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Gonzalo Fernández de Aguirre
Verified Expert in Engineering
Back-end Developer
Madrid, Spain
Toptal member since November 5, 2021
Bio
Gonzalo is a senior back-end developer with ten years of experience. His preferred stack is Python, Django, and Flask, and his areas of expertise include databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, NoSQL) and Docker. Gonzalo has delivered a wide range of projects, including data migrations, automation scripts, model designs, and API definitions and implementations. In addition to full-time employment, Gonzalo has 5+ years of experience as a freelance developer for many company types, sizes, and environments.
Portfolio
Type/Code
Python, Django, PostgreSQL, Wagtail CMS, GraphQL, GraphQL API, Docker, SQL
NextPacket
Python, Django, PostgreSQL, Kubernetes, REST, APIs, SQLAlchemy, SQL
Twilio (Contract)
Python, Django, Wagtail CMS, Docker, PostgreSQL...
Experience
- Django - 8 years
- Databases - 8 years
- Python - 8 years
- APIs - 5 years
- Microservices - 5 years
- Flask - 5 years
- Web Development - 5 years
- Wagtail CMS - 4 years
Work Experience
Senior Back-end Developer
2022 - 2024
Type/Code
- Maintained and added lots of new features (from small tweaks to full new ideas) required by the final client (EL Education) around their Wagtail, Django, and Python-based website.
- Handled all major decisions for Wagtail and focused on making the project work from the back end.
- Communicated directly with the client on a weekly basis and served as the translator between the business and the technical requirements.
Technologies: Python, Django, PostgreSQL, Wagtail CMS, GraphQL, GraphQL API, Docker, SQL
Senior Back-end Developer
2021 - 2022
NextPacket
- Developed a custom API to communicate with specific network routing systems like NSP but with the IX-API definition restrictions plus specific requirements defined by the client (DE-CIX) to build a "CloudRouter."
- Built the needed API from scratch using the latest technology available. The project was a solid piece of software, fully tested and built within the given timeline.
- Received very positive feedback from the client. They praised the quality, the attention to detail, and the great communication skills.
Technologies: Python, Django, PostgreSQL, Kubernetes, REST, APIs, SQLAlchemy, SQL
Senior Back-end Developer
2018 - 2021
Twilio (Contract)
- Designed and implemented an ad hoc solution for globalization, localization, and translation within a heavily customized version of Wagtail, an open-source CMS architecture.
- Coded a very intense data migration of hundreds of unorganized, static code samples used in the documentation of Twilio libraries exposed in its website into dynamic code samples.
- Became the go-to person for new system design questions, new features, and almost every question regarding the back end of the Twilio site.
- Chosen to be part of hiring processes by interviewing potential colleagues and then becoming a mentor to the newest members.
Technologies: Python, Django, Wagtail CMS, Docker, PostgreSQL, Content Management Systems (CMS), Databases, Data Migration, Twilio, Back-end, Refactoring, Code Review, Sublime Text 3, Interviewing, Source Code Review, Technical Hiring, Technical Design, Team Management, Task Analysis, HTML, Back-end Development, Kubernetes, Containerization, SQL
Senior Back-end Developer
2015 - 2018
Imagination
- Migrated a very big, outdated, and slow system built as a monolith into a modern microservices architecture. The system is the black box given to engineers during big shows, such as Detroit Auto Show and Canon's Photokina.
- Made critical decisions in the very fast-paced, high-stakes marketing environment. Our motto was, "The show must go on, we will deliver."
- Became the technical studio senior engineer and go-to person for all questions regarding the black box we created for shows to run smoothly.
- Was chosen to be part of hiring processes by interviewing potential colleagues and then mentoring the newest team members.
Technologies: Python, Django, Flask, Microservices, APIs, CouchDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Back-end, Databases, Microservices Architecture, Data Migration, Code Review, Sublime Text 3, Interviewing, Source Code Review, Technical Hiring, Technical Design, Task Analysis, HTML, Back-end Development, Containerization, SQL
Back-end Developer
2012 - 2015
Stonework Solutions
- Developed security applications in telecommunications and media, programming in VoIP environments, prevention and detection of fraud in telecommunication systems, and agents endowed with artificial intelligence.
- Became the tech lead for a small team, owning new projects and managing the team to deliver on requests.
- Implemented a heavily customized web app as a real-time dashboard to enable big applications to route VoIP calls, filter calls, and expose the system through that custom dashboard.
Technologies: Python, Django, Front-end, MySQL, Team Leadership, VoIP, Fraud Prevention, Web Applications, Dashboards, Web Development, Back-end, Code Review, Sublime Text 3, Technical Design, Team Management, HTML, Back-end Development
Web Developer
2011 - 2012
Efors
- Refactored and redesigned the database models, making the whole app faster and more efficient.
- Developed and implemented front-end pages from scratch using HTML5, CSS, and jQuery.
- Refurbished the whole template system and database connections and integrated a cache mechanism for a better web experience.
Technologies: PHP, jQuery, HTML5, CSS, MySQL, Front-end, Databases, Templates, Database Caching, Web Development, HTML, Back-end Development
Project History
Twilio Website Globalization System
An ad hoc solution for globalization, localization, and translation within a heavily customized version of Wagtail, an open-source CMS architecture. I designed and implemented the solution using Python metaclasses to customize each model within the current project (on top of the CMS) and make them translatable in one click. I also developed the translation API container class and the whole data flow from start to finish. Python metaclasses are dangerous but powerful!
Imagination's Black Server Box
While in London, I assisted in migrating a very big, very outdated, and very slow system built as a monolith into a modern microservices architecture. Today, that system is the black box given to the engineers during big shows, such as Detroit Auto Show and Canon's Photokina. A plug-and-play set of systems under the same hood would ensure that all the data in those big events would be properly generated, accounted for, stored, and synced.
Twilio Code Samples Migration for Developer Education
Coded a very intense data migration of hundreds of unorganized, independent, and static code samples used in the documentation of Twilio libraries exposed in its website into dynamic code samples retrieved via an API. This migration enhanced the editors' job and the organization and maintainability of the data. I gained a new appreciation for the value of custom APIs to make your life easier!
Converter CLI
https://github.com/patillacode/converter-cliA custom Python CLI for converting media files. The idea was for the CLI to ask users for the necessary information through the command line. This abstracted the process so the user could make just a few selections and get the expected output.
Education
2009 - 2011
Superior Technician Degree in Computer Programming
IES Virgen de la Paloma - Madrid, Spain
2005 - 2009
Bachelor's Degree in Telecommunications
Universidad Carlos III - Madrid, Spain
Skills
Libraries/APIs
REST APIs, jQuery, SQLAlchemy, GraphQL API
Tools
Sublime Text 3, Celery, RabbitMQ
Languages
Python, SQL, HTML5, CSS, Bash, HTML, PHP, GraphQL
Frameworks
Django, Flask
Paradigms
Microservices, Microservices Architecture, Refactoring, REST
Storage
Databases, MySQL, PostgreSQL, CouchDB, Redis, Database Caching
Platforms
Docker, Twilio, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Kubernetes
Other
Wagtail CMS, Programming, APIs, Web Applications, Data Migration, Back-end, Back-end Development, Web Development, Command-line Interface (CLI), i18n, Team Leadership, Content Management Systems (CMS), Code Review, Technical Hiring, Interviewing, Source Code Review, Containerization, Engineering, Front-end, Libraries, VoIP, Fraud Prevention, Dashboards, Templates, Technical Design, Team Management, Task Analysis
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