Nicholas Sample

Apple · visionOS Platform Software QA Engineer

From June 2021 · Apple tenure began August 2016

• Created a root cause analysis process and coordinated 18+ teams, securing leadership support and formal Software Engineering adoption.
• Owned simulator and SDK testing, virtualization testing, and Xcode release validation.
• Rebuilt OS qualification tests with clearer instructions and expanded application coverage; aligned testing responsibilities through cross-team reviews.
• Built AI-assisted workflows for defect retrieval, structured logging, recurring-issue analysis, and follow-up.
• Partnered with automation engineers to transition manual checks into automated pipelines and evaluate test behavior.
• Supported first-generation Apple Vision Pro launch readiness through platform validation and hardware–software integration testing.

Apple · Technical expertise, education & business solutions

Technical Specialist, August 2016–September 2017
Sales Specialist, September 2017–July 2021

• Diagnosed technical issues and advised individual and business customers on Apple hardware and software.
• Taught classes on introductory AI and machine learning, video and music production software, applications, and web applications.

Imporium LLC · Lead Game Designer

March 2012–March 2016 · Self-employed

Designed, developed, tested, and released viruOSity Rivals, Chroma Dyadic, Yubi, and viruOSity redux. Created gameplay, multitouch controls, visuals, original music, and promotional material.

U.S. Army · Military intelligence & cartography

2010–2013

Produced maps and geospatial materials from satellite imagery, terrain data, and government sources for military missions and organizations including FEMA.

Learning Garden

Designed and built a functional adaptive learning application using freely available U.S. and UK educational content. Expanded its design across ages and learning needs. Free public release planned.

Local AI workflows & consumer tools

Run open-source models on a Mac Mini for research, document processing, transcription, and automation. Use Codex for independent development and guided AI setup for nontechnical users.