Richard Amerman
AI Engineer looking to make an impact, and a difference with deep insight and 30+ years of expertise
Current Focus
Working hard on systematic integration of LLM tools into development workflows at CD Baby. Developing GitHub Actions automation for AI agent orchestration while managing Azure infrastructure through Terraform and Kubernetes. That is my day job. On the side, I'm essentially spending extensive time working to move my future fully into the world of AI. For now I'm considering myself a context engineer, but I'm working fast to move well beyond this. Put simply, I was made for this work! I'm a kid in a candy store!
Core Expertise
AI Integration
Deep immersion in advanced AI tool use with Claude Code, Copilot Agent, codex, and more. Continually working to improve the evolving maturity of an AI toolset in the context of a project by working on context engineering, template use in prompts, and building custom tools.
Cloud & Infrastructure
Full IaC orchestration of advanced Azure infrastructure stacks with built in environment management and both local and CI/CD based testing. Extensive work in Azure, VMWare, ProxMox and other infrastructure environments.
Development
Python, JavaScript, .NET c# and more with a focus on well architected and resilient programming patterns.
Core Experiences
The Influence of an Island Town in Alaska
I grew up in Sitka, AK, a small town in SE Alaska. I can always look back on my time growing up there as a key foundation for the rest of my life. For me and many others in Sitka, our world was not this small town on an isolated island, but the entirety of the real world.
Public Radio: KCAW
Started working in public radio in my hometown of Sitka in 8th grade. Was trained, certified, and was on the air live with one or another show throughout high school. To this day, I do an air shift every time I'm back in my hometown.
Presidential Honor Guard
Joined the US Army and was recruited into the 3rd US Infantry Division, Old Guard, while in basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia. I was then stationed at Fort Myer, Virginia, the home of The Old Guard, the Presidential Honor Guard directly after basic training.
Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps
While stationed at Fort Myer in the Old Guard, I decided I needed a significant change. While my options were few, one of them, while ambitious, was the Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps. I was able to teach myself fife, pass the tryout, and spent the rest of my 4 years in the FDC.
Hang Gliding Instructor
I learned to hang glide at Kitty Hawk Kites in Nags Head, NC soon after I left the Army. After flying there and hanging out with the instructors for a few weeks, I was offered a job as an instructor. I came back a few months before the next summer season, and spent every day learning until I was ready to teach. I taught there for 2 years full time.
EMT and First Aid/CPR Instructor
While I was teaching hang gliding, I first became a first responder as a requirement of the hang gliding instructor job. I then went on to become an EMT-B, and certified First Aid/CPR instructor for both the Red Cross and the American Heart Association.
Traditional Irish Musician
I started playing the Irish tin whistle when I was in the Fife and Drum Corps. Over the years I added Irish flute as my primary instrument and have been playing it ever since. The highlight of my Irish music career was during the '90s in Seattle when I was a member of multiple active gigging bands and also active in the Irish step and set dancing community.
Accepting a Tech Career
While my plan from high school on had been to become a music teacher, a plan I held well into the mid to late '90s. I finally gave in to a career in tech that had been developing since high school.
FIRST Robotics Mentor
Last year I became a mentor on our local FIRST Robotics high school team. It was definitely one of the greatest experiences I've had in my life. It was incredible to see the effect this program had on the high school kids on this team.
Professional Journey
CD Baby - Platform Engineer
2014 - Present
Leading AI workflow innovation and infrastructure modernization in the music industry.
Diverse Technology Leadership
1994 - 2014
20 years across multiple industries: RBA International, Columbia Analytical Services, PEMCO, and founded 7 Tech Northwest.
Unique Beginnings
1987 - 1993
From the US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps to hang gliding instruction - always embracing new challenges.
"Especially comfortable with new technologies and challenges: this is my comfort zone!"