Rory Rawlings
Architect
Built an edge‑native, multi‑agent operating system for autonomous, compliance‑driven business operations—drawing on three decades as a company builder and the original architect of Avalara's AvaTax engine.
About
Rory Rawlings is Architect at SparkJar, where he built an edge‑native, multi‑agent operating system for companies that require autonomy with human control, rigorous compliance, and full data custody. SparkJar is designed to run on the edge—cloud‑optional by design—with 800+ points of integration into customized open‑source and clean sheet systems. Beyond core business functions (accounting, cost accounting, CRM, sales, purchasing, supply chain management (SCM), manufacturing, and distribution), the platform unifies AI agent communications (custom PBX, inbound/outbound mail, SMS servers controlled by AI) and a full publishing stack to drive personalized, one‑to‑one outreach across channels. The goal: a compliance‑first, privacy‑preserving operating layer capable of enabling "zero‑employee" operations.
Rory's bias is to architect and code. He co‑founded Avalara, where he designed and built the first AvaTax engine from scratch—architecting the taxability decision matrix, geospatial content system, and indirect‑tax calculation logic that became the foundation for Avalara's platform. As Chief Tax Automation Officer, he shaped the technical architecture through the company's early scale, solving problems at the intersection of compliance, geospatial data, and real-time calculation at scale.
At CraftAg (2016–2021), he built production systems for federally legal hemp genetics and post‑harvest processing after the 2018 Farm Bill. Technical highlights: designed a 70M‑seed/year propagation facility with automated climate and irrigation control; engineered ag‑scale lyophilization systems that improved usable yield by ~400%; built inventory, distribution, and compliance tracking systems for a vertically integrated operation spanning genetics, propagation, processing, and distribution.
Earlier, he led enterprise systems during Getty Images' transformation, built ERP modules at PowerCerv, and started at Boeing in audit, tax research, and FP&A—where he created a forecasting model adopted across business units and was sponsored into systems architecture. Across roles, Rory's through‑line is constant: make complex, regulated operations simple, automated, and trustworthy.
Key Milestones
SparkJar
Edge‑native, multi‑agent platform with 800+ direct integrations. Compliance‑first, privacy‑preserving architecture enabling autonomous business operations with human control.
Avalara AvaTax
Designed and built the original AvaTax engine from scratch. Architected the taxability decision matrix, geospatial content system, and real-time calculation engine. Solved compliance, geospatial data, and scale problems that became Avalara's foundation.
CraftAg Production Systems
Built 70M‑seed/year propagation facility with automated climate and irrigation control. Engineered ag‑scale lyophilization systems improving usable yield by ~400%. Designed inventory, distribution, and compliance tracking for vertically integrated hemp operations.
Early Systems Work
Getty Images: Led enterprise systems transformation. PowerCerv: Built ERP modules from scratch. Boeing: Started in finance/FP&A, created forecasting model adopted across business units, sponsored into systems architecture. Two decades of building systems that turn complex operations into reliable, scalable software.
"Make complex, regulated operations simple, automated, and trustworthy."
— Rory's through‑line across three decades of building systems