Christophe Popov – Senior Software Consultant
Summary
Having obtained a master degree in computer science, I have worked for major global companies as a software engineer. Recently, I have worked on large scale web applications, implementing end to end functionality and managing configuration and release cycles, including DevOps and Agile practice. I am interested in innovation, startups and entrepreneurship, software architecture, lean thinking, business strategy, management, and I am an agile advocate. I have experience in different business domains. In order to learn non technical and business skills I have completed an MBA degree in 2015.
Experience
From 2009 to 2015 Independent software consultant working for corporate clients:
Software development and engineering practices for Miniweb, Nouvelles Frontieres, Financial Times, O2, Daily Mail, Channel 4, British Gas
Development of DevOps tools at British Gas Connected Homes
I have advised client teams on Continuous Delivery, Scrum and Kanban practices
In 2014, I have co-founded a startup, lexoo.co.uk, where I took the role of CTO, contributed to the business strategy and set up the initial technical environment. In that year I also invested in a Bulgarian startup, Infozone, and I contributed as advisor.
I have worked on various Startup projects: a property rental portal and property sales portal
From 2004 to 2009 I have worked in French technology consultancies (StepInfo, Alten, Valtech), working on different client projects for French and British companies, mainly with Java and Web technologies.
Education
2015 Open University MBA, Business Strategy Major
2003 Master of Science at ENSEIRB, a leading French technology university (Grande Ecole) delivering a master's degree in computer science. The program also includes management, communication and two foreign languages, major in parallel computing.
2003 Master of Science at Bordeaux I university (DEA) in Computer Science
2000 CPGE – Maths and Physics bachelor degree Poitiers, France
Spoken languages
Fluent in English, French, Russian, Bulgarian, basics in German.
Interests
Technology, Software engineering, New Media, Management, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Leisure, Travel, Ski, Diving
Key Skills
Project and product management
Agile, RUP, XP, Scrum, Lean, Kanban, Lean startup, Continuous release, Traditional project management, QA processes
Software engineering
Design, Modelling, enterprise and internet architectures, Distributed architectures, OOD, TDD, BDD, DDD, QA, Release management, Automation, DevOps
Languages
Java, Groovy, SQL, PL/SQL, T-SQL, HTML, JavaScript, CSS, XML, XSL, Velocity, Freemarker, PHP, C, C++, Ruby, Python
Frameworks / SDK
J2EE, OSGI, Java Swing, Eclipse RCP, Flex, Struts, GWT, DWR, Spring, Hibernate, JPA, JSF, Apache Axis, CXF, XMLBeans, JAXB, Velocity, String Template, Zend, JMS, Jquery, Prototype, JUnit, Express.js, Mocha, Sinatra, Mockito, DBUnit, JFCUnit, Selenium, Webdriver, Cucumber, Angular
Application Servers / Middleware
Tomcat, Jetty, Websphere, JBOSS, Weblogic, JMS, Apache, Nginx, ActiveMQ, JbossMQ, Tibco EMS, Node.js
Databases
MongoDB, CouchDB, CouchBase, Cassandra, Redis, Oracle, Sybase, MySQL, HSQLDB/H2/Derby, eXist, PostgreSQL
IDE/Tools
WSAD, IntelliJ, Eclipse, Rational Rose, Clearcase, TOAD, SQLDev, CVS SVN, Git, JIRA, RallyeDev, Maven, Ant, Gradle, Jenkins, Bamboo, Chef, Puppet, Ansible, Grunt, Gulp, Docker, Vagrant
Domain knowledge
e-commerce, online media, public sector, retail finance, asset and wealth management, insurance, mobile internet, connected homes
Other Professional Qualifications
2015 Professional Scrum Master (PSM I) – Scrum.org
2015 Innovation for Entrepreneurs – University of Maryland (online)
2015 Developing Innovative Ideas – University of Maryland (online)
2013 IKM Java – 90%
2008 Sun Certified Enterprise Architect (SCEA 5.0) Part I
2007 Sun Certified Java Programmer (SCJP 5.0)
2007 Brainbench J2EE 1.4
Project Experience
BNP Paribas Wealth Management Asia (Singapore) – 09/2015
Performance Audit of a Middle-Office J2EE application and recommendations about design changes in order to increase performance. Report with recommendation about QA, Performance tuning and delivery process. Oracle DB tuning and query optimisations. Team Coaching.
