Jacob Howard
[email protected]
Work and Research Interests
I am a software developer and physicist, with a strong background in
high-performance computing and mathematics.
I previously founded a startup called Mutagen, which was
acquired by Docker in 2023. I’m currently working as
a Principal Software Engineer on AI platforms and tooling at Docker.
My doctoral work focused on studies of the Higgs boson decaying into
τ-leptons as part of the
ATLAS Experiment at the
Large Hadron Collider
at CERN. A large portion of my research was also devoted
to development of high-performance computing optimizations for the ATLAS data
acquisition and processing pipeline.
Prior to my doctorate, I worked on software and hardware integration for a
Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) experiment
at UC Berkeley.
I also have extensive experience with development in enterprise environments, as
both a full-time and freelance employee. I have a broad yet in-depth working
knowledge of a variety of software technologies, spanning server, desktop,
mobile, and web platforms. I particularly enjoy working on performance-critical
software with challenging requirements.
Education
University of California, Berkeley – B.A.
Double Major in Physics and Pure Mathematics
2005 – 2008
Research and Professional Experience
Principal Software EngineerDocker, Inc. 2023 – Present
- Currently serving as technical lead for Docker MCP tools team
- Served as technical lead for Docker Model Runner from inception to GA
- Integrated Mutagen file synchronization into Docker Desktop and various cloud services
Founder and lead developer of Mutagen, a YC-backed company offering a high-performance file synchronization and network forwarding tool for remote development, used by companies including Netflix and Docker, and embedded in multiple cloud development platforms. Acquired by Docker in 2023.
Built product end-to-end, worked directly with partners on large-scale integrations, and led the company through acquisition by Docker. Recognized as a Docker Captain for sustained technical leadership and community impact.
Independent Consultant and Developer
2016 – 2018
Served as consultant and developer for various startups.
Graduate Student
ATLAS Experiment, CERN
2010 – 2015
- Developed high-performance GPU-based detector data decoding and hit clustering algorithms for the ATLAS trigger
- Validated Higgs boson H→ττ event reconstruction and Boosted Decision Tree model
- Compared performance of Matrix Element Method and Boosted Decision Tree analyses in the H→WW decay channel
- Commenced development of GPU-accelerated matrix element integration
- Developed a parallel, high-performance Python/C++ analysis framework for the ATLAS (V)H→ττ analyses
- Optimized τ-lepton trigger identification and selection criteria
- Optimized (V)H→ττ event selection criteria
- Calculated QCD scale uncertainties for jet-binned (V)H→ττ analyses
- Evaluated signal and exclusion significances for the (V)H→ττ analyses
Co-founder and Lead Developer
SpeedPunch
2010 – 2012
- Developed iOS application for punchlist management and reporting
- Developed Python backend and web application to support punchlist management and reporting
- Designed, developed, and maintained company website
- Managed Linux server and database infrastructure
Freelance Software Developer
2009 – 2011
- Developed C#/ASP.NET authentication plugin for integration with central authentication server
- Developed custom C++ Windows credential provider for YubiKey tokens
Research Assistant
Experimental Cosmology Group, UC Berkeley
2008 – 2009
- Integrated telescope pointing control with data acquisition systems
- Developed cryostat temperature and cycle control software
- Designed and implemented control software for frequency-multiplexed SQUID/bolometer readout system
- Designed and implemented real-time data acquisition, analysis, and visualization system for monitoring telescope sensor array
- Constructed precision IRIG-B timestamp propagation electronics for telescope, detectors, and control computer
- Constructed synchronization pulse electronics for hardware systems
- Designed network architecture for high-bandwidth data acquisition
Software Developer
Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley
2006 – 2009
- Developed C#/ASP.NET web applications and services for Windows domain account and computer management
- Maintained and developed for Microsoft SQL Server instances
- Managed Linux research cluster and benchmarked its performance
- Supervised junior developers
Software Developer
Institute of Business and Economic Research, UC Berkeley
2006 – 2007
- Developed C#/ASP.NET web applications and services for dataset and publication distribution
- Maintained and developed for Microsoft SQL Server instances
- Maintained legacy PHP and ColdFusion applications
- Maintained organization website
- Provided general IT support
Grants, Awards, and Funding
Y Combinator (Summer 2019)
2019
National Physical Science Consortium Graduate Fellowship
2010 – 2015
Springboard Accelerator Program (London)
2012
1st Place – Startup@Berkeley Hackathon
2009
Publications
The ATLAS collaboration
Search for the Standard Model Higgs boson produced in association with a vector boson and decaying into a tau pair in pp collisions at √s=8 TeV with the ATLAS detectorPhys. Rev. D, 93, 0920052016
The ATLAS collaboration
Evidence for the Higgs-boson Yukawa coupling to tau leptons with the ATLAS detectorJournal of High Energy Physics, 4, 1172015
The ATLAS collaboration
Evidence for Higgs boson decays to the τ+τ− final state with the ATLAS detectorATLAS-CONF-2013-1082013
Emeliyanov, D. and Howard, J.
GPU-based tracking algorithms for the ATLAS high-level triggerJournal of Physics: Conference Series, 396, 12012
Lee, A. T. et al.
Polarbear: Ultra-high energy physics with measurements of CMB polarizationAIP Conference Proceedings, 1040, 662008