Carlo Cancellieri
Lead Software Engineer
Building cloud-native geospatial platforms at the United Nations FAO to advance food security and sustainable agriculture. 20 years architecting systems that serve 50+ countries.
About
Lead Software Engineer at FAO
I'm a lead software engineer at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, architecting cloud-native geospatial platforms that enable data-driven decision-making for food security, climate resilience, and sustainable agriculture across 50+ countries.
With 20 years of experience in software engineering and an MBA (First Honours), I specialize in designing scalable systems, cloud infrastructure, and geospatial technologies that have real-world impact on global food systems.
Based in Rome, I work across the full technology stack — from backend Python/Java services on GCP to React frontends, infrastructure-as-code with Terraform, and containerized deployments on Kubernetes.
Tech Stack
Featured Projects
DynaStore
The multi-tenant geospatial engine powering FAO's data infrastructure: catalog API, maps/tiles API, dual GeoServer clusters (WMS/WFS/WMTS), and vector tiles. Designed to scale to thousands of tenants and millions of records via pluggable storage drivers (Iceberg, DuckDB, Parquet), serving 50+ countries through the Hand-in-Hand Initiative.
- Data Catalog: data.apps.fao.org/catalog — Multi-tenant metadata discovery with pluggable storage backends (Iceberg / DuckDB / Parquet)
- Maps & Tiles API: FastAPI + PostGIS serving WMS/WFS/WMTS + Mapbox Vector Tiles for web mapping
- Dual GeoServer Clusters: Separated read and authoring instances for safe editing under load
- GeoID Service: Persistent identifier service for standardised geographic references
- Operational hardening (2026): pg_cron-driven task reaper, async PostgreSQL connection pooling, and GCP provisioning resilience for multi-region deployments
- Admin UI: Operator console for catalog provisioning, task inspection, and configuration management
Architected from scratch to handle continental-scale data ingestion, real-time metadata indexing, and multi-tenant access control across FAO's member nations.
Remote Sensing Portal
FAO's STAC-native earth observation discovery and access platform. Built on STAC-FastAPI with Elasticsearch / OpenSearch, exposing OGC STAC APIs across agricultural indicators, dekadal time series, and administrative boundary hierarchies.
- STAC-first architecture: OGC STAC standard end-to-end, from collection metadata through catalog search to item retrieval
- Datacube workloads: Handles very large dimension spaces — thousands of agricultural indicators, dekadal time series (36 periods/year), administrative hierarchies
- JSON-safe serialisation: Custom OpenSearch serialiser keeping STAC pydantic models (HttpUrl, datetime, UUID, Decimal) deterministic on ingest
- Datetime range indexing: STAC `[[start, end]]` intervals mapped to Elasticsearch date_range objects with null-handling
- Separate from the main catalog: Distinct runtime and data plane from DynaStore's core catalog, co-deployed on the same Keystone IAM and GCP substrate
The portal is the Organisation's entry point for EO-aligned data discovery — complementing DynaStore's generic geospatial catalog with STAC-native search, item retrieval, and OpenSearch-backed faceting.
Keystone
FAO's unified identity and access control platform. Integrates Keycloak with GCP IAM, supporting RBAC and ReBAC policies designed to scale to millions of users per realm.
- OpenID Connect: Industry-standard authentication for federated identity
- Cloud Identity Integration: Seamless sync with GCP organization structure
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Traditional role hierarchy for application access
- Relation-Based Access Control (ReBAC): Fine-grained permissions based on data relationships
- Multi-tenant Support: Isolated realms for different FAO divisions and external partners
Replaced legacy single-sign-on with a modern, zero-trust IAM platform. Reduced access provisioning time from weeks to minutes, enabling agile organizational changes.
Hyrax SQL Handler
A C++ BES module enabling relational database access through the OPeNDAP Hyrax data server. Exposes SQL databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, MongoDB) as standard OPeNDAP datasets.
