Lu is available for hire
Hire LuLu Xin
Verified Expert in Engineering
Cloud Architect, DevOps Engineer, and Developer
Location
Edmonton, AB, Canada
Toptal Member Since
March 15, 2023
Lu has amassed over two decades of experience in the IT industry, with six years specializing as a cloud architect and SRE. His expertise spans cloud architecture design, IaC, CI/CD, VPC and IAM management, security, reliability engineering, performance optimization, cost management, compliance and governance, and disaster recovery planning. Lu boasts extensive experience across various domains, encompassing Government e-Services, law enforcement and justice, finance, and healthcare industries.
Portfolio
CloudMinds Solutions INC.
Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Python 3, Terraform, Jira, .NET, BigQuery, Looker...
City of Edmonton, AB
Cloud Architecture, NGINX, Terraform, Jenkins...
Edmonton Police Service
C#, .NET, Visual Studio, SQL, TFS, Windows PowerShell, Web Development...
Experience
Availability
Full-time
Preferred Environment
Google Cloud Platform (GCP), BigQuery, Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), Jenkins, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), DevOps, Terraform, CI/CD Pipelines, TFS, Git
The most amazing...
...achievement was saving $26,000 (20%) annually by optimizing data transfers of 11TB/day via ELT/ETL processes and resource allocation for BigQuery and Fivetran.
Work Experience
SRE | Cloud Architect
2023 - PRESENT
CloudMinds Solutions INC.
- Utilized Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles with Terraform to fully automate AWS and GCP infrastructure management. Established and managed robust CI/CD pipelines for seamless ETL/ELT workflow deployment automation.
- Instituted cost control strategies, conducted cost analyses, and produced budget reports. Saved $26,000 (20%) annually by optimizing data transfers of 11TB/day through streamlined ELT/ETL processes and resource allocation for BigQuery and Fivetran.
- Designed and implemented a set of GCP-based cost/usage metrics for Fivetran and DBT, facilitating real-time anomaly detection in high-volume data streams, thereby elevating system reliability and availability.
- Implemented comprehensive infrastructure management, including VPC, IAM, and data governance protocols, to enforce secure access controls and protect critical data.
Technologies: Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Python 3, Terraform, Jira, .NET, BigQuery, Looker, Azure, Kubernetes, Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), Load Balancers, Google Cloud Functions, Node.js, Cloud Environments, Back-end Performance, Database Performance, Cloud Engineering, DDoS, System Administration, Continuous Integration (CI), Microservices, Microservices Architecture, JavaScript, JSON Web Tokens (JWT), Identity & Access Management (IAM), Google, Container Orchestration
Google Cloud Architect | SRE
2022 - PRESENT
City of Edmonton, AB
- Designed and implemented a seamless GCP integration for the City of Edmonton, enabling smooth web application migration and enhancing data engineering efficiency within hybrid network environments.
- Utilized infrastructure as code (IaC) principles with Terraform to fully automate GCP infrastructure management.
- Successfully implemented cross-cloud Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines on Azure and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) to streamline software development and deployment workflows.
- Led the development of a proof of concept (PoC) and architectural plan for migrating and reengineering the City of Edmonton tax reporting system, transitioning it from on-premises infrastructure to Google Cloud utilizing Google Kubernetes Engine.
- Effectively bolstered security and thwarted DoS attacks across multiple legacy web systems through seamless integration of reCAPTCHA.
Technologies: Cloud Architecture, NGINX, Terraform, Jenkins, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), DevOps, Networking, Leadership, Docker, Google Cloud SQL, Google Cloud Storage, Google Compute Engine (GCE), Monitoring, Security, GitHub, Pub/Sub, Google Cloud, Google Cloud/Suite, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Infrastructure, Data Engineering, Django, Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), SSH, Content Delivery Networks (CDN), Cloud Security, IT Security, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Networks, Google Cloud Functions, Node.js, Cloud Environments, Back-end Performance, Database Performance, Cloud Engineering, DDoS, System Administration, Continuous Integration (CI), Microservices, Microservices Architecture, JavaScript, JSON Web Tokens (JWT), Identity & Access Management (IAM), Google, Container Orchestration, Windows
Senior System Analyst
2016 - 2021
Edmonton Police Service
- Led the analysis of integration requirements for the Hexagon computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and Niche record management systems (RMS), conducted technology research, and oversaw prototype design and evaluation.
- Designed a CI/CD pipeline using PowerShell, enabling seamless automation of CAD system updates and optimizing infrastructure maintenance and patching processes.
- Successfully managed the implementation of the enterprise system bus (ESB) component within the computer-aided dispatching system.
- Provided continuous 24/7 on-call technical support and assistance for the 911 emergency communication center.
Technologies: C#, .NET, Visual Studio, SQL, TFS, Windows PowerShell, Web Development, Test Automation, Monitoring, Security, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Infrastructure, SSH, Remote Desktop, IT Security, Networks, Back-end Performance, Database Performance, System Administration, Continuous Integration (CI), JavaScript, JSON Web Tokens (JWT), Windows
Deployment Lead
2014 - 2016
Government of Alberta
- Established and maintained end-to-end CI/CD pipelines using Windows Build Server to automate the complete deployment process for the Alberta Land Title System across various environments.
