Waqar Ahmed, Cloud Architect

Waqar Ahmed

Cloud Architect

NHS Digital

Location
United Kingdom
Education
Bachelor's degree, Computer Science
Experience
13 years, 1 Months

Share My Profile

Block User


Work Experience

Total years of experience :13 years, 1 Months

Cloud Architect at NHS Digital
  • United Kingdom - Manchester
  • My current job since November 2018

A major project working on the NHS mobile app allowing access to medical records. Developing a serverless application in AWS (SAM) using API Gateways, Lambdas and various other AWS resources including DynamoDB, SNS, SQS and AWS Rekognition. Developed several Lambdas using Python implementing OIDC flow for logging in and issuing token behind authorize and token endpoint. Also developed functionality to verify identity documents using third party facial matching tool for passport documentation in addition to AWS Rekognition. Migrated legacy terraforms scripts to migrate to cloud formation for complete IaaS solution, using nested templates, stack-sets and exports for complete resource deployment across all environments. Creating CodePipeline for CI/CD deployments (also using CFN)

Solution Architect at IPF
  • United Kingdom - Manchester
  • July 2017 to October 2018

An implementation of an online digital loan application platform. This was a multisite implementation to cater for multiple markets across eastern Europe using ‘Personalisation’ and A/B testing. A major migration project involving migration of on-premise components into Amazon AWS, SQL Server databases (RDS) into AWS, Sitecore into EC2 instances (separated CM and CD instances load balanced), MongoDB replica set (setup in Linux EC2 instances), ElasticCache Redis cluster and SOLR (Bitnami container) and Zookeeper for SolrCloud. Also setting up IAM group policies for user roles and using Amazon Cognito to create OTP’s and the registration process.
Integrating restful services with Mule as well as AWS services. This was a high transaction site using campaign features of Sitecore and scaled CD instances. This involved architecting AWS features for hosting (EC2, load balancers) as well as setting up AWS code deploy features for blue green deployment. Delivered in a highly agile environment working with several external suppliers. Using AWS Lambdas for range of functionality and Docker containers and Terraform and Kubernetes for container management.

Architect Consultant at Nationwide Building Society
  • United Kingdom - London
  • January 2017 to June 2017

Implementing a set of enhanced user journeys to uplift the online presence. I carried out the architecting of a wide range of components to be migrated from Azure to AWS to specifically utilise the elastic features within AWS. Including the code deployment process to use CodeDeploy to deploy the website code in a Blue/Green deployment pattern. Creating custom Lambdas to manage scheduling of data extractions from RDS instance.

Using the open banking API for branches to feet into a mobile app feature that allows pre-booking appointments. Also architected the Sitecore side to build a set of new pages across Mortgages and Home Insurance sections of the public facing site. This was a highly utilised site with regular updates. The components developed where highly flexible and allowed administrators/content editors to make changes very easily through the Sitecore Experience Editor. Working in an agile environment to deliver backend and frontend aspects of pages and designing A/B testing. Migrating the on-premise document storage system to use S3 buckets (AWS).

Contract Developer at Zenith
  • United Kingdom - Manchester
  • July 2016 to January 2017

The companies main front end website, mobile-first. Using Sitecore 8.1 and integrating with various external systems including Oracle Back-office, CRM Dynamics and SQL server databases. Involved migrating a host of on-premise microservices into Azure Cloud providing on-premise connectivity for critical services in a secure manner. Also creating an API gateway for external consumption/integration. Providing Telemetry for analysis.
The end site was a highly interactive, multi-tenancy system. Allowing users to take quotes for company cars (lease cars). Utilising Sitecores personalised sessions to deliver a tailored experience through the site. I developed various functionality throughout Sitecore site including standing up various microservices and stood up queuing system (RabbitMQ) to ensure reliable messaging between the system and external components. Also, consuming OData services from Dynamics to pull contact data. Migrated the on-premise MongoDB analytics setup to use xDBCloud to manage vast amount of analytics data

Solution Architect at Lowell
  • United Kingdom - Manchester
  • November 2015 to July 2016

Architecting a data ingestion system for managing accounts using a complex rule engine (Fico Blaze). I designed a reliable messaging system in RabbitMQ using Exchanges, Queues and Consumers. Utilising the client side .net RabbitMQ libraries. The system managed account processing and orchestration for high volume of messages. This was very challenging and precision and monitoring where vital for the system. I also developed a POC to utilise Amazon SQS features to do a comparison with the on-premise solution and provided a rough estimation of effort for a complete implementation of a cloud-based solution to the on-premise solution.

Consultant Solution Architect at Manheim
  • United Kingdom - London
  • May 2014 to January 2016
Technical Lead at Capita
  • United Kingdom - London
  • January 2011 to January 2014

Design and development lead for high transaction share dealing platform
Agile structure
Marshalling developers
Creating design documentation and Use Cases

Education

Bachelor's degree, Computer Science
  • at Bradford University
  • July 2003

2.1 Bsc (Hons)

Specialties & Skills

High Performance Systems
Digital Marketing
Integration
Cloud Computing
Physical Design

Languages

English
Native Speaker
Arabic
Intermediate

Training and Certifications

AWS Security Speciality (Certificate)
Date Attended:
December 2019
AWS SysOps (Certificate)
Date Attended:
November 2019
Togaf Part 1 & 2 Enterprise Architect (Certificate)
Date Attended:
August 2018
Sitecore Professional (Certificate)
Date Attended:
July 2018
Valid Until:
December 2020
AWS Certified Solution Architect (Certificate)
Date Attended:
August 2018
Valid Until:
July 2020