Dan Garthwaite
Backup & Recovery Developer
Location
Manchester, NH, United States
Toptal Member Since
March 3, 2020
Dan has 20 years of experience running Linux systems in production and has worn many hats that encompass website eCommerce, Python programming, container virtualization, continuous delivery, embedded systems, build and test automation, databases, and security. He reduced one company's AWS bill by $30,000 per month after reviewing their stack and identifying alternative scaling strategies.
Dan is available for hire
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Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Kubernetes, GitLab CI/CD, Terraform...
Wagz, Inc
AWS CloudFormation, Terraform, Android, Docker, Ansible, Kubernetes, Python, Go
FlightLookup
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Linode, Python
Experience
Python - 20 yearsBackup & Recovery - 20 yearsJenkins - 10 yearsAmazon Web Services (AWS) - 10 yearsTerraform - 5 yearsDocker - 5 yearsAnsible - 5 yearsKubernetes - 4 yearsLocation
Availability
Part-time
Preferred Environment
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Kubernetes, Docker, Jenkins, Python
The most amazing...
...thing in my career was creating seaworthy data centers on ocean vessels that mapped international shipping ports around the world.
Work Experience
2021 - PRESENT
Solutions Engineer Executive Advisor
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
- Implemented a GitOps-based release pipeline to deploy through multiple AWS environments. Worked with developers to foster a DevOps relationship that empowered developers to create and deploy their own pipelines.
- Migrated a Kubernetes cluster from AWS EKS to Azure AKS.
- Led a major project with the business continuity plan (BCP).
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Kubernetes, GitLab CI/CD, Terraform, Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
2018 - PRESENT
Senior DevOps Engineer
Wagz, Inc
- Eliminated $30,000 per month from an acquired company's AWS bill after reviewing their scaling and automation strategy.
- Managed continuous integration, testing, and deployment for an embedded Android cellular device, and automated the over-the-air updates to tens of thousands of devices.
- Developed the back-end API and CI/CD for the CollegeBoard's AP student assessment and teacher dashboard system used in high school classrooms across America.
- Served as the system administrator for a digital animation movie studio.
- Operated a two-developer Drupal development company that specialized in eCommerce.
- Leveraged the free GitHub actions platform to eliminate self-hosting pet Jenkins servers when building and deploying AWS microservices.
Technologies: AWS CloudFormation, Terraform, Android, Docker, Ansible, Kubernetes, Python, Go
2010 - PRESENT
Senior Systems Engineer
FlightLookup
- Migrated two in-house data centers to AWS and Linode cloud providers for significant cost reductions for this global flight-matching system.
- Introduced Agile methodologies to existing development house. Automated the entire build, validate, and deliver pipeline from scratch.
- Continuously found and executed cost-saving opportunities as technologies improve for this veteran company for a decade.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Linode, Python
2015 - 2017
Software Engineer
AcademicMerit/CollegeBoard
- Contributed as part of the small team that won the CollegeBoard contract to build the AP student assessment application used across American classrooms.
- Leveraged Amazon SQS to manage two-way database reconciliation on a nightly basis between multiple stakeholders.
- Automated Blue/Gold production deployments in order to speed up client validation of new features.
Technologies: AWS CloudFormation, Jenkins, JavaScript, Python
2010 - 2012
System Adminstrator
LinePlot Production, LLC
- Acted as the UNIX administrator for a movie studio's in-house render farm.
- Automated the nightly renderings of terabytes of film data.
- Implemented the fiber-channel SAN network for artists' digital workstations.
Technologies: Ansible, Python, Cisco, Dell EMC, Linux
1998 - 2007
UNIX Systems Administrator
SAIC- Science Applications International Corporation
- Designed floating datacenters for the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Naval Oceanographic, and the Army Corps of Engineers.
- Traveled most of the major seaports in America to support ongoing data collection operations.
- Provided tech support for two Rhode Island offices with over 100 employees each.
Technologies: Red Hat Linux
Experience
FlightLookup, Inc
http://flightlookup.com/A C/C++ embeddable flight route engine that traverses the graph across multiple carriers' route data up to a year in advance. I transitioned this company from away from manual spreadsheet checklists to cloud-hosted and automated CI/CD pipelines for monthly data processing and weekly mobile app updates.
FineTune Learning
https://www.finetunelearning.comA Python back-end/React.js front-end application that the CollegeBoard uses to administer student and teacher certification assessments across American classrooms. Millions of AP students have used the app, and the back end makes recommendations to teachers based on assessment results.
Skills
Languages
Python, JavaScript, PHP 7, Go
Tools
Ansible, SaltStack, AWS CloudFormation, Jenkins, Packer, Terraform, GitLab CI/CD, Dell EMC
Paradigms
Agile Software Development, Continuous Delivery (CD), Continuous Integration (CI), REST
Platforms
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Android, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Linode, Red Hat Linux, ARM Linux, Azure
Storage
MySQL, Elasticsearch, Redis
Other
Backup & Recovery, Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP), Cisco, APIs
Education
1998 - 2000
Associates Degree in Computer Science
Community College of Rhode Island - Warwick, RI
Certifications
JUNE 2021 - PRESENT
Certified Kubernetes Administrator
Linuxfoundation.org
JANUARY 2014 - PRESENT
SaltStack Certified Engineer
SaltStack
JUNE 2004 - PRESENT
RedHat Certified Engineer
Red Hat