Kurt Rae October

Technical Skills

DevOps Leadership & Automation:

• Directed a team of 12 DevOps engineers, optimizing CI/CD pipelines to support 400+ developers and 50 testers.
• Designed and deployed automation pipelines, including Cloudflare R2 bucket deployments and high-performance workflows for .NET applications.
• Developed a PowerApps and Power Automate-based Microsoft Teams portal as a single access point for DevOps tools like GitHub, Azure DevOps, Red Hat Quay, ArgoCD, OpenShift, and overtime tracking.
  

Big Data & Analytics:

• Leveraged PostgreSQL and PySpark for big data processing, enabling advanced analytics for high-volume datasets.
• Built a JIRA data minig project using PostgreSQL and Python to provide actionable insights and optimize project management workflows.
  

CI/CD, Security, & Quality:

• Implemented and maintained SonarQube with shift-left methodology to ensure early detection of code quality issues and vulnerabilities.
• Integrated Snyk into CI/CD pipelines, embedding DevSecOps principles for proactive security.
• Managed Azure DevOps pipelines to streamline builds and deployments, enhancing performance for .NET applications.
• Converted and set best practise for staged YAML pipelines allowing for multiple execution, seamless rollback, and ease-of-use for developers
  

Kubernetes, OpenShift, & Kafka:

• Administered and scaled Kafka deployments in OpenShift to support reliable event-driven architectures and data processing pipelines.
• Deployed Kubernetes clusters with Vertical Pod Autoscaler (VPA) and Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA) to enable dynamic scaling for CI/CD workflows.
• Configured Helm charts for custom deployments, including in-memory filesystems for performance-critical applications.
• Created Kubernetes clusters on minikube to leverage replicasets as Build Agents in Azure DevOps for various product teams, reducing cost to business, time to delivery, and increased performance
  

Collaboration & Tooling Management:

• Administered tools like JIRA Software, Confluence, Flow, and Pluralsight, ensuring team productivity and streamlined collaboration.
• Managed PostgreSQL databases for large-scale projects, supporting big data processing and advanced analytics.
• Established streamlined workflows with Kafka, PostgreSQL, and other tools integrated into OpenShift.
• Created an Ansible playbooks to recycle IIS App Pools on multiple servers reducing manual efforts and saving money during outages.
• Integrated al playbooks written with a tool called Semephore. A user-freindly UI interface to make it easier for non technical personnel to execute any playbook required to resolve issues during an outage
  

Monitoring & Security:

• Integrated Prometheus and Grafana for proactive monitoring and observability.
• Enhanced certificate management and debugging workflows using OpenSSL and NGINX, ensuring secure communication across platforms.
• Leverage Dynatrace for monitoring the OpenShift Kubernetes Cluster for anomolies in latency, resource spikes, and pod disruptions
  

Key Achievements:

• Created a centralized Teams portal for DevOps tools, streamlining access and improving team efficiency.
• Enabled seamless big data processing and analytics using PySpark and PostgreSQL.
• Reduced vulnerabilities in production environments by embedding DevSecOps practices through Snyk and SonarQube.
• Integrated Kubernetes Cluster on Minikube for containerized build agents allowing for more robust, reliable, scalable, manageable, and centralized environments
• Creating Grafana Dashboards for monitoring Kubernetes clusters using Prometheus metrics
• Leverage Dynatrace to monitor Masternode, Workernodes, Pods, Ingress/Egress controllers in OpenShift
  
• DevOps & Automation: Kubernetes, Helm, Docker, Azure DevOps, OpenShift ACM, GitHub Actions
• Programming & Scripting: Python, Bash, PowerShell, PySpark, ReactJS
• Cloud & Infrastructure: Azure, RHEL, Cloudflare R2, OpenShift, Minikube, AWS S3, AWS EC2
• Big Data & Databases: PostgreSQL, PySpark, Kafka, Scala, MongoDB, SQL
• Security & Monitoring: Snyk, SonarQube, Prometheus, Grafana, OpenSSL, Zabbix, Dynatrace
• Collaboration Tools: JIRA Software, Confluence, Microsoft Teams, Red Hat Quay, ArgoCD

Skills Highlight

JIRA & Confluence Administration:

• Installed, configured, and maintained JIRA and Confluence, including migrations and upgrades.
• Customized JIRA projects, workflows, screen schemes, and integrated JIRA REST APIs to automate processes.
• Advanced proficiency in JQL queries for reporting and optimizing project management as well as the use of ScriptRunner for advanced workflow configurations, custom fields, field behaviors, and automation tasks by use of Groovy Scripting
  

CI/CD & Infrastructure as Code:

• Managed CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins and GitLab, automating deployment processes and integrating with Kubernetes environments.
• Implemented infrastructure as code (IaC) using Terraform to provision resources in Azure Cloud, including VMs, firewalls, and VPNs.
  