- Google Summer of Code: Mentored by Patrick West (Senior Engineer at Workday)
- Database Support: PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, MongoDB via ODBC/SQL interfaces
- OPeNDAP Integration: Exposes tabular data through standard netCDF, HDF5, FITS, ASCII formats
- Production Use: Deployed at FAO, NATO, NURC, LaMMa research institutions
- Maintenance: Still actively maintained and used in production environments
This project bridged the gap between enterprise databases and scientific data discovery workflows, enabling transparent access to geospatial and climate data stored in relational databases.
CKAN Extensions
Suite of 5 open-source CKAN extensions for open data platform enhancement, metadata management, and visualization integration.
- ckanext-jsonschema: JSON Schema-based metadata editing (5 GitHub stars)
- ckanext-publisher: Publishing workflow management for CKAN datasets
- ckanext-terriajs: TerriaJS map visualization integration for geospatial data
- ckanext-scheming_dcat: DCAT metadata schema support for semantic web interoperability
- ckanext-cloudstorage: Cloud storage backend support for CKAN resource files
These extensions extend CKAN's capabilities for geospatial data publishing, metadata standardization, and modern web-based data discovery interfaces.
GeoServer Ecosystem
Core contributor to GeoServer (4.3k+ stars), GeoNetwork, GeoTools, and GeoBatch. Led development of advanced features and performance optimization tools.
- GetLegendGraphic JSON Output: Community-adopted feature for JSON-based map legends
- JMX/REST/JMS/WPS Interfaces: Enhanced monitoring, REST API, message integration, processing services
- GeoServerStressTest: Load testing tool for GeoServer performance evaluation (5 GitHub stars)
- Production Deployments: FAO, NATO, NURC, LaMMa research institutions
At GeoSolutions (2010–2014), led development of enterprise features for OGC Web Services, metadata management, and high-performance geospatial data serving.
GeoID Service
Persistent geospatial identifier service for standardised geographic references — resolvable URIs for countries, regions, administrative boundaries, and thematic taxonomies. OGC and ISO-TC211 aligned, with RDF/OWL semantics and REST + SPARQL endpoints.
- Persistent Identifiers: Resolvable URIs for geographic entities (countries, regions, administrative boundaries)
- Standards Compliance: Aligned with OGC, ISO-TC211, and Linked Data principles
- Semantic Integration: RDF/OWL ontologies for geographic relationships
- Multi-language Support: Geographic entity names in multiple languages
- API-First Design: REST and SPARQL endpoints for programmatic access
This service enables consistent geographic data integration across FAO systems and facilitates interoperability with other UN agencies and international organizations.
MCP Skill Hub
A local MCP server that gives Claude Code semantic skill search, cross-session task memory, and zero-token command interception — all powered by Ollama running entirely on your machine.
- Semantic Skill Search: Find Claude Code skills by meaning using Ollama embeddings — no keywords needed
- Zero-Token Hook: UserPromptSubmit hook intercepts "save task", "close task" commands locally before Claude sees them
- Cross-Session Memory: Save open tasks, compact closed ones with a local LLM (~200 tokens vs ~5000 raw)
- Three-Signal Learning: Teachings, feedback ratings, and passive session history improve rankings over time
- Plugin Management: Enable/disable Claude plugins live; suggest relevant disabled plugins by context
- Token Profiling: Tracks estimated Claude API tokens saved per hook interception
Designed for developers who run many Claude Code plugins and want to keep context lean.
Runs entirely offline on your machine using Ollama (deepseek-r1, nomic-embed-text).
