Software Engineer

Luke Butler.

Graduate researcher, software engineer, and curious problem solver. Currently at NASA Langley Research Center, building systems that make messy data useful - from data pipelines to LLM platforms to serverless sites.

Selected Projects

Things I've built.

LLM Academic Platform
View on GitHub ↗

Full-stack RAG chatbot tailored for UNCW sociology students — the first LLM built around their course materials. Shipped 6 prototype iterations bi-weekly and designed the full system architecture from faculty requirements.

Python Flask Gemini API RAG CoPilot Studio Full-Stack
Trackr — Inventory System
View on GitHub ↗

Flask-based inventory application featuring a custom Python pipeline that parses complex PDF invoices with 95% accuracy. Includes token-based auth, password hashing, and session management for secure multi-user access.

Python Flask SQL PDF Parsing Auth / Security Data Pipelines
Author Marketing Platform
Live Site ↗

Freelance client site sourced, pitched, and closed for $1,150. Serverless lead-capture routes form data to Google Sheets via Google Apps Script — zero recurring CRM cost. Built as a lean static site for instant load times.

JavaScript Google Apps Script Serverless Static Site Client Work
NASA DDT&E Data Architecture

Graduate researcher at NASA Langley's Systems Design Innovation cohort. Designing data architecture to support engineering decision-making at scale.

Systems Design Data Architecture Digital Engineering Stakeholder Requirements NASA

Timeline

Where I've worked.

Jan 2026
May 2026
NASA Graduate Researcher
Langley Research Center — Engineering Directorate
Dec 2024
Dec 2025
Graduate Research Assistant — LLM Platform
UNC Wilmington
  • Built a full-stack RAG platform (Gemini API, Flask) — first LLM tailored to UNCW sociology curriculum.
  • Delivered 6 bi-weekly prototype iterations; translated faculty vision into a full system architecture.
Aug 2024
Dec 2025
Graduate Research Assistant — Business Information Systems
UNC Wilmington
  • Built Trackr: Flask inventory system with Python PDF-parsing pipeline at 95% accuracy.
  • Engineered secure auth layer with password hashing, session management, and token-based recovery.

Capabilities

What I work with.

Languages
Python JavaScript TypeScript Go SQL Java C++
Frameworks & Libraries
Flask React Node.js Spark
Cloud & DevOps
AWS Docker CI/CD REST APIs GitHub
Concepts
Data Pipelines RAG / LLMs DSA OOP System Design Agile

Background

A bit about me.

I'm a Master's student in Computer Science at UNC Wilmington (GPA 4.0), with a background in Exercise Science — which means I came to software through curiosity, not a straight line. That cross-disciplinary lens shapes how I approach problems: systems thinking, user focus, and a preference for solutions that actually work in the real world.

I gravitate toward data engineering and full-stack work — building the infrastructure that makes information actionable, whether that's a cloud pipeline at a fintech company, graduate research at NASA, or a serverless lead-capture form for a self-publishing author.

Outside of code, I'm usually on a trail somewhere. I've completed multiple section hikes on the Appalachian Trail — there's something about long-distance solo backpacking that sharpens your judgment about what actually matters.

Get In Touch

Let's talk.

Open to opportunities in software engineering, quantitative development, and data engineering roles.

lukechristopherbutler@gmail.com linkedin.com/in/lukecbutler github.com/lukecbutler (828) 317-0444