Cloud & Kubernetes Expertise:

• Deployed and managed Kubernetes clusters in Azure Cloud, ensuring scalability and reliability for cloud-native applications.
• Configured Azure-based firewalls, VMs, and VPNs, enhancing security and connectivity.
• Troubleshoot and optimized Kubernetes workloads, leveraging in-depth knowledge of containerized environments.
  

Technical Leadership & Support:

• Acted as the technical lead for the Global Support team, mentoring engineers and managing escalated cases.
• Conducted root cause analyses (RCA) for high-profile issues, facilitating continuous improvement initiatives.
• Balanced workloads across support engineers, addressing gaps and ensuring timely case resolution.
• Collaborate with Developers and Operations on code analysis, security compliance, automation processes, and ad-hoc regression end to end regression testing
• Configured ELK (Elastic Kibana) on Linux environments for Developers and Global Support Engineers to troubleshoot root cause on incidents using customer logs
  

Database & Scripting Expertise:

• Administered PostgreSQL and MongoDB, optimizing performance for customer platforms.
• Developed automation scripts and tools using Python, Perl, Django, Bash, and REST APIs to streamline operations.
  

Configuration Management:

• Managed change control and validation processes for multiple product baselines, ensuring configuration consistency.
• Built lab environments for replication of customer issues, providing L2 Support Engineers with enhanced troubleshooting tools.
  

Documentation & Training:

• Authored detailed Wiki documentation for product installation, configuration, and operational support.
• Delivered training sessions to global support engineers on best practices, tools, and troubleshooting techniques.
  

Key Achievements:

• Improved operational efficiency by automating repetitive tasks and optimizing CI/CD pipelines.
• Enhanced security and scalability of Azure Cloud infrastructure, including Kubernetes clusters and VPNs.
• Proactively resolved customer issues with urgency, contributing to improved satisfaction and service quality.
  
• DevOps Tools: Jenkins, GitLab, JIRA, Confluence, Terraform
• Cloud & Kubernetes: Azure Cloud, Kubernetes, Firewalls, VMs, VPNs
• Programming & Automation: Python, Perl, Django, Bash, REST APIs
• Databases: PostgreSQL, MongoDB
• Infrastructure: CI/CD Pipelines, IaC with Terraform, Linux/Unix Administration
• Configuration Management: Change control, validation, and versioning

Technical Issue Resolution:

• Analyzed and resolved environmental, configuration, and application-level issues.
• Escalated and collaborated with L3 engineers to address complex problems and suspected bugs, ensuring resolution within agreed SLAs.
• Performed regular health checks on customer platforms, identifying and resolving issues proactively.
  

Customer Support & Maintenance:

• Delivered timely responses and resolutions to customer problems, maintaining SLA targets.
• Conducted software upgrades and ensured platform stability for internal and external customers.
• Installed platform and application software, adhering to customer-specific requirements and specifications.
  

Database & Scripting Expertise:

• Supported PostgreSQL and MongoDB, optimizing database performance and resolving issues.
• Developed custom scripts and tools using Python, Perl, Django, and Bash to address customer-specific needs and diagnose code-related issues.
  

Documentation & Training:

• Authored and updated comprehensive support documentation to improve processes and issue resolution.
• Trained and upskilled the L2 Support team, enhancing their technical proficiency and understanding of product-related queries.
  

Customer Engagement:

• Provided regular updates to customers, maintaining strong relationships and ensuring transparency during issue resolution.
• Delivered after-hours (24x7) support for customers across multiple time zones, demonstrating flexibility and commitment.
  

Key Achievements:

• Streamlined troubleshooting processes by creating Wiki documentation and improving workflows.
• Identified and resolved software and platform bugs, ensuring robust and reliable systems for customers.
• Facilitated cross-team collaboration, enhancing team efficiency and knowledge-sharing practices.
  

