Strapi Squad Lead Developer at Virgin Media
Led the backend development team in migrating and optimizing Virgin Media's content management system, enhancing performance and scalability.
Virgin Media
Strapi Squad Lead Developer (Lead Backend Developer)
About Virgin Media
Virgin Media is a leading British telecommunications company that provides a wide range of services, including broadband internet, digital television, fixed-line telephony, and mobile services. Formed in 2006 through the merger of NTL, Telewest, and Virgin Mobile UK, the company has established itself as a major player in the UK's telecom industry. In June 2021, Virgin Media merged with O2, creating a formidable joint venture to enhance connectivity services across the UK.
Role and Responsibilities
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Backend System Migration: Led the transition from Strapi v3, utilizing a NoSQL database, to Strapi v4 with a SQL-based architecture. This involved meticulous planning and execution to ensure seamless data migration and system compatibility.
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Infrastructure Optimization: Collaborated closely with the DevOps team to architect a robust and scalable backend infrastructure. Leveraged Docker and Kubernetes technologies on AWS to enhance system performance and support increased user demand.
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Custom Plugin Development: Designed and implemented bespoke Strapi plugins facilitating real-time data transmission between various environments. This innovation ensured that content updates were instantly reflected across all platforms, improving user engagement.
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Automated Deployment Pipelines: Developed and maintained GitHub pipelines to automate the data migration process and streamline deployments. This automation minimized manual interventions, reduced errors, and accelerated release cycles.
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Team Leadership and Mentorship: Provided leadership and mentorship to the backend development team, promoting best practices in coding, unit testing, and agile methodologies. Fostered an environment of continuous learning and professional growth.
Impact and Reflections
My tenure at Virgin Media was marked by significant technical achievements and collaborative efforts to enhance the company's content management capabilities. Leading the migration to Strapi v4 not only modernized the backend system but also improved data handling and scalability.
The partnership with the DevOps team to deploy a containerized infrastructure ensured that our platforms could efficiently handle growing traffic and content demands. Despite the challenges posed by a high-pressure environment and extended virtual meetings, the experience honed my skills in leadership, system architecture, and cross-functional collaboration. These efforts collectively contributed to a more resilient and responsive digital presence for Virgin Media.