05/06/2025 updated

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Seasoned Tech Consultant with large scale AI, Full Stack and Cloud Development Experience

Milton Keynes, United Kingdom M Sc Computer Science
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom M Sc Computer Science

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VENKATESH_BALAKUMAR.docx

Artificial IntelligenceAmazon Web ServicesAmazon Elastic Compute CloudMicrosoft AzureBankingCost Benefit AnalysisServicio al ClienteCloud EngineeringDevOpsDigitizationEntrepreneurshipSalesGoogle Cloud MessagingInfrastructure ManagementMobile Application SoftwareMachine LearningMarket ValueBlockchainService ManagementSolution ArchitectureBusiness StrategiesTapestryTechnical ManagementGoogle CloudTogafTechnical AcumenSafety PrinciplesTerraform
With a rich tapestry of experience spanning across multi-cloud environments, I bring to the table a blend of strategic foresight, technical acumen, and a proven track record of delivering high-impact projects. My journey as a Multi Cloud Senior/Lead Architect and Developer has been marked by a series of successful engagements with enterprises, aiding them in aligning their cloud and mobile applications with overarching business strategies. My expertise is not just confined to theory; it's validated by a suite of certifications including TOGAF 9, GCP Professional Cloud Architect, and AWS Certified Solution Architect Associate, among others.
My recent endeavor as a Contract Lead Technical Architect at MPCH.io, a blockchain startup, saw me steering a team towards architecting a Google Cloud-based infrastructure using Terraform for a global, multi-tenant environment. This project not only showcased my ability to manage complex cloud architectures but also my knack for engaging with third-party vendors to implement enterprise-grade service management solutions.
At Sales-I UK, I spearheaded the solution architecture for a new sales-AI platform on Azure Cloud, elevating their existing CRM solution through the integration of AI and Machine Learning. This project was a testament to my ability to design service requirements, manage continuous cost analysis, and deliver robust Azure services solutions.
My stint with HSBC Hong Kong as an Interim Cloud Technical Architect involved deploying AKS-based services for a Cross Border Taxation Programme, showcasing my adeptness in adhering to stringent banking standards while ensuring seamless implementation and security.
As a Co-founder of a Google Cloud Partner Solution, I led the development and deployment of an AI and ML-based Job board solution, earning my Limited Company, Amzu, a coveted Google Cloud Partner Status. This venture underscored my entrepreneurial spirit and my ability to harness cutting-edge technologies to deliver tangible business value.
My journey doesn't just reflect a series of successful projects; it's a narrative of continuous learning, adapting, and contributing to the ever-evolving cloud domain. From publishing insightful cloud articles to being a panelist in numerous cloud events, I am deeply committed to not just keeping pace with the technological advancements but also driving them.
Engaging with me is not just about leveraging my technical expertise; it's about embarking on a collaborative journey towards achieving your business's digital transformation goals. Let's together build a cloud architecture that's not just robust, secure, and scalable, but also a catalyst for your business's sustained growth and innovation.

Languages

EnglishFluent

Project history

Senior Consultant

HSBC

Banking & Financial Services

>10.000 team member

Senior Consultant for HSBC providing AI, NextJS, AWS and GCP Architecture and Development Service. Responsible for the development of various mission-critical solutions and environments for HSBC UK

GCP Consultant

MPCH.io
* MPCH is a well-funded multi-party computing-based blockchain platform start-up.
* I was commissioned to provide a Google Cloud-based architecture for their large, globalised
environment.
* Engaged 3rd party GCP Partners to provide requirements for designing a multi-tenant
environment in GCP using GKE, Cloud SQL, Pub/Sub, VPN and Cloud Interconnect, and GCP Private
CA.
* Responsible for designing and testing implementation for the Cloud Interconnect to their
secure on-premises locations in USA, Europe and Asia.
* Initiate the Service Management and Delivery process with ServiceNow for all services in GCP
for UAT and Production environments.
* Responsible for validating 3rd party deliverables against GCP Security Foundation Blueprint
and CSI Security Checklist.
* The Start-up will go for GA by January 2024, which will bring revolutionary security to
blockchain transactions.

