Samuel Buenen

Product-focused software developer · Commercial UAV pilot · Hands-on engineer

Profile

Product-focused software developer and commercial UAV operator combining production mobile and desktop software, geospatial field systems, computer vision, GNSS/RTK, embedded hardware and extensive practical UAV operations. Started with coding, soldering and microcontrollers around age 12, then began building UAVs, robots and 3D-printed systems in 2017. Experienced taking products from prototype through implementation, rollout, field troubleshooting and support.

Professional experience

Technical Product Developer · Shepherd Services

Previously Research & Development Support Officer

  • Lead development responsibility for RACAS Mobile, cross-platform infrastructure inspection software deployed across more than 30 Australian councils.
  • Build offline-first field workflows for RTK GNSS, photos, spatial overlays, local data, background uploads and reliable synchronisation.
  • Develop and maintain production mobile, desktop, API and SQL systems using .NET MAUI, Flutter, VB.NET, PostgreSQL and SQLite.
  • Manage enterprise Android deployment through Microsoft Intune and managed Google Play.
  • Diagnose production issues using application and infrastructure logs, API monitoring, network tools, performance analysis and direct field feedback.
  • Contribute to road-defect computer vision through annotation review, detection correction, dataset quality and YOLO workflow iteration.
  • Developed hardware and PCB concepts integrating GPS, roughness sensors, USB and regulated power for field survey systems.

Commercial UAV operations

UAV Pilot & Systems Builder · Dynamic Spatial Solutions

Contract commercial operations

  • Volumetric stockpile surveys, photogrammetry and industrial data capture using custom-built UAV systems.
  • Operational experience at NRG Gladstone Power Station, Stanwell Power Station, Cheetham Salt and Rockhampton Landfill.
  • Communicate with supervisors, operators and site personnel around access, hazards, timing and changing operational conditions.

Founder & Chief Drone Pilot · CQ Flythroughs

  • Deliver indoor FPV flythroughs, aerial imagery, interior photography and edited property media.
  • Own the full workflow from client coordination and flight planning through capture, editing and delivery.

Selected projects

  • J-bot: ground-up two-wheel balancing robot with printed mechanics, Teensy 4.0 control, IMU fusion, CAN, FOC motor control and instrumented SPI fault diagnosis.
  • UAV engineering: more than 20 designed and printed RC aircraft across fixed-wing, FPV, autonomous and commercial survey work.
  • Jarvis Phone: AI missed-call receptionist using Next.js, FastAPI, Vapi, Telnyx, Supabase, Stripe and Docker.
  • BibleType: self-hosted KJV typing platform with Firebase authentication, durable results and Journey progress.
  • SignalScope: local-first Android observability prototype for GrapheneOS.