25+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN WEB APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT

Robert Bank

With over 25 years of experience in software development, IT infrastructure, and team management, I assist organizations in achieving scalable and secure IT solutions. As a freelance professional, I offer expertise in software development, cloud migrations, architectural design, and DevOps processes. Whether it’s building complex web applications, optimizing infrastructure, or coaching teams, I deliver tailored solutions that meet the specific needs of my clients.

I combine in-depth technical knowledge with a practical, results-oriented approach. I am accustomed to working in complex environments, where I collaborate with teams to transform challenges into sustainable solutions.

An overview of the areas I specialize in:

  • Software Development: Development and maintenance of web applications and microservices.
  • Technical Architecture: Designing scalable and robust IT solutions.
  • Cloud Migration & Infrastructure Management: Transitioning from on-premises to cloud, including hybrid/multi-cloud solutions.
  • DevOps & CI/CD: Optimizing build and release processes.
  • Consultancy & Coaching: Guiding teams and individual developers in their technical growth.

If you are looking for an experienced IT professional in the areas mentioned above, I would be happy to discuss how I can help.

Feel free to contact me for a full profile or an informal conversation to learn more about how we can collaborate.

Skills

PROGRAMMING & DATA

Java8+

Javascript

ReactJS

Typescript

Python

Spring Framework

Spring Boot

Hibernate

Oracle DB

MySQL

Cassandra

MongoDB

ActiveMQ

RabbitMQ

Redis

Lucene

Shell scripting

INFRASTRUCTURE  & MONITORING

Linux

Docker

Google Cloud Storage

Google Compute Engine

Google Kubernetes Engine

Google Networking

Google Big Query

Google Pub/Sub

Google Maps API

NewRelic

Prometheus

Grafana

SonarQube

ELK

GitLab

Jenkins

Tomcat

ActiveMQ

RabbitMQ

COACHING & project management

Team Management

Coaching

Roadmap planning

Scrum

Kanban

Jira

Confluence

selected examples

Projects

Powerhouse Energy Platform – Technology stack migration and upgrade

Powerhouse is an energy platform trading various short- and long-term energy products on the Dutch and European markets. As a senior full-stack developer, I was responsible for developing and optimizing the platform. This platform used a wide technology stack, including Oracle DB, Java, JSF 2, Angular, and Python.

  • Migration and technology upgrade: The main project was migrating and upgrading the platform’s technology stack, which involved upgrading several frameworks such as Java, Spring, Angular, and integrating microservices based on Spring Boot. I prepared a migration plan, including a risk analysis and security measures, to ensure a smooth and secure transition to the new stack.
  • CVE monitoring and security: After the risk analysis, I set up an automated monitoring system for CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures), including procedures and reports, ensuring the platform was always up to date with the latest security patches and that vulnerabilities were detected quickly.
  • Problem analysis and stability improvements: In addition to regular tasks like implementing new features, I was actively involved in analyzing and solving technical stability issues within the platform, including identifying root causes and implementing targeted optimizations.
  • Agile approach: I worked within an agile team using Scrum to quickly adjust and complete projects on time. This flexible approach allowed us to effectively plan and execute the migration and upgrades, despite the complexity of the environment.

Paazl – Multi-carrier platform for e-commerce logistics

Paazl offers a multi-carrier platform for e-commerce stores with integrations to local and international carriers. The platform is crucial for e-commerce businesses, where availability, response times, and the security of personal data are paramount. As a senior developer, I was responsible for maintaining and expanding the core functionality of the platform. For the last four years, I have served as head of development, overseeing both technical and operational aspects of the platform.

  • Platform development: During my time at Paazl, I was involved in expanding and improving platform features, including integrating new carriers, optimizing the user interface, and enhancing backend systems. The technology stack included Java, Spring, Kubernetes, and GCP.
  • Migration to microservices: One of the most significant projects was migrating from a monolithic system to a microservices architecture, hosted on Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE). This transformation significantly improved the platform’s scalability and deployability, providing a much more robust infrastructure.
  • Cloud migration to GCP: I led the migration of Paazl’s platform to Google Cloud, using the “lift-and-shift” model. This migration improved performance, flexibility, and cost savings. The project was supported by a detailed plan and the use of various DevOps tools such as Jenkins and GitLab.
  • Team development and coaching: As Head of Development, I was responsible for developing both local and offshore teams. I created personal development plans for team members and coached them to enhance their technical skills. I was also responsible for the recruitment strategy and establishing offshore teams to increase development capacity.
  • Security and compliance: There was a strong focus on ensuring the security of personal data, which was a critical requirement given the nature of e-commerce applications.

Examination management platform

The Exam Management Platform is a complex web application that I developed as lead developer and architect for booking, setting up, conducting, and grading exams, both online and offline. The platform includes several modules and integrations with external systems, such as a billing application and other educational systems.

  • Technical responsibilities: I was responsible for the entire technical architecture, defining technical requirements, and developing the web applications. The technology stack included Java, Hibernate, Spring, Wicket, MySQL, and ReactJS.
  • Security and reliability: Given the processing of sensitive personal data, security was a top priority for the platform. This involved implementing secure access methods and ensuring data integrity.
  • NFC-based access: For access to exam locations, I developed a separate application based on NFC technology in C++, allowing participants to securely access the exam locations.

Management Information Application for the Real Estate Sector – Integration and Implementation

As lead developer, I was responsible for developing a management information system for the real estate sector. The system was designed to integrate various data sources and provide property managers with easy access to essential data for reporting and decision-making.

  • Technical feasibility study: As a first step, I conducted a feasibility study with the sector to evaluate and integrate various data sources and systems into a single solution.
  • Technical requirements: Taking into account the specific needs of the real estate sector and necessary integrations with external systems, I defined the technical requirements.
  • Development: The application was developed on the Microsoft platform using .NET and C#, with a focus on reliability and usability.

Fondsenzoeken.nl – Fund application automation and matchmaking

Automating grant applications and matchmaking

As lead developer, I was responsible for designing and developing the matching component of an application that helps organizations find suitable grant providers.

  • Data analysis: I developed an advanced text analysis algorithm that calculates a match percentage between applications and grant providers, using Lucene for text indexing and Wordnet for semantic analysis.
  • Research and development: Responsible for the entire development process of the matching component, from concept to implementation.