JX Bell
I write documentation and lead knowledge management for a complex, large-scale enterprise platform. My work spans technical writing for internal and customer-facing documentation, documentation tooling, and documentation strategy. Technical content domains include APIs, system architecture, internal infrastructure, security, big data, blockchain, and programming languages. I also help my teams organize their knowledge to reduce information silos and help people collaborate across teams. Additionally, I've built customer-facing documentation publishing systems and written internal documentation team productivity tools.
Background includes extensive experience across technical communication and software, a double major in Computer Science and Religion from Dartmouth College, and training in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and compassionate communication (NVC). These skills and experiences help me tailor content to different audiences and collaborate effectively across engineering, product, legal, and field teams. Colleagues describe me as a quick learner who can ramp up fast and write at a deeply technical level.
My focus is on making complex systems understandable, accelerating onboarding, improving product quality, and helping customers and internal teams get work done. For details, see my full set of recommendations for all years from former employers and clients.
Enterprise security: Customer-managed keys, private networking (VPC/VNet), PrivateLink-style connectivity, IP allowlists, SAML/OIDC, transport security, security architecture best practices.
AI/ML: LLMs, RAG, and fine-tuning concepts. Built a Python chatbot using the OpenAI API.
Software: Git/GitHub, VSCode, Notion, Confluence, Jira, CI-style documentation validation and automation, Python utilities for doc teams.
Dartmouth College
Bachelor's degree, 1993. Full double major in Computer Science and Religion, Hanover, NH, with additional study at University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Awarded the Dartmouth Kemeny Computing Prize for coding style and design.
Marin NLP
Master Practitioner Certification of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). 2006
Documentation and Knowledge Architect @ Machinify Inc
Responsible for internal and customer-facing documentation, documentation tooling, and knowledge management strategy at Machinify. Internal technical writing covers APIs, system architecture, and internal infrastructure. The platform includes multiple enterprise apps that use machine learning and AI to support the healthcare industry. Authored and maintained extensive internal documentation to accelerate onboarding, improve cross-team collaboration, and reduce knowledge silos. Role change: Joined in May 2024 as a consultant through JX Consulting Inc. In February 2026, transitioned to the full-time employee role Documentation and Knowledge Architect.
Palo Alto, CA, 5/2024-current
Senior API Technical Writer Consultant @ Okta Inc
Wrote API-level documentation about SDK tools and APIs for automating Okta deployment from external systems.
San Francisco, CA, 3/2024-7/2024
Senior API Technical Writer Consultant @ Databricks Inc
Sole author of multiple 100+ page security books for the Databricks multi-cloud platform, plus numerous docs-site articles across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. Led internal initiatives (including new-cloud support), became an SME in security and system architecture, and built Python tools that improved multi-cloud doc workflows and cut false warnings from 600+ to zero. Partnered closely with engineering, legal, product, and field security to review APIs, validate changes, and deliver accurate documentation.
San Francisco, CA, 7/2019-2/2024
Senior API Technical Writer Consultant @ Chronicled Inc
Wrote documentation for the MediLedger platform, a suite of blockchain-based pharmaceutical industry technology solutions. Provided detailed product technical design feedback.
San Francisco, CA, 1/2019-12/2022
Senior API Technical Writer Consultant and API Design Consultant @ Paxata Inc
Wrote API and admin documentation for Paxata's large-scale distributed data prep platform (Hadoop/HDFS, Spark/YARN, REST APIs, multi-tenant cloud). Authored Installation, Upgrade, and two Administration guides, plus confidential programmer-focused API books for strategic partners. Also provided product feedback and consulted on API design.
Redwood City, CA, 12/2014-1/2020
Senior API Technical Writer Consultant & Senior Documentation Tools Architect Consultant/Engineer @ Guidewire Software
Wrote highly technical platform documentation and advised on API design, including the Integration Guide (SDK and integration concepts) and the Gosu Language Reference Guide, plus contributions to five additional books. In a parallel role, designed and built a single-source publishing and validation system (FrameScript, FrameMaker, WebWorks) producing PDF/HTML across products, with automated quality checks, per-writer reports, and JavaScript dashboards, and improved doc processes including translation workflow integration.