- Automated procedures for creating and maintaining testing and production environments, streamlining processes for efficiency and reliability.
- Managed TFS Server and MS Build Server, focusing on branch management and the administration of CI/CD pipelines.
- Skillfully facilitated communication and coordination among the development team, testing team, technical support team, and business users. Ensured smooth deployment procedures with minimal impact on each team.
- Led the analysis of system integration requirements, conducted architecture and technology requirement research, and oversaw prototype design and evaluation for the Alberta Land Title Registry System.
Technologies: TFS, Visual Studio, Microsoft Build Server, C#, NuGet, SQL, CI/CD Pipelines, Windows PowerShell, DevOps, Leadership, Web Development, Project Design & Management, Test Automation, Security, GitHub, Infrastructure, SSH, Remote Desktop, System Administration, Continuous Integration (CI), JavaScript, JSON Web Tokens (JWT), Windows
Senior Integration Engineer
2012 - 2015
Servus Credit Union
- Led the comprehensive analysis, architecture design, technology research, prototype development, and evaluation for a $12 million Servus core banking system integration project.
- Oversaw the design and implementation of the Servus E-transfer B2B gateway, including infrastructure setup and the creation of a proof of concept (PoC).
- Spearheaded the creation of a PoC and architecture for integrating an interactive voice response (IVR) system on the cloud with the core banking system through the B2B gateway.
- Devised and managed a robust plan for migrating extensive historical data using SSIS.
- Translated and managed web service schemas, enabling cross-agency utilization and concurrent system development by implementing a robust unit test harness.
- Provided round-the-clock support for Servus core bank systems.
Technologies: XML, Visual Studio, C#, Integration, XML Schema, CI/CD Pipelines, Monitoring, Linux, SSH, Remote Desktop, IT Security, Back-end Performance, Database Performance, System Administration, Continuous Integration (CI), JavaScript, JSON Web Tokens (JWT), Windows
Senior System Analyst
2011 - 2012
Government of Alberta
- Led the technology analysis, planning, architecture, and implementation of the Alberta Land Title Documentation Submission System.
- Reengineered the deployment package build engine. Smoothly and seamlessly deployed the system to each environment.
- Managed and migrated source code and documentation using the TFS server and SharePoint portal.
- Provided technical help desk support for the Alberta Land Title Management System.
Technologies: C#, Visual Studio, SQL, TFS, Web Development, SSH, Remote Desktop, Database Performance, System Administration, Continuous Integration (CI), JavaScript, Windows
Enterprise System Analyst
2008 - 2011
Fujitsu Consulting
- Performed technology analysis, planning, architecture, and implementation for the exam scan and synchronization system.
- Produced and managed business and function use case documentation.
- Devised and managed a massive data migration plan and migrated massive historical data.
- Created and managed an SQL database, including tables, views, store procedures, functions, and triggers.
- Built and maintained n-tier web and windows applications using VS.NET 2003/2010, VB.NET, ASP.NET, ADO.NET, XML, Windows Services, WCF, MS SQL Server 2005/2008, JavaScript, SQL Server Reporting Services, and Crystal Reports.
- Designed test cases and performed unit, integrated, and performance testing.
- Developed a system deployment package and deployed the system to the UAT and production environments.
- Investigated and fixed system errors with data- and code-based hotfixes.
- Provided system support, customer training, and technical help desk services.
Technologies: C#, Visual Studio, VB.NET, SQL, ASP.NET, SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), Microsoft Data Transformation Services (now SSIS), Crystal Reports, Web Development, Project Design & Management, JavaScript, Windows
Senior Software Engineer
2007 - 2008
Epocal Inc. (acquired by Siemens Healthineers)
- Led system requirement specification creation, requirement analysis, end-to-end system architecture design, and data structure design.
- Created and maintained system design documentation.
- Designed the database structure and used Microsoft Enterprise Library to streamline configurations and the process between the front end, middle tier, and database.
- Built n-tier web applications using Visual Studio .NET 2005, VB.NET, C#, ASP.NET, ADO.NET, XML, Ajax, SQL Server 2005, Java Script, NUnit, Infragistics 6.5, CodeSmith, and Crystal Reports 10.
- Developed the test plan, created test cases, and performed unit, integrated, and system testing.
- Implemented web servers and Windows services and applications.
Technologies: ASP.NET, Bluetooth, C#, Visual Studio, Web Development, Project Design & Management, JavaScript, Windows
Senior System Analyst
2006 - 2007
TechInsights
- Created the chip data source management system to automate the procedure for managing semiconductor chips.
- Implemented the analysis report management and searching system for managing and indexing analysis reports.
- Provided network and intranet application technical support and end user training.
Technologies: C#, ASP.NET, SharePoint, Visual Studio, Crystal Reports, Web Development, Project Design & Management, Subversion (SVN), JavaScript, Windows
System Analyst
2006 - 2006
excelHR
- Developed and implemented the resume index search engine.
- Designed and implemented the HR contract management system.
- Provided technical support and training for end users.
Technologies: ASP.NET, Visual Studio, SQL, Microsoft Access, VB.NET, Web Development, Project Design & Management, Subversion (SVN), JavaScript, Windows
Full-stack Engineer
2004 - 2005
IES Group Inc.
- Developed n-tier web and Windows applications and services using Visual Basic 6, Visual Studio .NET, VB.NET, C#, ASP.NET, ADO.NET, XML, SQL Server, and Crystal Reports 9.1, 9.5, 10, and 11.
- Created documentation for user requirements, function design, and technical design.
- Maintained the SQL and Crystal Reports servers and created and updated SQL database objects and Crystal Reports.
- Designed the database structure and used Microsoft Enterprise Library to streamline configurations and processes between the middle tier and SQL Server.
- Conducted unit, integration, system, and performance testing.
- Performed application support and administration and database replication and backup.
- Provided end user training and 24/7 technical support.
Technologies: ASP.NET, C#, SQL, VB.NET, Crystal Reports, TFS, Windows Server, Web Development, Project Design & Management, Subversion (SVN), JavaScript, Windows
Experience
City of Edmonton | My Property System
https://myproperty.edmonton.ca/The City of Edmonton manages a sophisticated property assessment and tax management system serving approximately one million citizens. This system is deployed on an Autopilot Kubernetes cluster hosted on the Google Cloud Platform, ensuring the highest levels of efficiency and reliability.
Service Alberta Land Title Registry System
https://www.alberta.ca/land-titles.aspxThis is a government-operated enterprise system widely utilized by millions of users across the province. It is a vital platform for both residences and legal professionals, enabling them to securely transfer and register land titles while obtaining relevant certificates.
Service Alberta Apprenticeship, Trade, and Occupation Management System (ATOMS)
https://www.alberta.ca/apprenticeship-industry-training.aspxThis is a critical government enterprise system that manages millions of apprentices across the entire province. It is a comprehensive system that serves as a central platform for all aspiring apprentices seeking education and certification, allowing them to register and meticulously track their study progress, work experience, and exam records. Moreover, employers also utilize the system to audit and evaluate their apprentices, underscoring the vital role played by ATOMS in ensuring the successful education and training of apprentices throughout the province.
Skills
Languages
JavaScript, SQL, Python, C#, XML, VB.NET, VBScript, Python 3
Frameworks
Windows PowerShell, JSON Web Tokens (JWT), .NET, Windows Workflow Foundation, AppFabric, ASP.NET, Django
Tools
Visual Studio, Terraform, Google Compute Engine (GCE), Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), GitHub, Informatica ETL, TFS, NuGet, NGINX, Jenkins, Crystal Reports, Microsoft Access, SoapUI, Jira, BigQuery, Looker, Subversion (SVN), Git
Paradigms
DevOps, Continuous Integration (CI), Microservices, Microservices Architecture, Test Automation, DDoS, Automated Testing, Test-driven Development (TDD)
Platforms
Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Windows, Kubernetes, Azure, Docker, SharePoint, Windows Server, Linux, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Storage
Google Cloud Storage, Google Cloud, Cloud Environments, Google Cloud SQL, Database Performance, XML Schema, SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), MySQL
Other
Networking, Cloud Architecture, Load Balancers, Cloud, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), Web Development, Monitoring, Pub/Sub, Google Cloud/Suite, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Infrastructure, Cloud Engineering, Identity & Access Management (IAM), Google, Container Orchestration, CI/CD Pipelines, Leadership, Project Design & Management, Security, Data Engineering, SSH, Remote Desktop, Content Delivery Networks (CDN), Cloud Security, IT Security, Networks, Google Cloud Functions, Back-end Performance, System Administration, IT Project Management, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Civil Engineering, Microsoft Build Server, Integration, Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), IIS, Microsoft Data Transformation Services (now SSIS), Bluetooth, Microsoft Build, SSIS Custom Components, PDF, SaaS, Machine Learning
Libraries/APIs
LINQ, Node.js
Education
2001 - 2004
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science with Software Engineering Specialization
University of Western Ontario - London, Ontario, Canada
1992 - 1996
Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering
Yantai University - Yantai Shandong, China
Certifications
OCTOBER 2022 - OCTOBER 2024
GCP Professional Cloud Network Engineer
Google Cloud
SEPTEMBER 2022 - SEPTEMBER 2024
GCP Professional Cloud Architect
Google Cloud
AUGUST 2022 - AUGUST 2024
GCP Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer
Google Cloud
MARCH 2022 - PRESENT
BetterCloud Certified Administrator
BetterCloud
AUGUST 2021 - PRESENT
Microsoft Certified Azure AI Fundamentals
Microsoft
OCTOBER 2020 - PRESENT
Data Integration Developer
Informatica
JULY 2005 - PRESENT
Microsoft Certified Solution Developer
Microsoft
JULY 2005 - PRESENT
Project Management
Kennedy College of Technology
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