Scott A. Ruiter

Location: New York, USA · open to relocation and international assignments
Email: scott.a.ruiter@gmail.com · Phone: (616) 502-6608
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scottruiter · Portfolio: scottruiter.github.io

Professional Summary

I build advanced inspection, automation, and data systems for high-precision manufacturing environments. My work sits at the intersection of machine vision, 2D/3D metrology, industrial software, AI-assisted engineering, production traceability, and customer-facing deployment support. I specialize in turning difficult inspection problems into working production systems.

Core Positioning

• Vision engineering: Cognex VisionPro, QuickBuild, Designer, PMAlign, Blob, Caliper, 2D/3D correlation, calibrated transforms, overlay graphics.
• Industrial software: C#, Python, C++, .NET, TCP/IP, tool-block architecture, CSV/BMP generation, traceability, runtime diagnostics.
• Manufacturing intelligence: SMT/THT, connector inspection, press-fit validation, AOI comparison, NPI/PPAP, drift detection, RMA feedback loops.
• Applied AI & research: AI agents, LLM/RAG systems, NLP pipelines, reinforcement learning, EVM/Solidity research, algorithmic trading.

Signature Engineering Impact

• Fixtureless grid inspection — patent-pending concepts using drill-drawing nominals, best-fit alignment, radial tolerance scoring.
• Weak-lead recovery — adaptive thresholding, weighted centroids, confidence and CSV output.
• 3D line-scan inspection — range/height images, profile data, barcode-linked traceability, evidence packages.
• TopX Inspection Analyzer — offline CSV analytics, 3D coplanarity, pin maps, customer report export.

Experience

Universal Instruments Corporation — Application Specialist III, Advanced Vision & Field Engineering Support

Nov 2018 — Present · New York, USA

• Lead advanced vision application development and deployment for SMT/THT, odd-form, press-fit, high-density connector, and precision automation inspection.
• Architect VisionPro/QuickBuild/Designer workflows for alignment, measurement, pass/fail logic, operator review, traceability, and customer acceptance.
• Develop 3D line-scan workflows using range/height images, profile data, and 2D tool-conversion methods.
• Build barcode-linked CSV, bitmap graphics, measured/nominal/tolerance output, review overlays, and runtime diagnostics.
• Support global deployment across Vietnam, Mexico, the US, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Rlab Software Development / TopX Portfolio — Founder, AI Systems & Blockchain Research Developer

Oct 2014 — Present

• Build VisionPro Forge, TopX Inspection Analyzer, Pin Grid Generator, Knowledge Chat, and applied AI research systems.
• Develop TopXFin, TopXAgents, algorithmic trading research, and EVM/Solidity concepts.

Ram Electronics Inc. — SMT/THT Equipment & Process Leader

Jun 2013 — Sep 2018 · Fruitport, Michigan

• Led SMT/THT process engineering, equipment programming, NPI support, QA, and production optimization.
• Certified IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001 (CIS); built data lake and manufacturing ERP workflows.

Software & Tools I Built

• VisionPro Forge — offline Cognex VisionPro training platform: curriculum engine, learning paths, quizzes, certification finals (Python/Flask, packaged desktop app).
• TopX Inspection Analyzer — offline inspection CSV analytics: 3D coplanarity, tolerance-ring pin maps, drift timelines, source correlation, report export (Python/Flask, ECharts GL).
• Pin Grid Generator — drill-drawing/CSV nominal data to inspection-ready coordinate grids for fixtureless workflows (Python).
• Knowledge Chat — local RAG knowledge base for engineering documents: vector search, streaming chat, multi-provider LLMs (FastAPI, React, ChromaDB).
• LJX 3D Acquisition Interface — proprietary C# bridge streaming Keyence LJ-X laser profiles into Cognex VisionPro as calibrated range images.

Global Deployment

Onsite factory execution across Vietnam; Guadalajara and Mexicali, Mexico; Houston and the broader US; Taiwan; and Thailand — machine qualification, sample testing, customer training, repeatability review, output validation, and final production handoff.

Education & Certifications

• B.S. Computer Science, Baker College Center for Graduate Studies, 2010 — 2013
• A.S. Business / Management / Marketing, Baker College of Muskegon, 2002 — 2006
• Machine vision platforms — Cognex VisionPro SDK & Cognex Designer (advanced tool scripting, PatMax/PatInspect, custom C# tool blocks); Keyence LJ-X 3D SDK (laser profilometry, calibrated range-image acquisition); OpenCV (C#/Python).
• Image processing — custom convolution-kernel design, morphological and adaptive-threshold pipelines, sub-pixel edge and weighted-centroid extraction, blob and geometric feature analysis.
• 3D metrology & calibration — camera intrinsics and hand-eye calibration, height-map and point-cloud analysis, coplanarity and seating-plane fitting, gauge repeatability studies.
• J-STD-001 (CIS), IPC-A-610, CompTIA A+, R programming series, Dean's List

Featured Projects

Fixtureless Grid Inspection · 3D Line-Scan Inspection · TopX Inspection Analyzer · Engineering Notes