Andres Montalban, Developer in Montevideo, Montevideo Department, Uruguay
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Andres Montalban

Verified Expert  in Engineering

Software Developer

Location
Montevideo, Montevideo Department, Uruguay
Toptal Member Since
August 29, 2014

Andres is an experienced technical leader with over 10 years of experience overseeing and managing fully remote teams. He is knowledgeable about cloud infrastructure, agile development, and networking, and he is an active contributor to open-source projects like SaltStack, Vagrant, Chef/Bento, and FreeBSD. Andres brings superior technological skills and a can-do attitude to the table that help teams and companies to grow and thrive.

VoIPIdentity & Access Management (IAM)Amazon EC2Amazon Web Services (AWS)LinuxFreeBSDRed Hat LinuxLAMPDebian LinuxMacOSSaltStackVagrantTerraformSAMLPacker

Portfolio

Around
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon EKS, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), AWS Lambda...
ReadySet Technology, Inc.
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Kubernetes, Terraform, DevOps, Helm, Debian, Git...
Syllable Corporation
DevOps, Amazon Web Services (AWS), AWS DevOps, Terraform, Kubernetes...

Experience

Amazon Web Services (AWS) - 13 yearsLinux - 12 yearsSaltStack - 6 yearsTerraform - 5 yearsMySQL - 5 yearsPacker - 4 yearsDevOps - 3 yearsKubernetes - 3 years

Availability

Full-time

Preferred Environment

Amazon Web Services (AWS), Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Python, Packer, GitLab, Kubernetes, Docker Compose, Docker, Terraform, MySQL

The most amazing...

...thing I've done is lead a team of engineers supporting a SaaS platform used by the biggest companies in the world, including three of the five biggest in tech.

Work Experience

Senior Site Reliability Engineer

2021 - PRESENT
Around
  • Deployed an AWS organization migrating production workload to a specific account. Configured AWS authentication using Google Workspace as IDP using SAML.
  • Migrated the IaC codebase to a state-of-the-art configuration, handling multiple providers, including AWS, Google Workspace, GCP, PagerDuty, and others. This was achieved using Terraform and Terragrunt along with Atlantis.
  • Migrated multiple geographically distributed Kubernetes clusters without downtime.
  • Deployed EKS clusters in all available AWS regions, enabling the best latency for our videoconferencing product.
  • Upgraded the PostgreSQL version of the main database without downtime and improved the database structure, indexes, and queries, enhancing overall performance during peak hours.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon EKS, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), AWS Lambda, AWS Global Accelerator, Terraform, Terragrunt, GitHub, Kubernetes, Tailscale, PostgreSQL, Helm, Argo CD

DevOps Engineer

2021 - 2021
ReadySet Technology, Inc.
  • Built pipelines to generate AWS AMIs with Packer used by customers to deploy the infrastructure offered by the company.
  • Created the Terraform code to fully deploy the solution in AWS, including VPC, RDS, Load Balancers, and EC2 instances.
  • Implemented pipelines to run quality checks on Terraform code—including deployments and modules—to ensure the code followed industry standards. Used such tools as pre-commit hooks, checkov, tflint, tfsec, and terraform-docs.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Kubernetes, Terraform, DevOps, Helm, Debian, Git, Amazon EC2, Bash Script, MacOS

DevOps Engineer

2020 - 2021
Syllable Corporation
  • Worked with engineering to prepare the cloud infrastructure for HIPAA compliancy.
  • Reverse-engineered the running infrastructure and codified the whole stack using Terraform and Terragrunt.
  • Created an Infrastructure as Code CI/CD pipeline that allowed the release of infrastructural changes to the corresponding environments using CircleCI and Terragrunt.
  • Migrated the AWS account to an AWS organization with multiple accounts to split the production workload from other workloads. Configured AWS user authentication with Google Workspace as IdP.
Technologies: DevOps, Amazon Web Services (AWS), AWS DevOps, Terraform, Kubernetes, AWS CloudFormation, Twilio, Amazon Elastic Container Service (Amazon ECS), ECS, PostgreSQL

