Stephen is available for hire
Hire StephenStephen Poole
Verified Expert in Engineering
Cloud Architect and Developer
Location
Oxford, United Kingdom
Toptal Member Since
June 9, 2016
Stephen is a cloud architect and DevOps engineer. He graduated from Oxford University in 2012 and since then, has worked as an in-house software engineer and, more recently, freelance. He has worked across the full-stack, but now predominantly works on solutions architecture and developing operational tools, automation, and deployment pipelines.
Portfolio
Curiti Inc.
Python, REST APIs, Architecture, APIs, Integration, Terraform, Amazon DynamoDB...
Bonify, LLC
AWS Auto Scaling, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon EC2, Amazon API Gateway...
Kynec Ltd
Amazon Web Services (AWS), DevOps, DevSecOps, Python, Terraform, Docker...
Experience
Availability
Part-time
Preferred Environment
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
The most amazing...
...platform I've built was a stack to support sports and educational content delivery across Scandinavia and Latin America, using a microservice architecture.
Work Experience
Python Developer
2022 - PRESENT
Curiti Inc.
- Developed a Kinesis stream pipeline to ingest customer interaction data and link to insight-generation and machine learning services.
- Deployed a heterogeneous microservice architecture using a variety of data stores and application technologies.
- Developed migration solutions for data stored in Django models, which had outgrown its relational data store.
Technologies: Python, REST APIs, Architecture, APIs, Integration, Terraform, Amazon DynamoDB, Amazon Kinesis
Senior AWS Consultant
2021 - 2022
Bonify, LLC
- Advised on architectural solutions to scaling issues for an elastic infrastructure project, a rapidly-growing API/webhook application.
- Migrated existing infrastructure to Terraform IaC and established separated environments.
- Advised on data storage and migration options for relational and time-series data.
Technologies: AWS Auto Scaling, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon EC2, Amazon API Gateway, AWS Lambda, MySQL, Terraform
Lead DevSecOps Engineer
2021 - 2021
Kynec Ltd
- Constructed a secure infrastructure to support a financial services application.
- Integrated StreamSets pipelines for ETL data ingestion and processing.
- Developed security procedures and best practices to comply with the requirements of major European financial institutions.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), DevOps, DevSecOps, Python, Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes, StreamSets, ETL, AWS DevOps, Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR), Agile Software Development, CI/CD Pipelines, Amazon RDS, Microservices, Continuous Delivery (CD), Continuous Integration (CI)
Lead Architect
2020 - 2021
Evolution Labs
- Prepared and presented a microservice architecture to replace a monolithic legacy application for an e-learning technology provider.
- Managed a small team developing a piecemeal migration from the legacy application.
- Prepared and implemented the infrastructure to support an application surge loading of up to 150,000 instantaneously-concurrent users, while maintaining tight control on costs through serverless components and auto-scaling.
Technologies: Cloud Architecture, Software Design, Microservices Architecture, Amazon Web Services (AWS), AWS CloudFormation, API Architecture, Software Architecture, DevOps, Amazon DynamoDB, AWS DevOps, AWS Auto Scaling, MongoDB, Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR), Architecture, Agile Software Development, Solution Architecture, CI/CD Pipelines, Amazon RDS, Go, Microservices, Continuous Delivery (CD), Continuous Integration (CI)
Cloud Architecture Consultant
2020 - 2020
Genei Technologies
- Supported the startup team in developing ML-driven NLP tools by advising on architectural patterns and AWS implementation.
- Prepared and presented architecture designs for the microservice application.
- Performed incident reviews and advised on mitigation measures to improve resilience and cost control.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cloud Architecture, Cost Management, AWS CloudFormation, API Architecture, Software Architecture, DevOps, Amazon DynamoDB, AWS Auto Scaling, Architecture, Agile Software Development, Solution Architecture, CI/CD Pipelines, Microservices, Continuous Delivery (CD), Continuous Integration (CI)
DevOps Engineer
2020 - 2020
Amigos Library Services
- Developed a CI/CD pipeline for deploying an open-source containerized application.
- Converted a hand-crafted AWS infrastructure to templated IaC using CloudFormation.
- Optimized the architecture and implemented auto-scaling and monitoring to ensure tight cost control.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Docker, DevOps, Python, Amazon Elastic Container Service (Amazon ECS), PostgreSQL, AWS CloudFormation, Cloud Architecture, AWS DevOps, Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR), Amazon RDS, Continuous Delivery (CD)
AWS Architect
2019 - 2019
Tidal Change Technologies
- Developed the IaC architecture for a multiclient web application.
- Established a walled-garden security model for data protection.
- Developed a serverless CD pipeline for fully 'hands-free' deployment of verified code artefacts.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Docker, PHP, AWS CloudFormation, Cloud Architecture, DevOps, Cost Management, Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR), Architecture, Agile Software Development, Solution Architecture, CI/CD Pipelines, Amazon RDS, Continuous Delivery (CD), Continuous Integration (CI)
Solutions Architect
2019 - 2019
Refundlabs
- Developed the architecture for a production cloud environment.
- Constructed a serverless CI/CD pipeline to deploy containerised microservices.
