Applied AI, ML & agentic systems
Purpose-built model workflows, custom model experiments, SageMaker and Bedrock orchestration, TensorFlow pipelines, and anomaly detection - grounded in useful, production-minded applications.
INDEPENDENT SOFTWARE ENGINEERING · CALGARY / WORLDWIDE
Build what comes next.
x7k is a principal-led engineering partner for ambitious technology teams. Led by James Thorne, we bring nearly two decades of hands-on engineering and technical leadership - supported by a trusted network of 20+ independent specialists - to complex work across applied AI, graphics, cloud platforms, and interactive media. We pair deep technical judgment with thoughtful design and delivery discipline.
EXPLORE SELECTED WORK AI SYSTEMS · GPU / 3D · PLATFORMS
01 / CAPABILITIES
Deep engineering. Useful outcomes.
A broad, connected practice: from model and system design to graphics, platforms, interactive media, and the people and delivery plans that bring them into the world.
3D, graphics & GPU engineering
Real-time rendering, low-level graphics, lighting and asset pipelines, 3D interaction, and engine integration across Unity, Unreal, Blender, and Omniverse.
Scalable platforms & cloud architecture
API-first services, asynchronous processing, distributed workloads, data pipelines, cloud infrastructure, and platform foundations built to evolve and integrate.
IP intelligence & multimodal retrieval
Complex asset ingestion and analysis across geometry, imagery, texture, and context; proprietary feature encoding, vector search, moderation, and discovery workflows.
Streaming, DSP & interactive media
Secure real-time video delivery, cloud rendering, audio-system emulation, digital signal experimentation, and cross-platform media experiences.
Product, visual design & delivery
Guide product, interaction, and technical design - connecting visual intent to practical systems through opportunity analysis, prototyping, implementation, optimization, and release.
Technical leadership & team building
Hands-on direction for multidisciplinary teams, mentoring, partner coordination, clear technical decisions, and the translation of ambitious ideas into achievable plans.
Business-minded engineering
Practical technical strategy, campaign and project planning, lifecycle maintenance, funding-program coordination, and connecting clients with a trusted specialist network.
02 / SELECTED WORK
A career of making ambitious work real.
Selected systems and engagements spanning AI, 3D, cloud, interactive products, streaming, and game development.
SYSTEM / 01SELECTED SYSTEM / x7k
MULTIMODAL ASSET INTELLIGENCE · SECUR3D
AssetSafe
Designed the architecture for ingesting and analyzing complex 3D assets and dependencies. Geometry, visual, texture, and contextual signals support classification, similarity detection, content moderation, and IP intelligence through scalable API-driven pipelines.
SYSTEM / 02SELECTED SYSTEM / x7k
DISTRIBUTED WEB INTELLIGENCE · SECUR3D
BrandGuard Sentry
Designed and maintained distributed crawling and scraping systems to discover potentially infringing, counterfeit, and fraudulent content. Parallel processing, enrichment, and analysis turn heterogeneous web data into actionable IP intelligence.
SYSTEM / 03SELECTED SYSTEM / x7k
PROPRIETARY RETRIEVAL · MODEL ORCHESTRATION
Feature encoding & agentic AI
Developed proprietary media feature-encoding approaches for vector-database retrieval, alongside model training and synthesis experiments and agentic orchestration workflows using custom models, SageMaker, and Bedrock.
SYSTEM / 04SELECTED SYSTEM / x7k
MASTERPIECE STUDIO · UNITY / REAL-TIME 3D
VR modelling tools
Developed VR features and graphics functionality for 3D modelling workflows, contributing to immersive creative tools through real-time rendering, interaction design, and Unity development.
SYSTEM / 05SELECTED SYSTEM / x7k
UNITY · CAPGEMINI · SCHLUMBERGER
Secure cloud rendering & streaming
Diagnosed and resolved issues across a real-time streaming suite delivering encrypted video from cloud-rendered 3D visualizations of proprietary seismic data - connecting rendering, secure transmission, and client visualization.