Senior DevOps Engineer

2020 - 2021
Labelbox
  • Migrated the main production database (3TB) from MySQL 5.7 to MySQL 8.0 without downtime.
  • Created a Terraform module to deploy a production-grade Citus cluster in Google Cloud Platform. Other tools like Packer, Ansible, and Python were used in this project. I have also contributed to the pg_auto_failover project.
  • Initiated a self-service infrastructure project for our engineering team, leveraging env0, Terraform, Kubernetes, and Helm charts to allow quick development environments in the cloud.
  • Automated the provisioning of on-premise deployments using replicated tooling. The technologies involved were KOTS, kURL, Terraform, Bash scripting, and Packer.
Technologies: Ansible, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), MySQL, Helm, PostgreSQL, RabbitMQ, Datadog, Elasticsearch, Amazon Web Services (AWS), DevOps, DevSecOps, SAML, Identity & Access Management (IAM), SOC 2, HIPAA Compliance, Terraform, Debian, Git, Docker, Bash Script, Citus, MacOS

Lead DevOps Engineer

2014 - 2020
Perceptyx
  • Led a team of nine senior DevOps engineers distributed across four different continents.
  • Led and implemented multiple pipelines to improve the quality and robustness of our platform by using tools like Packer, Terraform, GitLab CI, and Kitchen CI.
  • Automated package building and testing for FreeBSD servers, SaltStack configuration testing, development environments, AWS AMI creation, and the Perl environment build (runtime and modules).
  • Actively participated in multiple SOC 2, ISO 27001, and Microsoft SSPA security certifications, ensuring infrastructure compliance.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Python, GitLab CI/CD, Docker Compose, Packer, Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, MySQL, Redis, FreeBSD, SaltStack, DevOps, DevSecOps, SAML, Identity & Access Management (IAM), SOC 2, Jenkins, Debian, Git, Amazon EC2, Unix, Cassandra, Bash Script, Vagrant, MacOS, ISO 27001

CTO

2012 - 2018
Global IT Solutions S.R.L
  • Provided support to customers using cloud computing technologies.
  • Coached new employees and partners in Linux, networking, and virtualization.
  • Supported sales projects generating new services and products based on a mix of technologies.
  • Managed projects and deadlines for a team of local and remote personnel.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Networking, Cloud Computing, Virtualization, Bash, Amazon EC2, FreeBSD, Asterisk, VoIP, Puppet, SaltStack, HAProxy, NGINX, Apache, Linux, Identity & Access Management (IAM), Azure, Red Hat Linux, VMware ESXi, Debian, Git, Terraform, Bash Script, Travis CI

DevOps Engineer PHP

2015 - 2015
Business Services
  • Migrated the complete infrastructure from private VPSs to AWS.
  • Codified the whole infrastructure with Terraform, following best practices.
  • Improved database queries and data structure, generating a 300% performance improvement on the same instance (RDS).
Technologies: PHP, DevOps, Debian Linux, MySQL, Infrastructure Monitoring, TYPO3, Beanstalk, Chef, Vagrant, Puppet.js, Elasticsearch, Debian, Git, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon EC2, Terraform, Bash Script

Senior Sysadmin

2011 - 2013
inConcert
  • Supervised seven POP data centers in the USA and Spain, providing mission-critical VoIP services to customers worldwide.
  • Installed, maintained, and supported more than fifty servers with Linux and Windows platforms.
  • Configured and managed intra-carrier VoIP cross-connections to handle thousands of calls per day.
  • Developed an automated installation script for A2Billing that allowed other company coworkers to install the solution for our customers worldwide.
  • Acted as the point of contact to co-location and hosting providers, including SoftLayer, NAP of the Americas, PhoenixNAP, and others. managed purchases, maintenance plans, and internal company support.
  • Helped design and deploy the company's private cloud infrastructure.
Technologies: Cloud Computing, Core Location, Software-defined Data Centers (SDDC), Linux, Asterisk, VoIP, Red Hat Linux, Debian, Git, CentOS, Bash Script

Senior System Administrator

2010 - 2012
Ikuna Media S.L.
  • Migrated a mission-critical system from a dedicated server to a high-availability Amazon platform in one week to support a high traffic spike during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
  • Created a scalable streaming solution using AWS, Adobe Flash Media, Wowza, and Amazon CloudFront, allowing the company to stream live events like MTV Europe awards to thousands of viewers worldwide.
  • Reviewed the company web platform performance, supporting several thousand hits per day for customers like EFE News, Telemundo, and Telefonica, resulting in up to a 50% performance increase using the same resources.
  • Created email marketing infrastructure using EC2 and SES to provide services to several customers, ensuring deliverability and inbox reach.
  • Provided support to development teams, assisting new technologies and best practices to achieve high availability and performant services.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), LAMP, MySQL, Adobe Flash, Wowza, Content Delivery Networks (CDN), Amazon EC2, Debian, Git, Bash Script