• Managed relationships with vendors for hardware/software procurement or external technical assistance when needed, ensuring cost-effective solutions were implemented promptly.
• Improved customer satisfaction by efficiently resolving L2 support tickets within the designated timelines.
• Reduced incident response times with efficient ticket prioritization and management strategies.
• Performed root cause analysis on recurring incidents, leading to long-term solutions that improved system stability and performance.
• Maintained up-to-date knowledge of industry best practices and emerging technologies, applying this expertise to improve support services offered to clients.
• Implemented proactive monitoring measures to identify potential issues before they impacted end-users, minimizing downtime.
• Provided exceptional customer service through clear communication and timely updates on ongoing issues, resulting in positive feedback from clients.
• Supported application upgrades and migration projects, ensuring minimal disruption to end-users during implementation phases.
• Contributed to the continuous improvement of internal processes by suggesting changes based on analysis of recurring problems and trends within the system environment.
• Conducted periodic audits of IT systems, identifying areas for improvement and recommending appropriate action plans.
• Provided support to users in 24/7 uptime environment, often working double shifts to accommodate time zones.

• Administer and monitor production Reporting systems such ICT and RO
• Daily and weekly health checks and status report of ICT
• Delivery of daily, weekly and monthly evidentiaries
• Raise change controls on behalf
• Communicate progress / delays during new releases / upgrades and ensure proper systems functioning after releases and changes
• Administer post release checks and communicate any issues to parties concerned
• Manage HPSD and servicing of Incidents, work orders and service calls
• Provide email and sms notification on health of Reporting System ICT on Month End
• Automated system health checks through shell scripting, and emails a daily report to the team on each system

in the environment

• Automated health system checks SMS notifications

• Provision of 2nd level operational support to monitor production mediation systems
• Monitor core mediation functions and processes to ensure conformance
• Daily and weekly health checks and status report of the UMS production environment
• Confirming evidentiaries done by 1st Line Application Support of ICE 3 x daily, weekly and monthly evidentiaries
• Raise change controls for MZ, UMS, FMS, SFG, ABMED, SUBMED, MFT, IME(Interconnect), XDRREP, VSP, CTO, MRS, CM
• Communicate progress / delays during new releases / upgrades and ensure proper systems functioning after releases and changes
• Administer post release checks and communicate any issues to all parties concerned
• Resolution of all technical incidents, assigned to MFLS that could impact on BSG deliverables
• Follow-up on issues escalated to MSLS in order to meet SLAs/OLAs
• Timeous polling and processing of manual backups from network elements
• Communicate with switching, NMC and Engineering on designated issues and attend to HPSD queries
• Investigate potential gaps and records in the error tables
• Maintained and created shell scripts
• Executed SQL MediationZone Reports
• Developed SQL Queries to produce MediationZone Reports
• Created MediationZone flow diagrams

• Provision of 24/7 1st level operational support to monitor production mediation systems
• Monitor core mediation functions and processes to ensure conformance
• Daily and weekly health checks and status report of the UMS production environment
• Delivery of ICE 3 x daily, weekly and monthly evidentiaries
• Raise change controls on behalf of Second Line Support for UMS, FMS, ABMED, SUBMED, MFT, IME(Interconnect), XDRREP, VSP, CTO, MRS and CMD
• Communicate progress / delays during new releases / upgrades and ensure proper systems functioning after releases and changes
• Administer post release checks and communicate any issues to parties concerned
• Resolution of all technical incidents, assigned to MFLS that could impact on BSG deliverables
• Escalate and follow-up on issues to MSLS in order to meet SLAs/OLAs
• Timeous polling and processing of manual backups from network elements
• Communicate with switching, NMC and Engineering on designated issues and attend to HPSD queries
• Manage HPSD and servicing of Incidents, work orders and service calls
• Investigate potential gaps and records in the error tables
• Monitor key indicators and ensure escalation of any variances
• Provide email and sms notification on health of mediation systems and status of system before going off shift

• IEC installations
• Building of faulty standard bank computers
• Installations of new and old printers for all standard banks
• Modifying of new printers
• Negotiating and liaising with people at all levels
• Installations of hardware and software
• Dealing with Users queries
• Troubleshooting PC related problems
• Setup of PC related equipment
• Desktop support
• Installations of new and old printers for all Standard Banks
• Rebuilds of PC’s
• Building of Standard Banks servers
• Keeping record of jobs that has been completed
• Galaxy & Co. computer upgrades

• Assisted in developing Microsoft Access Database system to:
• Stored client information
• Stored client certification
• Stored employee information
• Schedule training courses for clients
• Stored training material
• Generate certificates of course completed per client
• Generate reports
• Assist the Project Manager and Trainer
• Assist with setting training room computers
• Installed and setup Microsoft Office
• Provided IT technical assistance to employees of the company