Ben Townsend
Available Immediately
Accomplished engineer with 10+ years in DevOps and full-stack development. I drive innovation through scalable, secure infrastructure solutions that enhance business performance. Known for mentoring teams, optimizing processes, and delivering projects that exceed expectations. I effectively translate challenges into strategies that align technology with business goals.
Technologies
AWS
CSS
DataDog
Docker
Fastly
Go
Grafana
HTML
Javascript
Jenkins
Kubernetes
Linux
Markdown
MySQL
Netlify
New Relic
Next.js
NGINX
Puppet
React
Ruby templating
SCSS
Shell scripting
Terraform
Typescript
Vagrant
YAML
Certification
- AWS Solutions Architect Associate
Immediate Media
DevOps Engineer
• Apr 2023 - Jan 2024
Notable work:
- Implementing a service mesh system to improve service response times & allow the new native app platform to use backend APIs.
- Improving Docker image tagging to enable image retention cycles, greatly reducing storage costs.
- Leading the conversation on which solutions should be investigated when looking to reduce the costs of application monitoring.
- Managing information & system access using detailed IAM & Security Group rules.
New Scientist
DevOps Engineer
• Dec 2020 - Aug 2022
Notable work:
- Day-to-day running of all things DevOps as the principal DevOps Engineer.
- Redesigned application networking with a focus on the least privilege principal, enhancing security.
- Rebuilt the Jenkins server using Docker & ECS, to improve security & streamline the upgrade process.
- Merging the OS specific local developer environments to one using Docker, ready for the introduction of Apple Silicon & to improve developer onboarding.
- Facilitating AWS account migration after acquisition by the Daily Mail General Trust.
- Refactoring the Fastly VCL to allow for authentication at the edge & faster request routing.
Immediate Media
DevOps Engineer
• May 2018 - Dec 2020
Notable work:
- Architecting the infrastructure for a new redirect handler, improving response times leading to better SEO & bringing containerisation & "serverless" functions to the business.
- Introducing AWS Transit Gateway to the business for faster, cheaper & more secure traffic handling between different systems.
- Spearheading the rebuild of the deployment pipeline for V1 of the Digital publishing platform.
- Running data migration & managing brand website relaunches without downtime.
PHP Developer
• Oct 2017 - May 2018
Notable work:
- Data processing & migration for RadioTimes.
- Building the venues feature used by Gardeners World & future migrated brands.
- Database query optimisation to improve server response times.
WordPress Developer
• Jul 2016 - Sep 2017
Notable work:
- Initial fullstack development for the new publishing platform.
- Migration of Olive Magazine to the new platform.