Owner

2009 - 2012
AM Technology & Systems
  • Worked on sales and technical solutions to gain customers and generate new services and products.
  • Provided support for hosting servers with a vast range of technologies, from stripped-down LAMP servers to cPanel and Plesk setups.
  • Supported Cisco networks with customers in the USA and Australia.
  • Supported Windows corporate systems with AD, Exchange, and IIS.
  • Migrated hosting servers between providers with hundreds of sites without downtime.
Technologies: LAMP, Zimbra, Asterisk, MS Exchange, FreeBSD, Unix, Linux, VMware ESXi, Git, Bash Script

CTO and Co-founder

2006 - 2009
IT Business
  • Supervised the technology department responsible for customers with over 100 PCs.
  • Migrated several corporate MS Exchange installations from 5.5 to 2003.
  • Deployed corporate VoIP PBXs using Asterisk software.
  • Installed and maintained a metropolitan area network using WiFi links with Ubiquiti, MikroTik, and custom equipment with OpenWRT software.
  • Managed a seven-member technical team to support customer needs.
Technologies: Asterisk, VoIP, Telecommunications, Networking, FreeBSD, Cisco, Linux, VMware ESXi, Embedded Linux, Bash Script

NOC Supervisor

2005 - 2006
Diveo Uruguay S.A.
  • Supported the company and customer networks that consisted of carrier-class network equipment like Cisco, Harris, and Ericsson Tellabs.
  • Managed servers using Linux, Solaris, and Windows.
  • Upgraded software and hardware for Cisco core routers (7950), including bootloaders.
  • Provided support and assistance to enterprise customers.
  • Designed new network links and services and coordinated with the marketing department to increase sales.
Technologies: Solaris, Wireless Networking, Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH), PDH, Rapid Application Development (RAD), Cisco, Linux, Unix, Bash Script

A2Billing Auto Installer Script

https://github.com/amontalban/A2Billing-Install-Script
A2Billing auto installer script for CentOS. The script handles all installation, including Asterisk, A2Billing, MySQL, and Sangoma drivers.

This script allowed users to install everything needed to have a VoIP system to resell calls.

Languages

Bash Script, SAML, Bash, Python, PHP

Tools

Ansible, Packer, Vagrant, Terraform, SaltStack, Asterisk, Wowza, Apache, Docker Compose, Travis CI, Jenkins, Git, Citus, NGINX, Puppet, MS Exchange, Zimbra, Adobe Flash, GitLab, GitLab CI/CD, Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), Helm, RabbitMQ, Beanstalk, Chef, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Amazon EKS, AWS CloudFormation, Amazon Elastic Container Service (Amazon ECS), GitHub

Paradigms

DevOps, DevSecOps, HIPAA Compliance, Rapid Application Development (RAD)

Platforms

Amazon EC2, Unix, Docker, Kubernetes, Amazon Web Services (AWS), FreeBSD, Linux, Red Hat Linux, CentOS, Debian Linux, LAMP, MacOS, Debian, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Solaris, Embedded Linux, Azure, Twilio, AWS Lambda

Other

VoIP, Identity & Access Management (IAM), SOC 2, VMware ESXi, HAProxy, Virtualization, Cloud Computing, Networking, Software-defined Data Centers (SDDC), Content Delivery Networks (CDN), Cisco, PDH, Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH), Wireless Networking, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Infrastructure Monitoring, AWS DevOps, ECS, AWS Global Accelerator, Tailscale, Argo CD, ISO 27001

Storage

MySQL, PostgreSQL, Datadog, Redis, Cassandra, Elasticsearch, Amazon S3 (AWS S3)

Frameworks

Core Location, TYPO3

Libraries/APIs

Puppet.js, Terragrunt

Industry Expertise

Telecommunications

JANUARY 2022 - JANUARY 2024

Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist

Linux Foundation

SEPTEMBER 2020 - SEPTEMBER 2023

Certified Kubernetes Application Developer

Linux Foundation

SEPTEMBER 2020 - SEPTEMBER 2023

Certified Kubernetes Administrator

Linux Foundation

SEPTEMBER 2020 - SEPTEMBER 2022

Terraform Associate

Hashicorp