Euro Car Parts – 07/2015
Euro Car Parts is a spare parts supply business. Their e-commerce platforms are developed off-shore. I have initiated the effort to start using modern delivery techniques such as SCM with Github and Continuous Delivery with Jenkins and Ansible in a RHEL/LAMP environment. I prepared a roadmap for the achievement of CD and coached ops team members.
British Gas Connected Homes – 12/2013 – 03/2015
I have lead the development of Cloud Infrastructure provisioning tool, and a tool to overview resources in all AWS accounts, and their resource usage. I have contributed to Jenkins and Puppet configurations. Then I moved into the connected boiler team to help scaling the system to handle big data volumes, contributing in DevOps and full stack development.
Environment: AWS, EC2, Java, Node.js, Ruby, Shell, Jenkins, Chef, Puppet, Github, Debian packages, Ubuntu, Docker, Cassandra, Couchbase, Redis, Angular
Channel 4 – www.channel4.com – 10/2012 - 09/2013
As an external Java consultant I contributed to a greenfield project to migrate channel 4 website to Amazon cloud and rewrite the web application with more up to date technologies and much cleaner and simpler code.
Designed and developed a new bespoke CMS using GWT toolkit.
Contribution to the overall web architecture and interfacing with existing IT infrastructure
I facilitated frequent, continuous releases and lean thinking acquired from previous experiences and theoretical knowledge.
Third party integrations: analytics, advertisement, video (Brightcove), social networks, C4 Content API
Environment: Java, Javascript, Spring, Hibernate, MySQL, GWT, Jquery, Less, CSS, Jetty, Nginx, Maven, REST/Atom, Facebook Sdk, Brightcove API, SVN, GIT, CDN (Akamai, Cloudfront), Amazon EC2 and AWS, Scrum
Tesco – 09/2012
System Integration Consulting role involving Tibco EMS, Oracle DB, Web services
Daily Mail online – www.dailymail.co.uk – 11/2011 - 08/2012
Ensuring daily maintenance and new features integrations to the website
As a Lead Developer I managed releases, code reviews, SCM and configuration management, database changes, continuous integration.
Identified technical debt, made architecture proposals and created a backlog for refactoring and technical improvements.
Managing Third party integrations: analytics, advertisement, video (Brightcove), social networks
Implementation of a Kanban process with weekly production releases
Keywords: Java, Groovy, Grails, Spring, Hibernate, Oracle, Tomcat, REST, SOAP, JMS, AMQ, JavaScript, ExtJS, Jquery, Facebook Sdk, Brightcove, CSS, Ajax, DWR, GIT, Selenium Webdriver, CDN (Akamai), Scrum, Kanban
O2 Media through Equal Experts – Priority Moments project - 03/2011 - 09/2011
As XP team of experts, we designed and implemented a location based service for Priority Moments – O2's location based deals and an administration web application under a very tight schedule.
Continuous, test driven release in a cloud environment (Amazon EC2 and AWS) following agile principles and continuous deployment.
Iterative, adaptive architecture design, based on technical constraints and inputs from different stakeholder
Keywords: Java, Groovy, Spring, NoSQL, MongoDB, Tomcat, REST API, JAX-RS, Soap, JavaScript, Jquery, CSS, Gradle, GIT, Selenium Webdriver, Amazon cloud / AWS, Cloud computing, Geolocation, TDD, Load balancing (Zeus), High-availability, CDN (Akamai), Agile, Mobile apps
Financial Times – 02/2010 - 12/2010
Development of the internal CMS system for FT.com and integration with the newspaper editing system; technical and architectural audits and support; solving problems related to performance and scalability
Key achievements: RSS Content API, simplification of a CORBA integration layer and frameworks
Large distributed multi-team environment (50 developers), including off-shore teams.
Distributed large scale Scrum and Kanban
Keywords: Java, Spring, Hibernate, Tomcat, Active MQ, Apache Camel, Velocity, MySQL, XML/XSL, HTML, CSS, Javascript, Jquery, CORBA, Unix, Apache, CDN, SVN, RallyDev, Maven, TDD, Selenium, Scrum, Kanban
Miniweb interactive 09/2009 – 01/2010
Miniweb was building an interactive platform for bringing the web to the traditional TV set.
Development of a scalable SOA and Java based platform as well as a GWT admin application.
Technologies: Java, Spring, Hibernate, GWT, Tomcat, Active MQ. Apache Camel, SOA, PostgreSQL, MOM, XML, SVN, JIRA, Gradle, groovy, TDD
Nouvelles Frontieres - TUI France 05/2009 – 08/2009
Advised teams about SCRUM best practices, the release process and provided technical expertise in Java and web technologies. I also designed and implemented a public API based on REST/JSON for an iPhone application.
Technologies: Java, Spring MVC, Spring Security, Spring Webflow, Tomcat, Ajax, Prototype, Eclipse, Oracle, SVN, Trac, REST, JSON, Jersey, JAX-RS, Unit testing
Projects with Valtech UK and FR (03/2006 – 04/2009)
As a senior consultant I participated in different client projects with Valtech
Meteo France International 09/2008 – 02/2009
I introduced enterprise-level architecture based on Zend framework, ActiveMQ solution for queuing and Jquery framework for richer UI. I designed a system for weather forecasting reports generation.
Technologies: PHP5, Zend, Jquery, Ajax, Java, Eclipse, PostgreSQL, Open Document, Linux
MAN Investments - London (05/2008)
Project: e-commerce
Role: Technical consulting in setting up continuous integration (Hudson, Maven) and code quality tools (Checkstyle, Cobertura, PMD, Findbugs, and others)
Red Bee Media – BBC - London (09/2007 – 04/2008)
Project: Media Library management application
Role: Lead developer / Team leader
Architecture and Design applying patterns for classical J2EE application. Applying Scrum, we collaborated strongly with the client to match requirements and deliver the project on time and on budget. I managed technical and non technical stakeholder relationships at Red Bee Media, for example to coordinate releases and tests on their environment. I coached junior team members regarding Java best-practices.
Technologies: Java 6, Spring, Spring mvc, Velocity, Hibernate, JUnit, DBUnit, MySQL 5, MySQL Entreprise, Eclipse, Maven 2, SVN, XML, JAXB, CXF, JMS, JBOSS 4.2, Rally Dev, Jmeter
DWP (Jobcentre) - UK (05/2007-07/2007)
Integration of Microsoft Dynamics with the Customer Management System for Job Centre Plus.
Role: Java GUI developer, QA
In a Scrum based development process, we integrated the existing application with MSDynamics for some of its features. The client was developed on a legacy framework (Curam) which is strongly tied to Visual Age IDE.
Technologies: Java Swing, Visual Age, Curam framework, Rallydev, Clearcase
BILLETEL subsidiary of FNAC (www.fnac.fr) and Carrefour (08/2006 – 05/2007)
Role: senior J2EE consultant
The reservation system of FNAC had been developed by CSC. As a consultant my role was to help to fully integrate and maintain the application inside FNAC. My role involved aiding in technical issues, architecture, developing new features, application debugging, and technical writing.
Achievements: TCP/IP connectors to external systems, IP servers for inbound B2B integration, Web Services architecture design for B2B integration,
JBOSS 4 Configuration, Apache and Tomcat audit and configuration, live support, batch processes, I18N issues
Technologies: J2EE 3-tiers service oriented architecture, Apache Struts, Tomcat 5.5, JBOSS 4, JMX, EJB 2.0, Quartz scheduling, web services with Axis 2.0, WS-Security, MySQL, Linux, Eclipse 3.1 + WTP, J2EE design patterns, telnet, ftp, socket api, JIRA, HTML, Javascript, Applets
OBC Neuflize private bank – subsidiary of ABN AMRO France (03/2006 – 07/2006)
Role: senior consultant
Development of an application for Assurance-VIE (ISA equivalent) portfolio visualisation.
