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Michael Sterle-Contala, Cloud Engineer and Developer in Berlin, Germany
Michael Sterle-Contala

Cloud Engineer and Developer in Berlin, Germany

Member since December 27, 2021
Michael has been delivering software solutions for over 15 years, specializing in distributed systems and data applications. After starting his career as a self-employed, he has spent ten years in the industry and has returned to freelance work to bring his experience to a broader range of clients and projects. Michael is most interested in roles as an architect, developer, and adviser for distributed systems development, data and ML implementations, and cloud configuration and management.
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Portfolio

  • Shopify
    Apache Kafka, Datadog, APIs, Service-oriented Architecture (SOA), JavaScript...
  • 3Box
    IPFS, TypeScript, Docker, Amazon S3 (AWS S3)...
  • Element AI
    Python, PyTorch, Kubernetes, ELK (Elastic Stack), Grafana, Prometheus, OpenCV...

Experience

Location

Berlin, Germany

Availability

Full-time

Preferred Environment

Python, Node.js, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Docker, Kubernetes, APIs, DevOps, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Microservices, CloudOps

The most amazing...

...thing I've built is a traffic prediction system for the Port of Montreal, allowing truck drivers to better plan their routes and reduce carbon emissions.

Employment

  • Software Engineer

    2020 - 2021
    Shopify
    • Led projects to improve global shipping performance by designing instrumentation to measure and optimize accuracy and timeliness.
    • Created best practices for data collection and analysis in the shipping domain.
    • Improved Shopify's product-market fit for French and German merchants through new regional features.
    Technologies: Apache Kafka, Datadog, APIs, Service-oriented Architecture (SOA), JavaScript, GraphQL, REST, Shopify, Shopify API, Buildkite, Continuous Integration (CI), Monitoring, Logging, Events, Shipping Management, Shipping, Internationalization, EMEA, SaaS, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Algorithms, SQL, CI/CD Pipelines, GitHub, Git, Agile, Code Review, Source Code Review, Technical Hiring, Task Analysis, HTML, CSS, Docker, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Test-driven Development (TDD), Concurrency, React, Architecture, Distributed Software, Relational Databases, REST APIs, JSON, Webhook, API Development, API Integration, Technical Documentation, eCommerce, Automation, Full-stack, Web Development, System Design, Technical Leadership, Scalable Architecture, Software Design, RDBMS, Technical Project Management, Agile Project Management, Project Management, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), System Architecture, Back-end, System Architecture Design, Application Architecture, Project Management & Work Tracking Tools, Ruby, RESTful Web Services

  • Distributed Systems Engineer

    2019 - 2020
    3Box
    • Decentralized the core identity product by implementing peer-to-peer address resolution.
    • Scaled the network architecture to allow federated nodes for partners.
    • Contributed to the Ceramic protocol implementation.
    Technologies: IPFS, TypeScript, Docker, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Amazon Elastic Container Service (Amazon ECS), Terraform, JavaScript, CircleCI, Docker Compose, Serverless Framework, AWS Lambda, Amazon CloudWatch, Serverless, Functional Programming, Decentralized Applications, Decentralized Systems, Peer-to-peer Networking, P2P, APIs, API Design, Distributed Systems, Software Architecture, DevOps, CloudOps, Continuous Integration (CI), Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Algorithms, Database Management, CI/CD Pipelines, Network Architecture, Redis, Databases, GitHub, Git, Agile, Code Review, Source Code Review, Technical Hiring, Task Analysis, CSS, HTML, Microservices, Build Automation, MinIO, Prototype-based OOP, OOP Designs, Monitoring, NGINX, Concurrency, Amazon API Gateway, Serverless Architecture, Jest, Architecture, Distributed Software, AWS SDK, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS), AWS CloudFormation, Amazon Route 53, JSON, API Development, Lambda Functions, API Integration, IT Systems Architecture, Technical Documentation, Cloud, Container Orchestration, System Design, Scalable Architecture, Software Design, Linux, RDBMS, Technical Project Management, Agile Project Management, Cloud Architecture, Technical Leadership, Project Management, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), System Architecture, Back-end, Microservices Architecture, System Architecture Design, Application Architecture, Project Management & Work Tracking Tools, RESTful Web Services

