I'm a senior software engineer at the National Cancer Institute, building data infrastructure for one of the largest prospective cancer studies ever conducted.

Before I wrote my first line of code, I ran a woodworking factory. I shipped tables, not APIs. That experience (building something from raw materials, selling it to real people, and doing it profitably for eight years) still shapes how I think about building software.

Credentials

• M.S. in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Colorado State University Global (4.0 GPA)
• B.S. in Computer Science, Colorado State University Global (Summa Cum Laude, 2021)
• Senior Software Engineer, National Cancer Institute / Connect for Cancer Prevention Study (via Cirrus Lake Solutions)
• 8 years as founder and operator of Armani Fine Woodworking

The Pivot

When I decided to move into tech, I didn't dip a toe in. I went back to school full-time while teaching myself to build. I earned a B.S. in Computer Science with Summa Cum Laude distinction, then spent a year building Racquet Rivalry, a mobile app connecting racquet sports players locally, and shipped it to both the App Store and Google Play. The full story is here if you want the longer version.

What I Do at NCI

The Connect for Cancer Prevention Study tracks 200,000 participants starting before any cancer diagnosis, collecting specimens over decades. The goal is to find new early detection markers. I build the data tools and infrastructure that make this research possible. The datasets we're building will eventually be available to researchers across academia and institutions far beyond the government. Three years in, and it's still the kind of work that feels worth showing up for.

What I'm Building Now

My focus is agentic development: multi-agent systems, AI-augmented coding workflows, and rebuilding my own products using these tools. I write about all of it here.

Outside Work

When I'm not building, I'm at CorePower doing hot yoga or sculpt, or out on the road bike training for the Enchanted Circle century ride in the Taos mountains this summer. My love for tennis is what started Racquet Rivalry. I wanted a better way to find people to play with.

Get in Touch

If you're building something interesting and want to compare notes, reach out. Find me on LinkedIn or email joe@joearmani.com.