SYSTEM / 06SELECTED SYSTEM / x7k
NONLINEAR EDUCATING · OCULUS / QUEST
VR Stream Theatre & media systems
Architected and delivered immersive VR streaming, real-time 3D experiences, and cross-platform video delivery. Related work included automation and video-serving applications for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows.
SYSTEM / 07SELECTED SYSTEM / x7k
AWS · PYTHON · TENSORFLOW
Machine learning & data lakehouses
Built cloud data architectures and machine-learning pipelines for data analysis and anomaly detection, connecting applied research to maintainable product and operational workflows.
SYSTEM / 08SELECTED SYSTEM / x7k
INTERACTIVE AUDIO · UNITY · DSP
Beat.School - DJ Simulator
Developed an interactive DJ simulation exploring audio-system emulation and real-time audiovisual engineering - bringing together software, sound, interaction, and performance-sensitive systems.
SYSTEM / 09SELECTED SYSTEM / x7k
ZEMAGAMEZ · CROSS-PLATFORM GAME DELIVERY
The Ritual on Weylyn Island
Advanced from generalist programmer to principal development responsibilities, shaping scalable game architecture, lighting and asset workflows, and advanced rendering through completion and release on Windows, macOS via Steam, and Xbox One.
03 / ABOUT JAMES
A builder at the intersection of ideas and systems.
x7k is a principal-led engineering consultancy built to help partners solve demanding technical problems and bring ambitious products to market. Principal engineer James Thorne brings nearly two decades of experience across low-level graphics, game systems, applied AI, cloud platforms, data pipelines, streaming, and product operations. The work pairs rigorous engineering with an eye for design, detail, and the practical decisions that make delivery succeed.
James currently leads engineering at SECUR3D across AI-driven asset intelligence and IP protection, including multimodal analysis, vector retrieval, distributed web intelligence, and agentic workflows. His broader experience spans shipped games, VR and interactive products, secure cloud streaming, and machine-learning systems. x7k brings this depth to partner engagements with a focus on purposeful technology, principled engineering, and sustainable value.
For specialist or multidisciplinary programs, x7k can draw on a trusted network of 20+ independent professionals across complementary disciplines. That flexible model gives partners access to senior technical direction and the right additional expertise - without overstating a fixed in-house team.
~20
years building and shipping
20+
specialists in extended network
2–10
multidisciplinary team leadership
2,000+
digital products overseen
SELECTED EXPERIENCE & COLLABORATIONS
- SECUR3D · asset intelligence, IP protection & technical leadership
- Masterpiece Studio · VR & 3D graphics
- Unity / Capgemini / Schlumberger · cloud rendering & secure streaming
- NonLinear Educating · interactive media, ML & product engineering
- 20+ independent specialists · extended delivery network
A TRACK RECORD ACROSS THE WORK
- CONSULTANCYSenior engineering consultant · architecture, technical strategy, graphics, GPU streaming, and lifecycle delivery.
- ENGINEERING LEADERSHIPLed and mentored teams of 2–10; mentored six at SECUR3D and coordinated external partners and specialists.
- PRODUCT & OPERATIONSOversaw 2,000+ digital learning products and helped establish distributed-work practices during a company-wide transition.
- GAME DEVELOPMENTGuided a commercial game from core systems through release; independently helped three indie games ship across PC and mobile.
- TEACHING & FOUNDATIONSDesigned and taught game-programming courses in algorithms, data patterns, AI, C#, and game physics. Earlier, led manufacturing, safety, inventory, and shipping operations; built internal production software; studied Visual and Game Programming at the Art Institute of Vancouver.
AI / MLAgentic workflowsSageMaker / BedrockVector retrieval3D asset intelligenceGPU / renderingUnity / UnrealBlender / OmniverseVR / interactive mediaStreaming / DSPCloud architectureDistributed systemsData pipelinesProduct designEngineering leadershipTechnical strategy
04 / GET IN TOUCH
Have a hard problem worth solving?
I bring deep hands-on engineering, design-minded problem solving, proven delivery, and a trusted specialist network. If you’re building ambitious technology or exploring a strategic partnership, let’s talk.