Foster City, CA, 7/2005-11/2016
Senior Technical Writer Consultant and Project Lead @ Openwave Systems
Led UI flow documentation for a highly customizable mobile Web/WAP browser deployed to 500M+ phones. Authored messaging docs for an OMA standards based email/SMS/MMS/SMIL platform, plus sync, multimedia, and memory management topics. Created a visual documentation style guide and built Visio automation (VBA) plus Perl/XML tooling to support translation, hyperlinking, and licensee specific variants. Delivered five 17x11 color documents in print, interactive PDF, and web formats, and supervised two external consultants.
Redwood City, CA, 8/2004-6/2005
Senior Technical Writer @ MapQuest (an AOL Company)
Wrote developer documentation for MapQuest Enterprise APIs and SDKs (mapping, geocoding, routing, proximity), including installation/config guides, an API programming guide, and API references across multiple languages and platforms.
Mountville, PA, 4/2003-8/2004
Asset Specification Writer / External Art Contributor @ Electronic Arts, Maxis division
Designed new buildings, power plants, heavy industrial, and skyscrapers for implementation by external 3D CAD artists. Researched, designed, and wrote 2-to-24 page specifications using architectural technical writing. In the official credits of the highly-acclaimed award-winning game SimCity 4 as External Art Contributor.
Walnut Creek, CA, 5/2002-8/2002
Platform Communications and Web Engineering Consultant @ 3Com and Palm
Owned programmer-facing platform content (API/SDK and business development copy) and built dynamic web tooling (CGI, Perl, ColdFusion, JavaScript) supporting Palm OS developer programs. Worked across Mac and Windows, integrating with enterprise web infrastructure (Oracle, SQL Server, Windows NT, Solaris).
Santa Clara, CA, 3/1999-8/2001
Senior Developer Technical Support (DTS) Engineer @ Apple Computer
Wrote programmer-facing API/SDK documentation for Apple's Newton platform, including a 150-page technical Q&A and technical presentations for large audiences. Investigated developer issues, performed external code reviews, and built a publishing system for web, PDF, and CD-ROM outputs (FileMaker Pro, AppleScript, C++). Recognized as a NewtonScript expert, shipped sample code with Apple Media Kit, published four Newton Technology Journal articles, and served on its Technical Peer Review Board.
Cupertino, CA, 6/1993-9/1998
Software Development Engineer @ Apple Computer
On "loan" from the Developer Support Engineer group, wrote Macintosh (Mac OS) and Windows code to exchange information between handheld (PDA) and desktop Windows and Macintosh computers via serial and network communications protocols. Assisted in code related to communications, scripting, and user interface. Used C++, Windows, Mac OS, Newton OS, AppleScript, MPW, Metrowerks CodeWarrior.
Cupertino, CA, 10/1997-6/1998
Shareware Programmer / Software Engineer @ JX Software
Wrote the Macintosh software application Do It All! Calendar, using C++. MacUser gave it Four Mice rating. Shareware Magazine said "Definite A+ for user interface design and overall product usefulness."
Hanover, NH, 1/1991-12/1996
Software Engineer @ Paradigm Technologies
Wrote a product manufacturing process management tool for memory chip manufacturer. Wrote a Windows application to download and integrate data from offsite warehouses and detect invalid data from data sources. Written in C++ on Windows.
San Jose, CA, 6/1991-9/1991
Software Development Engineering Consultant @ Active Systems
Wrote new programming modules and designed user interface for Macintosh educational software that interfaced with proprietary hardware. Implemented scripting language and graphical editor in object-oriented C, a variant of C++.
Lebanon, NH, 1/1991-6/1991
Certified Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Marin NLP, 2006
Scrum Training
DITA Training
See JX's full set of recommendations across all years.
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