Senior Engineer | Python and GraphQL
2020 - 2021Tellimer- Created the QraphQL back end for parsel.ai, a machine learning SAAS offering.
- Worked on migrating existing applications to be hosted as serverless applications (AWS Lambda).
- Created a serverless application to source news from third-party providers.
- Added payments on tellimer.com using stripe. This involved extending the existing GraphQL API.
- Created serverless workflows using AWS Step Functions to integrate with external services.
- Created GraphQL APIs with AppSync, connecting various data sources like DynamoDB & RDS.
- Built a serverless app that periodically maintains the sitemap for various web apps.
- Integrated with Stripe for SAAS subscriptions, to collect payments.
- Architected an article recommender and an article summarizer for tellimer.com.
Technologies: Python, Serverless, AWS Lambda, TypeScript, MemSQL, GraphQL, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon Cognito, Amazon EC2 (Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud), Amazon SQS, AWS, AWS Step Functions, Amazon DynamoDB, AWS AppSync, Datadog, Algolia, Stripe API, Python 3Senior Software Developer
2018 - 2019Toptal client- Created a public-facing web application with a serverless framework.
- Created a serverless back end in Python on AWS Lambda and API Gateway.
- Developed and maintained the front end, implemented with AngularJS.
- Optimized the cost resulting in more than 50% saving on the AWS bill.
- Mentored developers, involved in planning and reviewed pull requests.
- Improved performance by reengineering caching on CloudFront/S3.
- Created serverless workflows using AWS Step Functions to integrate with external services.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), AngularJS, Python, Serverless, AWSSoftware Development Engineer
2017 - 2018Amazon- Developed the orchestration platform that processes Amazon’s catalog. The platform is able to handle tens of thousands of TPS, enabling the finest and largest catalog on earth.
- Added further functionality to a Node.js service which is a high TPS REST service for diff analysis.
- Refactored an orchestration engine which consumes Kinesis and calls downstream services such that the application can be started without any dependencies, thus enabling performance testing of the core.
- Supported the reconciliation engine (Java 8) that generates the retail catalog.
- Carried out live migrations of several web services without downtime. Successfully deprecated multiple legacy services in an effort to simplify the overall architecture and enable catalog growth.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Docker, JavaScript, Elasticsearch, PostgreSQL, DevOps, Agile, Spring, Linux, Node.js, AWS, Perl, JavaSenior Software Engineer
2013 - 2017Intertech- Supported the workflow engine (C#, Windows service) serving banking applications such as loans, customer complaints etc.
- Set up elastic to index workflow engine documents, enabling powerful search mechanisms for the end user.
- Designed and implemented a workforce management system that empowers the bank's operation center. This project got an award: https://www.bai.org/globalinnovations/awards/2017-winners/2017-internal-process-innovation-award.
Technologies: DevOps, JavaScript, Unit Testing, Agile, REST, Elasticsearch, Microsoft SQL Server, C#, .NETSenior Software Engineer
2011 - 2013Ziraat Teknoloji (formerly Fintek)- Designed and implemented workflow engine running on top of Oracle, serving over 100,000 workflow instances daily.
- Served as scrum master and mentored junior developers.
- Created a workflow designer & simulator for the workflow engine.
Technologies: Oracle, Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), WinForms, C#, .NETSoftware Engineer
2010 - 2011AirTies Wireless Networks- Implemented Teletext for the IPTV set-top box using C++.
- Developed a subtitle parser in C, which was embedded in the IPTV set-top boxes.
- Implemented a high-performance transport stream parser in C.
Technologies: Perl, Python, IPTV, RTSP, Linux, BusyBox, C++, CSoftware Engineer
2009 - 2009CC Yazılım- Designed and implemented a cross-platform desktop client in C++ utilizing wxWidgets GUI toolkit. The client database is SQLite.
- Designed and implemented the corresponding backup server in Java (J2SE). An application-level protocol is implemented for client-server communication, secured via SSL (OpenSSL). Stored files are encrypted (AES).
- Designed (visual design excluded) and implemented a web portal for serving online backup users. Users can download/browse backed up files through the portal. MySQL, Apache web server, and django framework are utilized.
