Samuel Aziz Mirza

Senior Software Engineer with extensive experience building and maintaining cloud infrastructure, Kubernetes platforms, and developer tooling. Proven track record in platform engineering roles at VMware/Pivotal, managing enterprise-grade Kubernetes solutions and helping teams scale effectively. Strong background in automation, infrastructure-as-code, and working with AWS/GCP environments. Passionate about solving problems through automation and enabling engineering teams to succeed.

Currently working at Tekever, helping to build UAVs used for surveillance in the world's most challenging environments.

Technical Skills

Cloud & Infrastructure: AWS, GCP, Kubernetes, Terraform, Ansible, Docker
Languages: C#, Go, Java, Ruby, Python, Bash
Platforms: Tanzu Kubernetes Grid (TKG), Tanzu Application Service (TAS)
Practices: Pair Programming, TDD, CI/CD, Platform Automation, Release Engineering

Professional Experience

Tekever - Cardigan, Wales, United Kingdom

Senior Software Engineer | October 2024 - Present

• Developed Ground Control Station (GCS) software for UAV control systems, working across complex distributed systems
• Collaborated directly with avionics engineering team to troubleshoot onboard systems and integrate new payloads, demonstrating ability to work with ambiguity and diverse technical challenges
• Supported multiple business units with system configuration and adaptation to meet varying customer requirements
• Facilitated team meetings and represented the team to stakeholders, managing workload to meet critical deadlines
• Technologies: C#, Bash, Python, MAVlink, ArduPilot, Mob Programming, Pair Programming, TDD

VMware - Remote, United Kingdom

Senior Solutions Architect | November 2021 - April 2024

• Worked directly with enterprise customers to deploy and manage Tanzu Kubernetes Grid (TKG) and Tanzu Application Service (TAS) across AWS and GCP environments
• Helped customers bootstrap platform teams with focus on infrastructure automation and modern DevOps practices
• Architected solutions using Kubernetes, Terraform, and Ansible to abstract complexity and enable teams to solve customer problems efficiently
• Championed transformative cloud-native technologies and platform engineering best practices
• Technologies: Kubernetes, Tanzu, AWS, GCP, Terraform, Ansible, Golang, Python, Bash, Pair Programming, TDD

VMware - Palo Alto, CA, United States

Staff Software Engineer | December 2019 - November 2021

• Key member of Tanzu Kubernetes Grid (TKG) Release Engineering team, responsible for managed Kubernetes service infrastructure
• Ensured timely release of Kubernetes builds and updates across multiple supported versions, managing complex release pipelines
• Built and maintained automation tooling to streamline platform operations and reduce manual intervention
• Selected for high-profile national COVID-19 mobile app project (Summer 2020), demonstrating ability to handle critical, time-sensitive infrastructure challenges
• Technologies: Kubernetes, Tanzu, Golang, Python, Bash, Elasticsearch, AWS, Pair Programming, TDD

Pivotal Software - Palo Alto, CA, United States

Staff Software Engineer | July 2019 - December 2019

• Core contributor to Pivotal Container Service (PKS), an enterprise-managed Kubernetes platform
• Owned integration and release management for latest Kubernetes versions across all supported product release lines
• Triaged platform failures and coordinated with component teams to identify root causes and implement fixes
• Maintained comprehensive end-to-end and integration test suites to verify Kubernetes deployment reliability
• Collaborated across teams to ensure platform stability and successful customer deployments
• Technologies: Kubernetes, Golang, Python, Ruby, Bash, Pair Programming, TDD

iD Tech Camps - San Jose, CA, United States

Senior Software Engineer | June 2015 - July 2019

• Drove transformation of deployment practices and infrastructure, migrating from on-premises to AWS cloud
• Implemented Docker containerization and established CI/CD pipelines, significantly improving deployment efficiency
• Built and maintained custom CRM and e-commerce platform serving thousands of customers
• Developed AngularJS applications with C# .NET backend APIs, demonstrating full-stack capabilities
• Technologies: C# .NET, ASP.NET, MS-SQL, AWS, Docker, AngularJS, TDD

University of the West of England - Bristol, United Kingdom

Senior Application Developer | September 2013 - June 2015

• Developed internal systems supporting student records management and faculty time allocation
• Championed adoption of Elasticsearch to replace legacy course search system, improving performance for prospective students
• Worked with multiple stakeholders across administrative and academic departments
• Technologies: C# .NET, Java, Ruby, Elasticsearch, Javascript, HTML/CSS, Functional Testing

University of Bristol - Bristol, United Kingdom

Application Developer | November 2012 - September 2013

• Maintained Spring MVC webapps used by students and staff
• Redeveloped existing student portal to adopt a mobile-first responsive design
• Developed REST and SOAP web services to enable data transfer between various applications/departments
• Developed a student voting application and mobile timetable viewer
• Technologies: Java, Javascript, HTML, CSS, jQuery

University of the West of England - Bristol, United Kingdom

Application Developer | October 2011 - November 2012

• Developed CRM system built on Microsoft Dynamics to track Univeristy contacts
• Extended and maintained internal cost-estimation & tracking system, used to prepare funding applications
• Technologies C# .NET, VB .NET, Classic ASP, Java, Javascript, HTML, CSS
  

Brainpark - Guelph, ON, Canada

User Experience Developer | September 2010 - December 2010

• Responsible for frontend development of business-focused online collaboration tool
• Implemented user workflows making use of jQuery to improve user experience
• Technologies Python, Django, Javascript, HTML, CSS
  

Portal Technology Systems - London, United Kingdom

Software Developer | October 2009 - June 2010

• Developed Java-based e-Commerce websites for large UK & US retailers
• Designed and implemented bespoke CMS system for large multinational retailer
• Liased directly with clients to fix bugs and gather requirements for new features
• Technologies Java, Javascript, HTML, CSS
  

Other Experience

iD Tech Camps - Princeton, NJ, United States

Camp Director | Princeton University | June to August 2009 - 2015 (Seasonal)

• Led teams responsible for camps of 130+ students, demonstrating strong people management and leadership skills
• Taught STEM topics including Java, Objective-C, Game Design, and Robotics to students aged 11-17
• Managed safety, operations, and team coordination in high-pressure environment
  

San Jose Public Library - San Jose, CA, United States

Course Instructor - Volunteer | June 2018 - September 2018

• Led a publically funded weekly computer programming class for children aged 8-18
• Helped older students prepare for college and complete their high school work
• Enabled younger students to explore computer programming through game design

Education

University of Wales, Aberystwyth | Aberystwyth, Wales, United Kingdom
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), Software Engineering