Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Other Info
Timeline
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Alun Farrar

Bonnet Bay

Summary

I am an experienced Software Developer/Lead with years of experience both working with Mainframe systems and also “newer” technology (Java etc.). I have over 20 years experience in Batch COBOL, CICS and JCL. I have used Websphere extensively (more than 10 years experience) and also Azure.


More recently I have been working on Java & relational database applications - at OAG we migrated from Mainframe to Java/DB2. When I moved to Australia I joined CBA as a Mainframe programmer (for Colonial First State) and spent a year there with an option to convert to a permanent role but I chose to move to IAG instead.


Whilst I have enjoyed Management roles I would like to return to a more hands-on role in an area where I am a true expert - yes I do know my IEFBR14 from my IDCAMS!



Overview

34
34
years of professional experience

Work History

Engineering Manager

CES
07.2022 - Current
  • I’m an Engineering Manager for 3 teams at CES - Platform, Level 3 Support and a Mobile Team
  • Out main DB is Oracle and I write SQL frequently as I have many years experience so can help the teams
  • The majority of the teams are Sydney based but we also have offshore developers and others throughout Australia
  • We run projects using Agile (Scrum and one team Kanban)
  • Project Management is a key part of my role, working with Product and other teams to estimate & plan work in addition to managing the teams building, deploying and operating & maintaining those systems
  • I review team PRs and work on system designs on a regular basis




Engineering Manager

Mark43
10.2021 - 07.2022
  • I was an Engineering Manager leading a team of Senior Software Engineers and QA working on public safety applications (police/ambulance etc.)
  • This role included analysing how the existing COPS police system worked (mainframe based) so that we could rewrite this in newer technologies
  • Mark43 shut down their Australian operations in July 2022



Senior Developer Engineer

IAG
12.2013 - 10.2021
  • I was a Senior Developer at IAG, supporting and developing service oriented applications and APIs, primarily used for customer data and geocoding and addressing tools
  • I worked closely with the "Mainframe" teams at IAG (primarily COBOL, JCL batch jobs) as mainframe integration was a key part of the role
  • Other technologies in this role were Java, Docker, Spring Boot, Ansible, PostgreSQL, DB2, RDS with a strong emphasis on web services and API development, with continuous integration and deployment through tools such as Maven and Bamboo/Jenkins
  • Apps both run on-prem on RHEL/docker and on AWS cloud via EKS


Software Engineer

Colonial First State
03.2013 - 12.2013
  • In this role I worked on Colonial First State’s mainframe systems which were primarily Adabas Natural screens and batch jobs
  • This also involved working on TSO/ISPF, writing and maintaining JCL
  • I supported existing code and also wrote new code for new Superannuation features
  • CFS also had C++ systems that called mainframe code via RPC calls, and systems that synced data between ADABAS and SQL Server - as I have both SQL and Mainframe skills I also worked on that data syncing system


Tech Lead

OAG
11.1993 - 02.2013
  • For the majority of my time at OAG this was a Tech Lead role - managing up to 15 developers (both onshore and offfshore) that worked with a mixture of Mainframe systems in addition to Java and DB2
  • The role also included coordinating offshore teams and external contractors and software suppliers
  • Our systems were primarily CICS/COBOL and ADABAS Natural that we were migrating to Java & DB2


Programmer

Cap Gemini
05.1991 - 10.1993
  • Working as a COBOL & CICS programmer on 2 sites in the UK

Education

BA Hons - Business Studies With IT Major

Staffordshire University
01.1991

Skills

  • Agile (and waterfall) Methodologies
  • 20 years Mainframe Experience (COBOL, CICS, JCL, ADABAS Natural)
  • Experience in Mainframe to Java conversions
  • Java Certified including skills in Struts and JSP
  • Experience using Websphere
  • Azure DevOps hands on experience

Other Info

I am an Australian citizen.

Timeline

Engineering Manager

CES
07.2022 - Current

Engineering Manager

Mark43
10.2021 - 07.2022

Senior Developer Engineer

IAG
12.2013 - 10.2021

Software Engineer

Colonial First State
03.2013 - 12.2013

Tech Lead

OAG
11.1993 - 02.2013

Programmer

Cap Gemini
05.1991 - 10.1993

BA Hons - Business Studies With IT Major

Staffordshire University

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