David H Sells

Professional Portfolio

David Sells

Contact Information

Biography

David brings over 20 years of software development experience across a wide variety of technologies and business domains. His passion for new technologies drives innovation in his projects, with accomplishments in autonomous agent technology, risk and compliance software, back-office trading systems, and telecommunication solutions.

Skills

Programming Languages

JavaJavaScriptTypeScriptPythonSQLC#

Frameworks & Libraries

SpringSpring BootHibernateReactJSNextJSNode.js

DevOps & Cloud Services

AWSDockerKubernetesGitMaven

Databases

MongoDBMySQLOraclePostgres

Other Technologies

GraphQLOAuth2OpenIDLXDCloudFlarePrisma

Education

BSc Physics

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Certifications and Courses

Microservices, Machine Learning, AWS Architecture, NextJS and more from Coursera and Udemy.

Professional Development & Independent Projects

Self-Directed Learning and Project Development

2023 – Present
  • Focused on expanding expertise in DevOps (Kubernetes, Docker) and development (Java 11, React.js, Next.js).
  • Developed experimental projects, enhancing skills in problem-solving and application of new technologies.
  • Explored Large Language Models, including ChatGPT, for project efficiency and innovation.

Professional Experience

Microsoft/Nuance [Principal Developer]

March 2022 - Sept 2022 [Contract]
Technologies Used: Java 11/17, Springboot, Protocol Buffer, Docker, Kubernetes
Key Contributions:
  • Engaged in a critical support role during a pivotal transition period for the company, ensuring continuity and stability in development efforts.
  • Actively participated in an international Agile team, contributing to collaborative problem-solving and project advancements.
  • Played role in maintaining high code quality, achieving 90% code coverage of integration and unit testing, maintaining the reliability and performance of software deliverables.

3rdwave Inc. - Supply Chain Software

April 2021 - December 2021 [Contract]
Technologies Used: AWS (CloudFormation, SSO, Organizations, RDS, ECR, Elastic Beanstalk, Amplify, GuardDuty, CloudWatch, Lambda), Java 8, GWT, Python, Bash scripts, Kubernetes, SiSense, MySQL, GIT, BitBucket, Datadog
Key Contributions:
  • Spearheaded enhancements to the AWS infrastructure, providing critical support and implementing extensions to bolster system efficiency and reliability.
  • Developed and implemented a database obfuscation solution using Python and Pandas, enhancing data security and privacy for client databases.
  • Transitioned deployment processes to Docker-compose, integrating Datadog for improved monitoring and analytics, thereby enhancing system observability and operational insight.
  • Established an AWS Batch facility to efficiently manage longer-running tasks, including database obfuscation, optimizing resource utilization and process scalability.

3rdwave Inc. - Supply Chain Software

December 2018 - April 2021
Technologies Used: AWS (CloudFormation, SSO, Organizations, RDS, ECR, Elastic Beanstalk, Amplify, GuardDuty, CloudWatch, Lambda), Java 8, GWT, Python, Bash scripts, Kubernetes, SiSense, MySQL, GIT, BitBucket, Datadog
AWS Architecture and Implementation:
  • Engineered a CI/CD environment leveraging BitBucket, CodeCommit, ECR, and Elastic Beanstalk for streamlined deployment processes.
  • Designed a multi-client deployment infrastructure using org-formation and CloudFormation for creating AWS Organizations, VPCs, and Elastic Beanstalk Environments, enhancing operational efficiency.
  • Implemented a robust remote backup and disaster recovery strategy across external AWS accounts, ensuring business continuity.
Business Information Systems (BI):
  • Conducted comprehensive reviews and sample implementations for six leading BI Systems, significantly contributing to strategic planning and technology adoption.
  • Spearheaded the BI domain, providing visionary leadership and establishing a data warehouse utilizing production data for enhanced decision-making.
Security:
  • Formulated and introduced the inaugural set of security policies for a new product, setting a precedent for future development.
  • Coordinated penetration testing and initial security analysis to fortify product integrity against potential vulnerabilities.

McCann Canada

Technical LeadAugust 2016 - October 2018
Technologies Used: Java, JavaScript, Oracle, C#, EpiServer, Azure, Bootstrap, React.js, Node.js
General Motors Canada Website:
  • Spearheaded backend maintenance and the development of complex frontend components for the GM Canada website, enhancing user experience and system performance.
  • Led a critical security upgrade of the web application, ensuring compliance with the latest security standards.
  • Automated data refresh processes by developing sophisticated Stored Procedures, improving efficiency and reliability.
  • Innovated a React.js tool for visualizing XML feeds from CMS, enhancing content management capabilities.
TransCanada Pipeline Project:
  • Directed the technical aspects of the TransCanada website redesign, leveraging EPiServer .NET, which resulted in improved site functionality and user engagement.
  • Managed the integration and troubleshooting of Azure deployments, ensuring seamless operation and scalability.
Additional Projects:
  • Extended and maintained a Node.js iPad game application for MasterCard, contributing to a notable improvement in application engagement and user experience.
  • Conducted a comprehensive security overhaul for the GM web application to TLS 1.2, including updating Java dependencies from 1.7 to 1.8, reinforcing the application's security posture.
  • Pioneered the development of several research applications utilizing React Native and voice recognition technologies, demonstrating innovation in mobile application development.

Earlier Projects

  • Gale Partners Inc. (contract 2016): Full stack development with MeteorJS for Bank of Montreal.
  • Humber College (contract 2015): Groovy Grails, J2EE, Ellucian, Enrolment and Registration application.
  • MacLaren McCann (Contract 2013–2014): Senior Developer Java, J2EE, Oracle 11g, WebLogic, Struts 1.3, JavaScript, Mustache.js, JQuery, Jackson, JSON, XML, Maven, JAXB, JPA2, HTML5, SOAP, Maven, REST.
  • Fixmo Inc. (contract 2012-2013): Senior Java developer in startup providing development and mentoring.
  • IBM T. J. Watson Research Center (contract): Provided software support for Autonomous Agent research.
  • Deutsche Bank (contract): J2EE Developer in back-office trading system.
  • IBM Call Centre Solutions (contract): Developer on several telecom and banking projects.

Achievements

  • Productivity award for IBM Call Centre Solutions.
  • Sun Certified Enterprise J2EE Architect (2009).

Personal Statement

I am a passionate software developer committed to lifelong learning and the practical application of emerging technologies. My career is marked by versatility, innovation, and the ability to deliver impactful solutions across diverse business challenges.