  • AI Developer

    2018 - 2019
    Element AI
    • Led the development process on a mixed-discipline team that brought a truck wait time predictor for the Port of Montreal into production.
    • Developed a suite of modeling tools to augment businesses' input and decision-making processes with large volumes of manual data entry.
    • Built an internal solution for one-button containerized deployment, training, and performance tracking of probabilistic models.
    Technologies: Python, PyTorch, Kubernetes, ELK (Elastic Stack), Grafana, Prometheus, OpenCV, Amazon EC2, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), MinIO, Docker Compose, Helm, Computer Vision, Time Series Analysis, Functional Programming, AIOps, Flask, Flask-RESTful, API Design, Distributed Systems, Microservices, Service-oriented Architecture (SOA), Software Architecture, DevOps, Continuous Integration (CI), CircleCI, Drone CI, NumPy, Scikit-learn, 12 Factor, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Agile, REST, GraphQL, Multithreading, Concurrency, Algorithms, Database Management, Database Management Systems (DBMS), PostgreSQL, Git, GitHub, Jira, SQL, CI/CD Pipelines, Network Architecture, Redis, Databases, Code Review, Source Code Review, Technical Hiring, Task Analysis, CSS, HTML, Docker, Terraform, Ansible, CloudOps, Build Automation, Amazon Elastic Container Service (Amazon ECS), OOP Designs, Monitoring, Events, NGINX, Swagger, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Architecture, Distributed Software, Relational Databases, REST APIs, Elasticsearch, AWS SDK, Pandas, Data Collection, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Python 3, Azure, Predictive Modeling, Deep Learning, Machine Learning, Amazon Route 53, JSON, Amazon ElastiCache, API Development, Lambda Functions, Pipelines, API Integration, IT Systems Architecture, Technical Documentation, Automation, Cloud, Container Orchestration, System Design, Technical Leadership, Scalable Architecture, Software Design, Linux, Conda, PIP, RDBMS, Pytest, Technical Project Management, Agile Project Management, Cloud Architecture, Project Management, SQLAlchemy, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Leadership, Team Leadership, System Architecture, Back-end, Microservices Architecture, System Architecture Design, Application Architecture, Project Management & Work Tracking Tools, RESTful Web Services, Serverless, AWS Lambda, AWS Simple Notification Service (SNS)

  • Software Developer

    2017 - 2018
    Shutterstock
    • Led the design and development of an API to serve both the website and other clients. Performed JSON API implementation for remote relational queries while maintaining REST compliance.
    • Helped migrate a video website from monolithic to microservice-based.
    • Developed CI and monitoring pipelines for a video API.
    Technologies: Node.js, APIs, Sumo Logic, New Relic, Microservices, Jenkins, Kubernetes, REST, JSON API, Helm, Test-driven Development (TDD), Build Automation, Continuous Delivery (CD), Continuous Integration (CI), Functional Programming, Prototype-based OOP, OOP Designs, Software Architecture, API Design, DevOps, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Algorithms, MySQL, MariaDB, Database Management Systems (DBMS), SQL, Database Management, CI/CD Pipelines, Express.js, Distributed Systems, Redis, Databases, Jira, GitHub, Git, Agile, Code Review, Source Code Review, Technical Hiring, Task Analysis, HTML, CSS, Docker, JavaScript, Service-oriented Architecture (SOA), 12 Factor, Monitoring, Concurrency, Swagger, TypeScript, Amazon API Gateway, React, MongoDB, Jest, Architecture, Distributed Software, Relational Databases, REST APIs, NoSQL, JSON, Webhook, Amazon ElastiCache, API Development, Lambda Functions, API Integration, IT Systems Architecture, Technical Documentation, Automation, Cloud, Container Orchestration, Web Development, System Design, Technical Leadership, Scalable Architecture, Software Design, Linux, RDBMS, Technical Project Management, Agile Project Management, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cloud Architecture, Project Management, Leadership, Team Leadership, System Architecture, Back-end, Microservices Architecture, System Architecture Design, Application Architecture, Project Management & Work Tracking Tools, RESTful Web Services, Graph Databases, Neo4j