Install in one command: ./install.sh
Open Source Contributions
Organization Memberships
Experience
Lead Software Engineer, AgroInformatics Division
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Feb 2020–Present | Rome, Italy (Remote)
Architect and lead engineer for the Organisation's cloud-native geospatial platforms in support of the Hand-in-Hand Initiative. Design and deliver DynaStore, the Remote Sensing Portal, and Keystone (unified IAM), coordinating delivery across the Statistics Division, IT, and regional offices. Lead a multicultural team, manage GCP infrastructure-as-code, and mentor engineers across staff and consultant categories. OGC Member since September 2025, proposing the Dimensions API and Assets API to the GeoDataCube Standards Working Group. ISO-TC211 contributor, standardizing ISO 19115-4 (JSON encoding) and ISO 19115-5 (GeoDCAT/DCAT). Promoted from Consultant Category C to Category B in August 2024. Rated "Exceeds performance expectations" on QAR 2021 and 2022. FAO Training: EX-ACT Tool Integration (2025), Climate Risk Toolbox (2024), Environmental & Social Management Framework (2025).
Head of Research & Development
SIGEO S.r.l.
Oct 2018–Sep 2019 | Rome, Italy
Directed a 15-person R&D division with full P&L responsibility, delivering the TAP/SMAI real-time environmental monitoring system for the Trans Adriatic Pipeline — a multi-billion-euro cross-border energy infrastructure programme spanning Greece, Albania, and Italy. Led Agile transformation, managed annual R&D budget, and negotiated scope with consortium partners.
Statistical Working System (SWS) Expert
FAO Statistics Division (ESS)
Jul 2015–Dec 2017 | Rome, Italy
Senior technical lead on the Statistical Working System, FAO's corporate statistics platform supporting Food Balance Sheets, Supply Utilization Accounts, and domain-specific methodologies for 194 member countries. Led the frontend modernisation (React/Redux/TypeScript) and built R-based statistical processing pipelines; established CI/CD and SDLC processes for the SWS team.
Senior Software Engineer / System Integrator
Proxima Informatica
May 2014–Jun 2015 | Rome, Italy
Client-facing enterprise engineering for major organisations in the international lottery and payments industry. Led CI/CD and DevOps practices for a 75-developer multicultural team and contributed to the Apache Camel open-source project.
Software Engineer → Product Owner
GeoSolutions S.A.S.
Nov 2010–Apr 2014 | Viareggio, Italy
Core contributor to GeoServer, the leading open-source geospatial server. Progressed from software engineer to product owner, delivering solutions for international organisations including FAO, NATO, and NURC. Authored GetLegendGraphic JSON output and contributed to JMX, REST, JMS, and WPS interfaces. Created the GeoServerStressTest load-testing tool.
Google Summer of Code — Software Engineer
OPeNDAP / Google Inc.
Apr 2009–Aug 2010 | Remote (International)
Selected twice (2009, 2010) for Google's international open-source programme under the OPeNDAP organisation. Authored the Hyrax SQL Handler — a C++ BES module enabling SQL/ODBC database access through the OPeNDAP protocol — deployed at FAO, NATO, NURC, and LaMMa. Mentored by Patrick West. The module is still actively maintained and in production use 15+ years later.
Education
MBA
Neapolis University Pafos (Cyprus)
2023–2024 | First Class Honours (100/100)
Master of Business Administration, Grade A with 100/100 average (Dissertation: 100/100). Thesis on ethical AI integration and ESG frameworks for sustainable business transformation. Coursework in strategic management, finance, operations, and organisational behaviour.
B.Sc. Computer Science
University of Naples "Parthenope"
2005–2009
Laurea in Informatica (Classe 25). Thesis: "Management of Distributed Data in a Distributed Computational Environment (Grids)" — designed and implemented the data access layer for OPeNDAP Hyrax, leading to Google Summer of Code selection in 2009 and 2010.
Languages
Linguistic Proficiency
2024
Italian (Native), English (C1), Spanish (B1 DELE). Fluent in technical and professional communication across international teams.
Get in Touch
Currently exploring Senior / Staff / Principal Engineer, Engineering Manager, Technical Programme Manager, and UN-system IT Officer (P-3 / P-4) roles. Always happy to talk geospatial platforms, OGC standards, cloud architecture, and sustainable technology.