Cloud Consultant

LV
* Was contracted for taking forward their aspirations to move to a cloud native data
transformation and data science programme from On-Premises.
* LV is a multi-cloud user and has many services running in Azure and GKE.
* Responsible for implementing GKE based Microservices Architecture for the Customer and Member
Services.
* Responsible for validating design and architecture against the LV Enterprise Architecture
requirements and security requirements.
* Responsible for creating Azure Landing Zone Architecture and Design for Datalake, Databricks
and Datawarehouse based projects.
* Provides Solution Architecture for migration of their On-Premises SQL Server/SSIS
Datawarehouse/Services to a fully managed Azure Datawarehouse.
* Responsible for designing the forward-looking plan for implementation an Analytics team and
solution based on Azure Synapse and Databricks.
* Create solution architecture using Azure Databricks and Azure Data Lake for a Data Lake based
data migration service.
* Design the Azure Cloud Adoption Framework for the Data Landing Zone and presented to the
Architecture Review Board
* Liaise with offshore resources and DevOps team and formed the DevOps practice for the
projects.
* Contributed and participated in the LV Architecture Board.

Cloud Consultant

HSBC Hong Kong
* Providing support for Implementation of GKE based services for a Cross Broder Taxation
Programme for a bank.
* Implement GKE Architecture and Design adhering to the Bank's Standards, Guidelines, Rules and
Policies.
* Work closely with the Enterprise Architecture team to audit, report and mitigate security
requirements for the GCP projects.
* Responsible for Security Architecture practices adhering to the Enterprise Architecture
requirements.
* Responsible for implementing Tax Reporting System Architecture with Dataflow, GKE and AKS.
* Validate all deliverables against the HSBC Standards, Rules and Policies for security and
compliance.
* Technologies used: Java, Python, GKE, Dataflow, Cloud VPN, Cloud Storage, Cloud SQL, Cloud VM
and IAM.

Cloud Migration Architect/Consultant

Deltatre
* Deltatre provides OTT platform for streaming sports and games. I was requested by Deltatre and
Google Italy in assisting a PoC to migrate from AWS to GCP.
* Involved in planning and executing infrastructure services using GCP Landing Zone (Cloud
Foundation Fabric).
* Identifying fargate services and utilise the As-Is VPC and network and help recreate in GCP.
* Help to design GKS services from existing EKS Service.

Cloud Consultant (GCP)

Atom Bank
* Atom bank is going through a large transformation programme where they are replacing their 3rd
party services with in-house developed services.
* I was responsible for reviewing and validating a major part of the transformation called
Mission 48 which replaces alfresco content management and BPM services with services built
in-house.
* Reviewed and improved the GCP services standards utilised by the microservices. Validated VPC
and Firewall services for the end-to-end architecture.
* Evaluated Terraform scripts for maintaining the GKE clusters for the new workflow service that
is deployed. This service is based on open source Temporal.IO (Java) project and will handle
around 100 workflow requests/second and will replace expensive Alfresco service.
* Improvised additional standards on accessing external services.

Start-up Consultant

* Supported a Content and Marketing Platform for B2B and B2C start-up with one of the prominent
Mar Tech Strategy Gurus in the UK
* Responsible for developing the Technology Roadmap and shaping the MVP features and Product
roadmap.
* Worked closely as co-founder for the pitch deck and business processes.
* The Start-up was in the pre-funding stage and will be pitched for funding in the coming month.

