Charleston, SC · Automation Consulting · Technical Software

I build automation systems for teams stuck in manual work.

I build workflow automation, internal tools, and technical software for teams with real operational or technical complexity.

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Most projects start with one clear bottleneck and a small first scope.

About

Background

I run Blaine Heffron Consulting. I help teams fix clunky workflows, connect the right systems, and build software that matches the job.

I have a PhD in physics from the University of Tennessee, where I worked on the PROSPECT neutrino experiment at Oak Ridge. That shows up now in machine learning, scientific computing, and software where the technical details actually matter.

Recent work includes StockForge, Songcraft, Stellar tooling, and custom software for teams buried in process.

I'm most useful when the work is messy and someone needs to sort out what should be fixed, automated, or rebuilt.

Workflow Automation Internal Tools AI Systems Integrations Reporting Pipelines Machine Learning Scientific Computing Signal Processing Detector Analysis TypeScript Python Rust Node.js React / Preact Automation Design Technical Product Development Research Software

Why people hire me

Systems-Level Thinking
I can simplify a messy system without pretending the constraints are simpler than they are.
Direct Implementation
You work directly with the person figuring it out and building it.
Technical Range
I can move between ops software, AI tooling, research code, and data-heavy systems without much ramp-up.

Education

PhD in Physics
University of Tennessee
2023
MS in Physics
University of Tennessee
2017
BS in Physics
University of North Carolina
2012
Consulting

How I work

I take on automation work for ops teams and technical software for research and engineering groups.

Most engagements start small: one call, one audit, or one short build sprint.

Lane 1

Automation and Ops Cleanup

For founder-led companies and lean teams that need one operational problem taken off the pile.

Workflow audit

I look at how the work actually moves, where it gets stuck, and what is worth fixing first.

Workflow Review Automation Plan Fast Turnaround

$750 to $1,500

Best when the work is clunky and nobody is fully sure where to start.

Automation sprint

A short build engagement for one painful workflow: intake, reporting, onboarding, internal tools, CRM cleanup, or document handling.

1-2 Weeks Done-for-You Build Integrations

$2,000 to $5,000

For teams that already know the bottleneck and want it fixed.

Lane 2

Scientific ML and Technical Analysis

For research and engineering groups that need machine learning, analysis tooling, or custom software that cannot be faked with off-the-shelf tools.

Technical advisory

Focused consulting for analysis strategy, system design, technical review, or debugging before a bigger build starts.

Technical Review System Design Analysis Strategy

Custom quote or premium hourly

Best when the work needs a senior technical pass before anybody starts building.

Custom technical buildout

For ML pipelines, detector or signal analysis tooling, research software, technical dashboards, and other custom systems.

Machine Learning Scientific Computing Research Software

Quoted per scope

A fit when the work needs real software and someone who can make the technical calls.

Not sure which lane fits?

If the problem is reporting, approvals, inventory, or internal admin work, start with automation. If it is closer to ML, simulation, analysis tooling, or research software, start with the technical lane.

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Proof

Selected Work

A few recent projects across ops software, developer tooling, and technical work.

Current Platform Build

StockForge

Inventory and operations software for a chemical-industry use case, with BOMs, barcode scanning, reorder logic, and supply chain workflows tied together.

TypeScript Astro Inventory Systems Operations
Live Site

Songcraft

A music reading game where kids play along with sheet music in real time, with classroom tools, parent tracking, and live note matching over WebSockets.

TypeScript EdTech WebSockets Node.js
Live Site
Client Platform

Breeze Homes

A cloud-backed platform for customer onboarding, project tracking, floor plans, photo storage, and contractor workflows.

React TypeScript AWS PostgreSQL
Live Site
Stellar Tooling

Scaffold Stellar

Developer tooling for building and shipping Stellar smart contracts with a better setup and deployment flow.

Rust TypeScript Stellar Developer Tooling
Live Site
DeFi Infrastructure

EquitX

Contract and backend support systems for CDP indexing, price feeds, liquidity tracking, and liquidation logic on Stellar.

Rust TypeScript DeFi Stellar
Live Site
Open-Source Tooling

soroban-sdk-tools

Rust proc macros and test utilities for Soroban contracts, funded through an SCF #39 Developer Tooling grant.

Rust Developer Tooling Smart Contracts
GitHub SCF Award Demo

paper-search-mcp

MCP server for searching and indexing scientific papers across multiple sources with local hybrid search.

Rust AI Tooling MCP
GitHub

symbolic-math-mcp

MCP server for symbolic mathematics and tensor algebra for more specialized technical work.

C++ SymPy Physics
GitHub

ML for PROSPECT

CNN and GCN-based event reconstruction for the PROSPECT neutrino detector, improving usable signal statistics by 3.3%.

Python Deep Learning Physics
GitHub Slides
Contact

Get in Touch

If you have a workflow wasting time, a software problem that needs a senior hand, or a technical project that keeps slipping, send me a note.

The best first message is simple: what is broken, what tools are involved, and your rough timeline.

blaine@blaineheffron.com GitHub LinkedIn Google Scholar
Research

Selected Publications

Academic work in neutrino physics, detector analysis, and machine learning.