Technologies: SQLite, Apache HTTP Server, MySQL, OpenSSL, wxPython, Django, Python, wxWidgets, C++, Java
Selçuk Cihan
Serverless Developer in Istanbul, Turkey
Member since October 9, 2018
Selcuk is a polyglot technologist with a focus on scalable backend services in the web ecosystem. As an ex-Amazonian, he crafts solutions by putting the customer first and ensuring operational excellence. Comfortable taking on work in any tech stack - though Serverless, TypeScript, and Python have been a recurring theme in the past few years for him. Selcuk holds bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science.
Selçuk is now available for hire
Portfolio
- TellimerPython, Serverless, AWS Lambda, TypeScript, MemSQL, GraphQL...
- Toptal clientAmazon Web Services (AWS), AngularJS, Python, Serverless, AWS
- AmazonAmazon Web Services (AWS), Docker, JavaScript, Elasticsearch, PostgreSQL...
Experience
- JavaScript 5 years
- REST APIs 5 years
- Serverless 5 years
- Amazon DynamoDB 5 years
- AWS 5 years
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) 5 years
- TypeScript 4 years
- Serverless Framework 4 years
Availability
Full-time
Preferred Environment
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Serverless, AWS, Unix, Python, Node.js, TypeScript, Datadog, Elasticsearch, PostgreSQL
The most amazing...
...project I've done is migrating from SQL to a managed NoSQL database without down time, involving three different services and over 20 different clients.
Employment
Experience
- Parsel.ai (Machine Learning App)http://parsel.ai
I implemented the serverless back end for parsel.ai. Built it using AppSync, Lambda, and DynamoDB. Involved in all phases of the application development, from designing the API to setting up alarms and dashboards and handling operational work.
- Sourcing financial news from external providershttps://tellimer.com/channels
I created a serverless application using the serverless framework with TypeScript, involving S3, SQS, SNS, Lambda, and EventBridge. The application integrates third-party APIs to gather news feeds and categorizes them to present to customers.
- Twitter Friends Maphttps://twheat-map.selcukcihan.com/
A side project that displays the locations of the people you follow on Twitter. The front end is written with React, the back end is serverless on AWS with Node.js runtime. It's a simple project to demonstrate how a fully serverless application can be built.
- Tetris with Reacthttp://tetris.selcukcihan.com/
Simple Tetris game built with React. This is a toy project to show how ReactJS can be used. You can play the game on tetris.selcukcihan.com. There is also a blog post (in Turkish) on https://blog.selcukcihan.com/web-development/reactris/ about the development process.
Skills
Languages
PHP, JavaScript, Java, SQL, Python 3, Python 2, C#, Perl, Python, C++, C, TypeScript, GraphQLLibraries/APIs
REST APIs, Node.js, React, Stripe APITools
Amazon CloudWatch, Amazon SQS, Amazon Cognito, AWS IAM, AWS CloudFormation, AWS Step Functions, AWS AppSync, Pytest, Auth0Paradigms
Unit Testing, DevOps, Agile, Jamstack, RESTPlatforms
Amazon EC2 (Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud), AWS Kinesis, Linux, Docker, AWS Lambda, Unix, Amazon Web Services (AWS), AlgoliaStorage
Amazon DynamoDB, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), NoSQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle SQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Elasticsearch, MongoDB, DatadogFrameworks
Django, Spring, Serverless Framework, AngularJS, JestOther
Amazon API Gateway, AWS, Serverless, Graph Theory, Distributed Systems, Wireless Networking, Computer Vision, Computer Science
Education
- Master's Degree in Computer Engineering2008 - 2010Bogazici University - İstanbul, Turkey
- Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering2003 - 2008Bogazici University - İstanbul, Turkey
Certifications
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect ProfessionalJUNE 2022 - JUNE 2025Amazon Web Services
- AWS Certified Developer - AssociateSEPTEMBER 2019 - SEPTEMBER 2022Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect - AssociateSEPTEMBER 2019 - SEPTEMBER 2022Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- AWS Certified Cloud PractitionerJUNE 2019 - JUNE 2022Amazon Web Services (AWS)