  • Web Developer

    2006 - 2016
    Freelancer
    • Developed and maintained websites and web apps for clients including the Cement Association of Canada, Bitchin' Kitchen, and Monde Osé.
    • Built Joomla and WordPress custom extensions to suit clients' requirements.
    • Provided technical training to clients and their partners.
    Technologies: PHP, JavaScript, CodeIgniter, Joomla, WordPress, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, LAMP, Adobe Creative Suite, SQL, MySQL, Database Management Systems (DBMS), Database Management, Databases, Task Analysis, HTML, CSS, Magento, Architecture, Relational Databases, NoSQL, JSON, Webhook, API Integration, Technical Documentation, eCommerce, Full-stack, Web Development, Software Design, Linux, RDBMS, Technical Project Management, Project Management, System Architecture, Back-end, System Architecture Design, Application Architecture, Project Management & Work Tracking Tools, RESTful Web Services

  • Research Assistant

    2013 - 2015
    Shared Reality Lab — McGill University
    • Coordinated and led the development of research pilot projects in the first response and disaster recovery fields.
    • Developed an augmented reality training system for first responders in partnership with US Ignite and the Bonner Springs Fire Department.
    • Took over and delivered the real-time emergency response project, allowing emergency operation coordinators to collect and manage citizen-sourced live video for disaster response.
    Technologies: Go, Angular, JavaScript, Android, Google Glass, Augmented Reality (AR), Web Video, Databases, Database Management, Database Management Systems (DBMS), SQL, Algorithms, FFmpeg, Mobile, GitHub, Git, Source Code Review, Code Review, Task Analysis, HTML, CSS, Microservices, MySQL, Functional Programming, Architecture, Distributed Software, C++, Java, JSON, API Development, API Integration, IT Systems Architecture, Full-stack, Web Development, System Design, Software Design, Linux, RDBMS, Technical Project Management, Project Management, System Architecture, Back-end, Microservices Architecture, System Architecture Design, Project Management & Work Tracking Tools, RESTful Web Services

  • Developer and Network Administrator

    2012 - 2013
    Blind Ferret Entertainment
    • Scaled and extended Blind Ferret's offering of webhosting and advertising solutions for webcomic publishers.
    • Built websites and provided support for webcomic publishing partners.
    • Reduced intrusions through improvements to security tools and policies, code auditing and network restructuring.
    • Developed tools and dashboards to track ad performance by campaign and inventory.
    Technologies: WordPress, Magento, JavaScript, Google Analytics, Puppet, MySQL, PHP, Email Marketing Automation, CodeIgniter, HAProxy, LAMP, NGINX, Network Architecture, Databases, Task Analysis, HTML, CSS, Distributed Software, JSON, Webhook, API Integration, IT Systems Architecture, Technical Documentation, eCommerce, Full-stack, Web Development, RDBMS, Adtech, Ads, Project Management, System Architecture, Back-end

  • Analyst, Internet Solutions

    2011 - 2012
    BDC
    • Developed metrics to be used in clients' marketing strategy and website analysis.
    • Performed analysis on the site's design and infrastructure, SEO, and social media presence.
    • Built individualized web presence optimization roadmaps for clients.
    • Conducted client-facing investigative interviews and report delivery.
    Technologies: SEO Marketing, Website Audits, Social Media Marketing (SMM), CSS, HTML, Google Analytics, Technical Documentation

Experience

  • Port Truck Wait Time Predictor API
    https://www.portmtlcamions.com/

    Led a mixed-discipline team to develop an API to predict truck wait times for the Port of Montreal into production. Spearheaded on-site deployment and monitoring in a strictly-controlled data environment.

  • Real-time Emergency Response
    http://srl.mcgill.ca/projects/rter

    Led this project in the field of disaster recovery that allows citizen-sourced video and positional information to be relayed to a command center where incoming streams can be categorized and prioritized through a collaborative web-based platform.

  • Augmented Reality Tools for Improved Training of First Responders
    http://srl.mcgill.ca/projects/responder

    Led a project that complements existing training tools for first responders by equipping trainees with a heads-up display unit that presents an augmented reality interface. This unit allows communication between responders and the training coordinator and displays location beacons and a “breadcrumb” trail even when vision is obscured.

  • Shutterstock Footage API

    I led the design and development of an API to serve both the Shutterstock Footage website and partner clients. I implemented JSON API standards for remote relational queries while maintaining REST compliance.

  • Serverless AI Model Evaluation Pipeline

    Architected and developed a serverless pipeline to evaluate AI model performance in the speech analysis and speech synthesis domain. The pipeline guides rapid research iteration by allowing on-demand model comparison in a scalable cloud environment.
    • Allows running datasets against multiple models, storing inferences, and calculating and aggregating performance metrics
    • Integrates with Mechanical Turk to calculate subjective metrics
    • Integrates with Amazon Transcribe to calculate transcript-based metrics
    • Calculates objective scores using audio analysis
    • Manages deployment with AWS SAM using Lambda, API Gateway, Step Functions, MTurk, Transcribe, DynamoDB, and S3
    • Deploys models as Jit artifacts using a generic Docker-based Lambda
    • Performance results are queryable through the client's dashboard solution

Skills

  • Languages

    Python, JavaScript, Python 3, TypeScript, PHP, GraphQL, SQL, HTML, CSS, Go, Java, C++, C#, Ruby

  • Libraries/APIs

    Node.js, REST APIs, API Development, Shopify API, JSON API, Pandas, SQLAlchemy, PyTorch, OpenCV, FFmpeg, Flask-RESTful, NumPy, Scikit-learn, React

  • Paradigms

    DevOps, Microservices, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), REST, Microservices Architecture, Continuous Integration (CI), Continuous Delivery (CD), Functional Programming, Service-oriented Architecture (SOA), Agile, Automation, Application Architecture, Test-driven Development (TDD), Prototype-based OOP, Serverless Architecture, Agile Project Management

  • Platforms

    Docker, Joomla, WordPress, LAMP, Kubernetes, Shopify, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Linux, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Apache Kafka, New Relic, Android, Magento, AWS Lambda, Amazon EC2, Drone CI, Buildkite, Mobile, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Azure

  • Storage

    JSON, Datadog, Redis, PostgreSQL, Databases, Relational Databases, RDBMS, MySQL, MongoDB, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Database Management, Database Management Systems (DBMS), MariaDB, Elasticsearch, NoSQL, Amazon DynamoDB, Graph Databases, Neo4j

  • Other

    APIs, Software Architecture, Distributed Systems, API Design, CI/CD Pipelines, Code Review, Source Code Review, Technical Hiring, Task Analysis, Architecture, Distributed Software, Lambda Functions, API Integration, Web Development, Back-end, System Architecture Design, Project Management & Work Tracking Tools, RESTful Web Services, Prometheus, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), Build Automation, Network Architecture, Serverless, Webhook, IT Systems Architecture, Technical Documentation, eCommerce, Cloud, Container Orchestration, Full-stack, System Design, Technical Leadership, Scalable Architecture, Software Design, PIP, Technical Project Management, Cloud Architecture, Leadership, Team Leadership, System Architecture, IPFS, Web Video, Decentralized Applications, Decentralized Systems, Peer-to-peer Networking, P2P, MinIO, Computer Vision, Time Series Analysis, AIOps, OOP Designs, Natural Language Processing (NLP), 12 Factor, Monitoring, Events, Shipping Management, Shipping, Internationalization, EMEA, SaaS, HAProxy, Multithreading, Concurrency, Algorithms, Amazon API Gateway, Data Collection, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Predictive Modeling, Amazon Route 53, Pipelines, Slack App, Amazon Mechanical Turk, Conda, Adtech, Ads

  • Frameworks

    Express.js, Swagger, Jest, Angular, CodeIgniter, Serverless Framework, Flask, Ruby on Rails (RoR), .NET

  • Tools

    Terraform, ELK (Elastic Stack), Grafana, Ansible, CloudOps, Jenkins, Adobe Creative Suite, GitHub, Pytest, AWS Simple Notification Service (SNS), Sumo Logic, Google Analytics, Puppet, Amazon Elastic Container Service (Amazon ECS), CircleCI, Docker Compose, Amazon CloudWatch, Helm, Logging, NGINX, Git, Jira, AWS SDK, AWS CloudFormation, Amazon ElastiCache, AWS Step Functions, Amazon Transcribe, Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS)

  • Industry Expertise

    Project Management

Certifications

  • Deep Learning Nanodegree
    JANUARY 2019 - PRESENT
    Udacity

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