Interim Cloud Architect

Santander
Santander - Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK
* Engaged with Business Managers and Directors through regular meetings and workshops to
identify business goals and concerns that need to be addressed with Technology
* Followed Strict banking Governance, Standards and Principles, delivered architecture through
the solution architecture team for Fraud Detection, PSD2 and Open Banking Initiatives.
* Implemented Security Architecture Standards and Principles. The Architecture uses Azure with
User Provided Keys along with Identity and Context Aware Infrastructure.
* Initiated and Promoted Architecture practice like 12 factor application development, Event
Driven Architecture throughout the division.
* Responsible for the DevOps practice around Azure. My DevOps team was responsible for helping
around 15 teams with 150 team members.
* The infrastructure is a Hybrid mixture of OpenShift and Azure AKS clusters that are deployed
and utilised by all the projects for developing Highly Available Microservices and Web
applications.
* Terraform is primarily used for creating IaaS Azure infrastructure.
* Designed a massive implementation of API's including internal and external facing APIs with
Swagger 2.0 and OAuth 2.0. Around 300 APIs and their respective microservices are implemented.
* The Microservices are implemented using Java/Spring Boot and NodeJS in Kubernetes with some of
them handing around 2 million requests per day.
* Introduced MoM using RabbitMQ for Reactive Architecture pattern that is now used throughout
the division.
* Responsible for implementing Kappa Architecture for processing NRT and Batch data using
Dataflow and Apache Beam.
* Contributed to the continuous improvement of Standards, Guidelines and Regulatory Compliances
that includes ISO27001, PSD2 and Open Banking.
* Technologies used are PaaS, IaaS, Azure Data Lake, Azure Data Factory, AKS, Java 8/11, Spring
Boot, Spring Webflux, Python, Kafka, SQL, Cloudera (Hadoop, Azure Data lake), NodeJS (Express
JS) and CI/CD using Jenkins, SonarQube, OWASP Plugins, Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift, AWS EC2,
ELB, EKS and GCP (Dataflow, Managed Instance Groups and Kubernetes).

Lead Architect - Cloud Migration

Motability Operations
Motability Operations - London, UK
* Lead Architect for one of the largest providers of customised car lease in the UK.
* Responsible for managing 3rd party like AWS, Oracle, and Microsoft. Responsible for managing
software licenses that cost around £1 Million Pounds.
* Responsible for a team of solution architects and technical architects to achieve the goal
assigned for this assignment, that is to migrate all on-premises application, infrastructure,
and data to the cloud.
* Design Authority for all the infrastructure design and migration plan for the migration.
* Introduced DevOps best practices and guidelines to the team.
* Identified the As-Is Architecture, and created the To-Be and Transition Architectures for the
migration that introduced proper security, DR and High Availability in the Cloud with less
impact to the BAU.
* As part of the migration plan, developed the MDM, metadata model, Sunset planning and
migration planning.
* Work closely with the Management team that includes Business Managers and Directors of IT to
deliver the Target Architecture within the given time frame.
* Introduced Event Driven Architecture and Message Driven Middleware for new applications
developed in the Cloud.
* Tightened the security using new security architecture, audits and standards after identifying
a key security issue with the mailing system in the first month of joining the organisation.
* Technologies used are Java, Spring, Spring Boot, SQL, RabbitMQ, Oracle Middleware, Oracle DB,
Oracle WebCentre.

Chief Architect

Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan Police - London, UK
* One of the prestigious projects where I was responsible for end-to-end Transformation of IT
and migration of all assets to Cloud and Big Data (Data lake)
* Worked closely with 3rd party vendor Deloitte to deliver the Total Technology Policing
Strategy and 3-year roadmap.
* Responsible for developing Big Data Capability that includes building a Data lake using open
source technologies like Hadoop for bringing together all structural and non-structural data.
* Designed Message Driven Middleware using ESB for applications and apps to interact with each
other and with the data set securely.
* Created DevOps best practices and guidance for microservices based middleware architecture
that utilised private cloud.
* Managed 3rd party vendors like Microsoft, RackSpace, Apple and MuleSoft.
* Design Authority for Application Architecture with Full Stack Development team of spanning 200
hundred developers and 15 different applications/apps.
* Reported to CTO/CIO.
* As a result of the strategies, ageing applications are migrated to a Private Cloud, MDM, Big
Data, integration and DevOps capabilities are created and established.

Other Lead Architect

Northgate, Wipro and AIG
Northgate, Wipro and AIG - UK, India and USA
Chief Architect - Northgate Information Systems, UK, Migrating and managing products to SaaS.
Enterprise Architecture - Wipro, helped various Insurance clients in executing their IT
Strategy. Managed Technology implementation in Japan, USA and Europe regions.
Chief Architect - AIG Consumer Finance Group. Managed Technology Teams in USA, Poland, Taiwan
and Argentina

Certificates

Google Certified Architect Professional

Google

2024

Google Cloud Certified Professional Security Engineer

Google

2022

Google Cloud Certified Architect Professional

Google

2021

Amazon Web Services Solutions Architect Associate

Amazon Web Services

2019

TOGAF 9 Certified

TOGAF

2013

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