CI/CD
  • Zenodo

  
• Interactive Oceans Platform

  A geospatial platform and data visualization web application for real-time oceanographic data analysis and exploration.

  • FastAPI
  • PostgreSQL
  • PostGIS
  • Leaflet
  • React
  • Zarr
  • Prefect

  
• ODM2 Tools & CZ Manager

  Comprehensive data management tools for environmental observations using Observation Data Model 2 (ODM2).

  • Python
  • Django
  • PostgreSQL
  • SQLAlchemy
  • REST API
  • Docker

  
• SciPy 2024 GenAI Tutorial

  Generative AI Copilot for Scientific Software tutorial - teaching scientists to build AI-powered Q&A applications with open-source tools.

  • Python
  • OLMo
  • RAG
  • Vector Databases
  • JupyterHub
  • Open-source LLMs