Nicholas Wells

DevOps/Backend Engineer

Ballito, South Africa
github.com/pyt0xic

Experience

Mandeville Digital (Naveo Commerce)

United Kingdom

DevOps/Backend Engineer

October 2024 - Present

  • Developed and tested new features in backend microservices with Golang and Ruby
  • Developed serverless functions for integrating external services using Golang and AWS Lambda
  • Optimised PostgreSQL performance with indices and read replicas
  • Automated cloud infrastructure setup in AWS/GCP with Terraform
  • Migrated legacy K8S clusters to EKS
  • Packaged legacy K8S manifests with Helm
  • Implemented GitOps for IaC and Helm deployments
  • Handled regular infrastructure maintenance and major service upgrades
  • Managed and used Jenkins for CI and load tests
  • Resolved production incidents and provided detailed RCA's
  • Dealt directly with clients to better understand their requirements, provide infra-related support and to go over incident RCA's

Better Design/Anythink (PathHub)

United Kingdom

Full Stack Engineer

August 2024 - September 2024

  • Focused on feature development for a pathologist case management system built using the ABP (.NET + Angular) framework
  • Implemented full-text search and advanced filtering with Entity Framework Core and PostgreSQL as well as integrated it into the frontend
  • Worked closely with the tech lead and scrum master to assist with the planning of .NET focused sprints
  • Assisted QA with the manual testing of new features that were not yet covered in the automated tests
  • Assisted with code reviews

Better Design/Anythink (Route1)

United Kingdom

Lead Developer

May 2024 - Present

  • Lead development on order and stock management systems for the client, with a focus on backend and app development
  • Developed adaptable data ingest tooling to allow for the integration of stock and product data for 20+ suppliers
  • Wrote and optimized PostgreSQL procedures to improve the performance of ETL workflows and ensure data integrity
  • Implemented asynchronous job processing with NodeJS & PostgreSQL for larger data processing tasks
  • Integrated an order and stock processing app with Flutter for warehouse staff to help improve order processing times

IA Logics

Ballito

.NET Backend Developer

November 2021 - May 2024

  • Worked on multiple projects including a CRM, operations reporting, and asset tracking for logistics companies, car manufacturers, and dealerships
  • Applied software architecture and design principles such as Domain Driven Design, CQRS, and Event Sourcing
  • Deployed and maintained projects on clustered Linux VM's using Docker Swarm
  • Deployed a HA PostgreSQL cluster with logical replication, connection pooling and load balancing using Ansible
  • Set up CI/CD pipelines using Ansible, Github Actions and Gitlab
  • Data visualization and analysis with Python
  • Legacy system development with FoxPro
  • .NET and FoxPro interop with COM
  • Implemented OAuth and SSO with OIDC
  • Setup distributed object and file storage using Ceph

St John's DSG

Pietermaritzburg

IT Support Technician

January 2020 - December 2020

  • Provided technical support to teachers and staff, ensuring efficient operations
  • Managed print servers, Windows Servers, and an Active Directory instance
  • Assisted management in implementing new infrastructure

Skills & Technologies

Programming Languages

C# Golang JavaScript/TypeScript Ruby SQL C++ Python Visual FoxPro

DevOps & Cloud

AWS Azure Docker Swarm Kubernetes Terraform Ansible CI/CD Jenkins GitHub Actions GitLab

Architecture & Design

DDD CQRS Event Sourcing Microservices

Web Development

ASP.NET Blazor Angular Node.js Flutter

Operating Systems

Linux (8+ years) Windows

Databases & Tools

PostgreSQL Ceph Entity Framework Redis

Scripting

Bash PowerShell Fish Lua

Data & ML

Data Processing Data Visualization Natural Language Models

About Me

Throughout my career, I have demonstrated a commitment to excellence and a strong work ethic. I thrive in team-oriented environments, collaborating closely with colleagues to achieve shared goals. As a dedicated professional, I am constantly seeking opportunities for growth and staying up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies.

I am self-taught, with a strong passion for software development, Linux and FOSS. With over 4 years of professional development experience and an additional year of IT support expertise, I have honed my skills in various areas of the field. My journey began at the age of 12 when I delved into Python programming, and since then, I have accumulated a total of 6 years of coding experience. Moreover, Linux has been my primary operating system for the past 8 years, and I have effectively managed Linux servers for both personal projects and work deployments.

As a Lead Developer, I have demonstrated strong leadership capabilities by guiding development teams, architecting scalable solutions, and making critical technical decisions. I excel at mentoring junior developers, facilitating cross-functional collaboration, and translating complex technical concepts for diverse stakeholders. My ability to balance technical excellence with business objectives has consistently delivered successful project outcomes.

My personal strengths include adaptability, problem-solving, and a genuine passion for continuous learning. I'm highly self-motivated and take ownership of projects from conception to deployment. I communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences, and I'm comfortable working directly with clients to understand their needs and provide strategic solutions. My collaborative approach and strong analytical skills enable me to tackle complex challenges while maintaining a focus on delivering value.

8+
Years with Linux
6+
Years Coding
4+
Years Professional

Education

University of Pretoria

BSc Computer Science

January 2021 - November 2021

Discrete Mathematics
Calculus
Statistics
Dynamical processes
Physics
Introduction to Computer Science
Program Design: Introduction
Imperative Programming

Cambridge Learning Center

AS Levels

January 2015 - December 2019

English - 85%
Geography - 85%
Mathematics - 79%
Physics - 69%
Afrikaans - 73%