- Built a serverless VPN infrastructure to support remote development and testing.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Python, AWS CloudFormation, Cloud Architecture, DevOps, Architecture, Solution Architecture, Microservices Architecture, Amazon RDS, Microservices, Continuous Delivery (CD), Continuous Integration (CI)
DevOps Engineer
2017 - 2019
Biometrix Technologies
- Developed a new processing pipeline for multi-gigabyte CSV data files, repackaging the existing NumPy, SciPy, and Keras processing code.
- Implemented a pipeline using AWS Batch and Step Functions with a custom integration between the two.
- Created polyfill Lambdas to implement Batch resources in AWS CloudFormation.
- Built custom CloudWatch metric reporting, dashboards, and alerts.
Technologies: Python, AWS Lambda, AWS Step Functions, AWS Batch, AWS CloudFormation, API Architecture, Cloud Architecture, DevOps, Amazon DynamoDB, AWS DevOps, AWS Auto Scaling, Cost Management, MongoDB, Microservices Architecture, Internet of Things (IoT), CI/CD Pipelines, Microservices, Continuous Delivery (CD), Continuous Integration (CI)
DevOps Engineer | PHP Developer
2017 - 2017
Heaps Drinks
- Set up a continuous integration pipeline from Bitbucket using Bitbucket Pipelines and AWS CodeBuild with a continuous delivery process to the staging environment.
- Developed an IaC environment template (using CloudFormation) and creating a staging environment.
- Implemented the use of Amazon SSM for instance management and deployment, replacing SSH access.
- Encapsulated the database management processes into a deployable Docker container for robust schema management.
- Replaced a self-hosted Docker private registry with Amazon ECR and integrated the ECR credential helper for authentication.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), PHP, DevOps, AWS DevOps
DevOps Engineer
2016 - 2017
Sysdyne Technologies
- Took a manually-assembled AWS infrastructure and applied best practices in automation, auto-scaling, high availability, and cost optimization.
- Introduced managed AWS technologies to remove scaling bottlenecks.
- Created robust, automated deployment and testing pipelines.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), MongoDB, AWS CloudFormation, DevOps, AWS DevOps, Amazon RDS, Continuous Delivery (CD)
DevOps Engineer
2016 - 2016
Discovery Communications
- Took over the operations from a major consultancy and shifted to a DevOps/Agile methodology.
- Consolidated and updated services to simplify the operational processes and reduce technical debt.
- Maintained the deployment and integrity of a large PHP/MySQL codebase.
- Updated and modernized build scripts written in Python, PHP, and Bash while also migrating to an Ansible provisioning system.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), PHP, Python, DevOps, Operations, AWS CloudFormation, API Architecture, Cloud Architecture, Amazon DynamoDB, Ansible, AWS DevOps, AWS Auto Scaling, Cost Management, Architecture, Agile Software Development, Solution Architecture, CI/CD Pipelines, Amazon RDS, Continuous Delivery (CD), Continuous Integration (CI)
IT Development Manager
2012 - 2015
NUCO Travel
- Created a full-stack web presence for a startup travel agency.
- Designed scalable architecture to support 1,800 bookings per minute on an eCommerce front end.
- Implemented a full CRM back end in PHP, MySQL, and the Yii framework.
- Built a full deployment infrastructure using AWS resources.
- Developed asynchronous reporting and analytics tools using AWS products.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Puppet, Apache, MySQL, PHP, AWS CloudFormation, API Architecture, Software Architecture, Cloud Architecture, DevOps, AWS Auto Scaling, Cost Management, Architecture, Agile Software Development, Solution Architecture, CI/CD Pipelines, Amazon RDS, Continuous Delivery (CD), Continuous Integration (CI)
Application Developer
2012 - 2012
Rebellion Developments
- Developed a PHP back end to provide a data and logic layer for a new social gaming platform.
- Designed and implemented a RESTful API interface with a Flash-based game engine.
- Adapted the existing architecture to a NoSQL model and designed a scalable AWS platform.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon DynamoDB, PHP, AWS CloudFormation, Cloud Architecture, AWS Auto Scaling, Agile Software Development
Skills
Languages
Python, PHP, Sass, Go, JavaScript
Tools
AWS Batch, AWS Step Functions, AWS CloudFormation, AutoCAD, Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR), Terraform, AWS CodeBuild, Amazon CloudWatch, Amazon Elastic Container Service (Amazon ECS), Ansible, Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), Blender, Apache, Puppet
Paradigms
API Architecture, DevOps, Continuous Integration (CI), Continuous Delivery (CD), Microservices, Microservices Architecture, Agile Software Development, DevSecOps, ETL
Platforms
AWS Lambda, Linux, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon EC2, Docker, Kubernetes
Storage
Amazon DynamoDB, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), MySQL, MongoDB, AWS SWF, PostgreSQL, SQLite
Other
Software Architecture, Architecture, Solution Architecture, AWS DevOps, Cloud Architecture, AWS Auto Scaling, AWS Certified Solution Architect, CI/CD Pipelines, Amazon RDS, Cost Management, Amazon EventBridge, Operations, Software Design, StreamSets, Internet of Things (IoT), Amazon API Gateway, APIs, Integration, Amazon Kinesis
Frameworks
Flask
Libraries/APIs
jQuery UI, REST APIs
Education
2008 - 2012
Master of Physics in Physics
University of Oxford - Oxford, England
Certifications
FEBRUARY 2020 - FEBRUARY 2023
Certified Solutions Architect — Associate
Amazon Web Services
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