✓ Last login: on ttys004
C:\Bryant> whoami
Bryant
Villarreal
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Software Engineer II @ UKG
I build the systems behind secure access.
Backend engineering, identity & a healthy curiosity
for how things work.
Welcome to my corner of the internet.
Type a command to look around, or take a shortcut:
Hey, you found
my desktop!
I'm Bryant. I write backend code, untangle systems, and miss the early internet.
Make yourself at home.
There's a little of me in every window.
Bryant's blurbs
About me:
I'm Bryant Villarreal, a Software Engineer II at UKG. Identity and access management brings together the parts of engineering I care about: security, backend systems, and the details that make them work together.
My academic background includes software security, computer networking, and operating systems. This desktop probably gives that last one away.
Who I'd like to meet:
People building AI products and large-scale systems. I'm interested in backend and platform engineering roles, and always happy to talk about the work.
Bryant's experience
- Software Engineer IIUKG · Identity & Access ManagementJan 2025 → present
- Associate Software EngineerUKGMay 2023 → Dec 2024
- Joined UKGThe beginning of my professional journeySep 2022
Bryant's schools
- M.S. in Computer Science
- Florida International University · December 2025
- B.S. in Computer Science
- Florida International University · May 2022
Magna cum laude · GPA 3.71
Engineering trust.
Backend & platform engineering at UKG
Selected contributions to the authentication and identity systems that enterprise applications depend on. Open a file to read the story.
01 · Authentication securityStrengthening access controlsRequest trust · Access policies
The problem
IP-based access policies depend on trustworthy request context. The authentication layer needs to apply those policies consistently.
My contribution
At UKG, I contributed to security improvements around IP-based access controls in enterprise authentication flows, with a focus on the boundary between incoming requests and access decisions.
Engineering focus: Request trust, policy enforcement, and authentication security.
02 · Enterprise single sign-onMaking certificate rotation smootherSAML · Auth0 · Kafka · Java
The problem
Enterprise SSO needs to keep working while certificates change. Supporting certificate overlap also requires validation and coordinated updates across services.
My contribution
I contributed to SAML multi-certificate support across Auth0 integration, database migrations, and Kafka events. The work included CA-signed certificate validation and resilience handling to support uninterrupted certificate rotation.
Engineering focus: Service coordination, certificate validation, and continuity during change.
Backend & identity
From service code to delivery.
Backend & identity
7 tools & technologies- JavaBackend development
- Spring BootServices & APIs
- Auth0Identity integration
- SAML / SSOEnterprise authentication
- KafkaService events
- JPAPersistence
- HibernateData access
Testing & delivery
7 tools & technologies- JUnitAutomated tests
- MockitoTest doubles
- GitHub ActionsCI workflows
- DockerContainers
- GitVersion control
- GradleBuild tooling
- MavenBuild tooling
AI in my workflow
2 development toolsCodex and Claude Code are part of my day-to-day software development workflow.
- CodexSoftware development
- Claude CodeSoftware development
Additional background
6 tools & practices- PythonProgramming
- CProgramming
- PostgreSQLRelational databases
- MySQLRelational databases
- Linux / UnixOperating systems
- Agile & ScrumTeam practice
THE EARLY BUILDS
From the archives.
Projects from my undergraduate years at Florida International University, completed before joining UKG.
- Sorting Algorithm Visualizersorting_visualizer
- Password Generatorpwgen
- AI Playing Flappy Birdflappyai
- Marvel Twitter Botmcu-twitter-bot
Send an instant hello.
To: bryantvilla
Let's talk about what's next. I'm interested in backend and platform engineering roles on teams building AI products and large-scale systems.
Leave a message below. It goes straight to my inbox.