IT Support & Cloud Infrastructure Professional
Hey, I'm Josh - a recent software engineering graduate from Queen's University Belfast with hands-on experience managing cloud infrastructure and supporting 100+ users in production environments.
During my year-long placement at The Cedar Foundation, I got stuck into the real world of IT - automating workflows with PowerShell, managing Azure AD and Microsoft 365 environments, and solving technical problems that actually mattered to people's daily work. I reduced manual onboarding tasks by 40% through automation, which taught me that good IT support isn't just about fixing problems, it's about preventing them.
I'm particularly drawn to cloud computing and cybersecurity. There's something satisfying about designing systems that are both powerful and secure, whether that's setting up cloud infrastructure, implementing security controls, or building applications that handle data responsibly.
Right now, I'm focused on landing my first professional role in IT support, cloud administration, or systems operations. Long-term, I'm aiming to become a skilled cloud engineer or cybersecurity professional. My dream? To eventually build something unique - a software system or application that solves real problems in innovative ways.
The Cedar Foundation | July 2023 – July 2024
Technical Support & Administration
Automation & Process Improvement
Infrastructure & Device Management
AWS Lambda, DynamoDB, API Gateway, S3, CloudFront | Node.js, JavaScript
Built a production-ready serverless RSVP platform for a real client wedding, handling guest responses and providing a real-time admin dashboard. Designed and implemented complete serverless architecture using AWS Lambda functions for backend logic, DynamoDB for data persistence, and API Gateway for RESTful endpoints.
Key Features: Responsive guest portal with conditional form logic and validation, admin dashboard with live statistics and CSV export functionality, HTTPS encryption via CloudFront CDN, mobile-optimized design achieving sub-2 second global load times.
Technical Achievements: Debugged and resolved complex Lambda integration issues with API Gateway, configured proper IAM roles and CORS policies for secure cross-origin requests, implemented CloudFront distribution to improve mobile reliability and performance. Achieved cost-effective architecture running under £2/month while supporting 1000+ concurrent users through auto-scaling Lambda functions.
Impact: Successfully deployed to production and currently handling real wedding RSVPs with zero downtime, demonstrating ability to deliver reliable client-facing applications.
AWS S3, CloudFront, Route 53 | HTML, CSS, JavaScript
Built this portfolio website using AWS serverless architecture to demonstrate practical cloud infrastructure skills. Hosted on S3 for static website hosting, distributed globally via CloudFront CDN for HTTPS encryption and performance optimization, with DNS management through Route 53. Implements cost-effective architecture (under £3/month) while delivering enterprise-grade reliability, security, and sub-second load times worldwide.
Key Learning: Hands-on experience with cloud infrastructure design, CDN configuration, SSL/TLS certificates, DNS management, and S3 bucket policies. Demonstrates understanding of modern web hosting best practices and serverless architectures.
React, Node.js, Express, MongoDB, Firebase, Tailwind CSS
Full-stack web application for managing pet health, activities, and care routines. Features secure authentication, individual pet profiles with customized tracking, activity and weight monitoring with data visualization using Recharts, meal scheduling, medication reminders, and veterinary appointment management.
My Contributions: Led development of three major features - Activity Tracker with achievement system and environmental impact calculations (converting walks to CO2 savings), Weight Tracker with goal-setting and milestone celebrations, and Pet-Friendly Locations finder with interactive maps and weather API integration. Built corresponding RESTful API endpoints using Express and MongoDB with proper authentication middleware and data validation.
Key Achievement: Implemented GDPR-compliant data handling processes and designed the application with security and user privacy as core principles throughout the entire development lifecycle. Demonstrated ability to deliver end-to-end software solutions balancing functionality, security, and usability.
Docker, Rancher, CI/CD Pipelines, Cloud Networking
Deployed cloud-based web editor using Docker containers with Rancher orchestration platform as part of university coursework. Configured CI/CD pipelines for automated deployment, implemented cloud networking configurations, and established security policies for containerized applications. Gained practical experience with infrastructure-as-code principles, container orchestration, and modern DevOps practices for scalable cloud service management.
Wireshark, Security Tools, Threat Modeling
Conducted comprehensive security labs analyzing buffer overflows, SQL injection vulnerabilities, and threat modeling exercises as part of secure software development coursework. Used Wireshark to capture and analyze malicious network traffic, identifying Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) and attack patterns. Completed practical coursework on incident response procedures and security risk assessment methodologies, building foundational skills for cybersecurity roles.
Currently seeking opportunities in IT Support, Cloud Administration, or Systems Operations. Available immediately and open to UK-wide relocation.
Location: County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland