Darren Johnson
Proven Software Platform Engineer with experience leveraging agile, DevOps, and CI/CD to manage large scale distributed platforms both on prem and in public cloud.
Certifications
Microsoft
Other
Socials
Skills
- Infrastructure
- Cloud
- Networking
- DNS
- Firewalls
- Load Balancing
- Cyber Security
- Migration
- High Availability
- Disaster Recovery
- SaaS/PaaS/IaaS
- Azure Active Directory
- Azure Policy
- Azure Virtual Networking
- DNS
- Firewalls
- Load Balancing
- Cyber Security
- Migration
- High Availability
- Disaster Recovery
- SaaS/PaaS/IaaS
- Windows
- Linux
- Terraform
- Git
- CI/CD Pipelines
- PowerShell
- Bash
- Azure Cli
- Checkov
- Jquery
- Atlassian
- Bamboo
- Bitbucket
- NGINX
- MySQL
- Wordpress
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Oracle
- MongoDB
- Apache Spark
Experience
Senior DevOps Engineer
Collaborated with the architecture, cyber security, engineering and development teams to deliver automation solutions and plug gaps where traditional role-oriented silos existed. Championed the use of DevOps best practices to improve the quality, security and velocity of cloud service delivery. Applied the everything as code approach to improve the consistency, scalability and accuracy of services by enhancing CI/CD pipelines to incorporate static code analysis. Provided technical expertise and governance for both internal and 3rd party architects. Developed rapid prototypes for new cloud services to ensure their suitability. Built automation solutions where native capability didn’t exist. Regularly engaged by senior business stakeholders when complex problems required creative thinking to resolve.
Cloud Solutions Architect & Product Owner
Lead solutions architect for a successful £10m data centre migration programme to Azure. Collaborated within a group that launched the SAFe agile framework to enable a cloud transformation programme. Architected and deployed a core Azure landing zone whilst implementing the DevOps practice of Infrastructure as Code using Terraform. Technical lead on new cloud technology proof of concept work from both an architecture and engineering perspective, ensuring solutions were secure by design, and had the appropriate governance guardrails in place. Member of both cloud RFP teams, and contributed to the development of evaluation and selection criteria for a cloud service provider and a migration partner.
Global Infrastructure Solutions Architect
Responsible for providing infrastructure strategy, guidance and direction for Intertek’s global data centres and 1000+ diverse field sites. Worked collaboratively across the various in house and 3rd party technology teams to ensure strategic alignment on all projects. Provided leadership and governance to ensure designs are delivered and implemented in a consistent manner, requirements were fulfilled, and enterprise architecture principles are adhered to. Responsible for developing and evangelising the global cloud strategy. Developed and promoted architecture standards and provided mentoring for peers. Delivered architecture for cloud hosted solutions for a global laboratory information management system, and a Hadoop based big data platform using Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services.
Enterprise Technology Domain Architect - Promotion from previous role with Severn Trent Water
Senior strategic architect responsible for aligning the technology strategy to the future business direction. Worked in collaboration with the senior leadership team and technology subject matter experts to approve all new technology implementations within the business, whilst ensuring alignment to existing strategy. Built and maintained a holistic view of the technology landscape, created a Technical Reference Model and Standards Information Base. Promoted the reuse of existing technology to reduce costs and complexity. Delivered an enterprise cloud strategy and provided guidance and strategic direction to solution and technical architects. Provided architectural and technical guidance for the SAP ERP system platform upgrade to VMware 6.0.
Infrastructure Architect/Designer
Responsible for the delivery of both high-level architecture, and low level detailed designs for a large range of projects across all business units within Severn Trent Water. Acted as a technical lead and took end to end responsibility for infrastructure projects, whilst being a key contact for senior stakeholders. Responsible for the promotion and introduction of emerging technologies and solutions to meet both business and regulatory requirements. Lead member of both the Technical Design Authority and the Strategy & Architecture Community of Practice. Presented to the exec on IS projects and regularly contributed to board level reports.
IT Infrastructure Manager
Reported directly to the Leadership Team. Responsible and accountable for the management, maintenance and security of a complex IT, network and telephony infrastructure. Performed a full risk assessment of all IT infrastructure and licensing and helped develop strategies for both Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity to meet Standard Life’s compliance requirements. Required to contribute to board reports and produce business case justifications. Responsible for supplier and contract management including procurement for all IT hardware, software and services. Upgraded Active Directory, both the cabled and wireless network infrastructure, and implemented standards for documentation, server sizing/builds, hardware warranties and cabling.
Senior Systems Engineer / Infrastructure Project Manager
Owned and managed the implementation of Wintel based IT Infrastructure projects enabling the business to rapidly respond to ever changing market demands. Solely responsible for the full project delivery lifecycle of allocated projects including all technical design and implementation, budget and supplier management, as well as full documentation and handover to operational teams, whilst ensuring alignment to industry standards, such as PCI DSS. Created automation and infrastructure deployment solutions using various languages whilst following DevOps practices to enable both deployments at scale and build consistency. Mentored and coached both peers and junior staff members.