Rafi Shaik

WebSphere Specialist with over 14 years of IT experience, skilled in delivering high-quality solutions for web and mobile applications. Certified in IBM and Red Hat technologies, with a strong foundation in PRINCE2 Agile methodology. Expertise spans IBM WebSphere Application Server, cloud computing platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure), and container orchestration tools (Kubernetes, OpenShift). Currently, I am leading the migration of legacy WebSphere applications to the Red Hat container platform at Alinma Bank.

• PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner
• PRINCE2 Agile Foundation
• IBM WebSphere Portal Administration and Deployment v7.0
• Red hat OpenShift – D180
• Red hat OpenShift – D280
• Red Hat JBoss Application Administration I

Winner of the Innovation idea challenge, which is one of the Riyad Bank strategic initiatives.

IBM WebSphere Application Server v6x/7/8x/9x, IBM MQ v7x/8/9x, IBM HTTP server v7/8/9, IBM BPM – BAW, IBM MFP – Mobile First Platform, WebSphere Portal, Lotus Connections, IBM DB2, Oracle, Jython, Python, Shell, Sun Solaris, AIX, Linux on Z systems, Windows, Dyna Trace, BMC, ITCAM, Problem management

• Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Led the automation of WebSphere configurations and deployments through scripting in Jython, significantly reducing manual efforts and minimizing errors in the deployment process.
• CI/CD Pipeline Development: Collaborated with development teams to establish and enhance CI/CD pipelines, integrating automated testing and deployment processes to accelerate software delivery while maintaining high quality.
• Containerization Initiatives: Actively explored and implemented containerization strategies with technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes, facilitating a more agile deployment process in alignment with modern cloud-native practices.
• Collaboration with Development Teams: Fostered a strong partnership with development teams, aligning operational requirements with development goals to create seamless workflows that support rapid application deployment and iterations.
• Monitoring and Performance Tuning: Utilized monitoring tools like Dynatrace APM to optimize performance across WebSphere applications, proactively identifying issues that could impact system reliability and promptly addressing them.
• Continuous Improvement: Engaged in retrospectives and post-mortem analyses to identify opportunities for process improvements, resulting in enhanced operational practices and reduced incident response times.
• Infrastructure Management: Managed around 250 WebSphere installations across various platforms, ensuring that environments are properly maintained, patched, and aligned with organizational standards for security and performance.
• Automation of Operations: Developed shell scripts and automated processes for IBM MQ configurations, improving operational efficiency and reducing the time required for routine maintenance tasks.
• Security Implementations: Implemented security best practices across WebSphere and MQ environments, including LDAP integrations and SSL configurations, to ensure secure and compliant application deployments.
• Disaster Recovery Planning: Played a pivotal role in disaster recovery exercises, helping to establish robust recovery strategies and documentation to ensure business continuity in critical situations.
• Agile Methodologies: Actively contributed to Agile practices, participating in sprint planning and daily stand-ups to facilitate communication and collaboration between teams, aligning development and operational priorities.
• Cloud Technologies Engagement: Explored cloud environments for future deployments, evaluating solutions for scalability and reliability to support the organization's growth and digital transformation strategies.
• DevOps Tooling: Familiarized with and integrated tools that support DevOps practices, such as Jenkins for automation, Jira for issue tracking, and Slack for team communication, improving visibility and collaboration among team members.
• Broad Technology Exposure: Leveraged experience with IBM BPM, ODM, and Mobile First platforms to contribute to cross-functional projects, reflecting the interconnected nature of development and operational responsibilities in a DevOps culture.

Key Skills and Tools

• Automation Tools: Proficient in Jython, shell scripting, and CI/CD tools (e.g., Jenkins, Git).
• Container Orchestration: Familiar with Docker and Kubernetes for application containerization.
• Version Control Systems: Experienced in Git for managing code versions and collaborative development.
• Monitoring and APM: Expertise in monitoring solutions such as Dynatrace and BMC Patrol.
• Cloud Services: Understanding of cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure) and their integration with existing infrastructures.