Development of an application for virtual VISA card numbers management.
SSO, Security through OTP and certificates
Data integration with an ETL system
Technologies : J2ee 3-tiers architecture, apache struts-el, jstl, hibernate 3.0, tomcat 5.0, mysql, linux, eclipse, cvs, j2ee design patterns, josso (sso), certificates, digital signature, one time passwords, ldap, axis 1.2, Jmeter
Stepinfo – software consultant role
Europ'Assistance – GENERALI group – insurance (12/2005 - 03/2006)
Role: senior consultant
Europ’Assistance is an insurance company in GENERALI group. In this consulting contract I contributed to J2EE Application for insurance contracts management.
Technologies: J2EE n-tiers architecture, Websphere AS, WSAD, ClearCase, TOAD, Mantis, Oracle 9i, PL/SQL, Struts, HTML, Javascript, HIBERNATE, EJB, J2EE patterns, Windows 2000, UNIX
AGF Asset Management (now Allianz global investors FRANCE) (06/2005 – 12/2005)
Role: Java developer within an agile XP team
Development of an accounting system.
Maintenance of existing Back-office AGF-AM applications. (Portfolio Information Management, Securities historical data).
Full extreme programming applied
Technologies: Financial data providers (Fininfo, Reuters), Java Swing, J2EE (EJB), T-SQL, XML, XSL, Weblogic, SYBASE, JUnit, JFCUnit. Tools: IntelliJ IDEA, CVS, MAVEN, CRUISE CONTROL, internal Frameworks, Junit, JFCUnit, Xplanner, Mantis (bugtracker)
Projects with Alten, France (06/2004 - 06/2005)
NETVALOR – HSBC subsidiary – Consumer and personal Credits (09/2004-06/2005)
Role: J2EE consultant
- Development of a J2EE Intranet CRM. Integration with legacy mainframe system SAB.
- RUP development process, CCF-HSBC architecture(layered service oriented architecture), coding and quality standards
- UML design
- Implementation of e-mail sending / reception, paper letters generation, customer information screens, outbound connectors to the legacy SAB banking system (mainframe), using screen scraping and DB2 connections
Technologies: J2EE n-tiers, Websphere, Oracle 8i & 9i, DB2 on AS400, SAB banking system, Apache Struts, JSTL, Display Tag, Log4J, Junit, DBUnit, Windows 2000/XP, LDAP, J2EE security. Tools: WSAD, Clearcase, Rational Rose, bugtracker
SFR – GSM Mobile Operator (06/2004 – 09/2004)
Software engineer, Technical writer, QA. Integration of Vodafone Live portal at SFR.
Technologies: windows 2000, solaris, PVCS, oracle, apache web server, weblogic, java, xml, xsl, xhtml, WAP
Smartjog – (10/2003-06/2004)
Java developer in this startup providing digital content delivery services
Technologies: windows xp, solaris, oracle, hsqldb, MySQL, Lucene, Apache, tomcat, coldfusion, apache axis, java (jsp, servlet), OJB, soap, wsdl, html, in-house MVC2 framework, open source frameworks
LABRI – Master thesis project (2003 - 4 months)
Implementation of an algorithm for automatic distributing of Java objects in a cluster (Master thesis at LABRI – Bordeaux I University)
Technologies: unix (solaris), java, rmi, proactive, xml, ant, bcel, Byte code engineering
GRAISOFT - Internship (2002 – 4 months)
GUI development in Visual C++ and MFC
Technologies: windows nt, visual c++ 6.0, mfc, uml, design patterns, visual SourceSafe
Bordeaux University – university project (2002 – 4 months)
Lead Java developer in a team of 7 students
Experimental location based services platform for mobile phones
Technologies: Java, Tomcat, JSP, WAP, XML, Java Swing, Ericsson network API
Personal projects
Eclipse RCP application
Property rentals web application Java+MongoDB: flatbooking.com
A website to advertise property in Node.SJ+MongoDB: investoffplan.net
Java to MongoDB object mapper https://github.com/cpopov/JMongo