Sammy Yousef

Sydney, NSW, Australia

+61-2-9837-3085 (after hours) | syousef@hotmail.com

Summary

Over twenty-five years of experience in software design, development, delivery and customer support working on high value critical systems. A career spent liaising with staff at all levels in banking, insurance, retail and export. Adept at applying creativity and logic equally to system design and troubleshooting. Business focused and a good communicator. Often requested by name to work on customer projects. Proven track record working with or leading small to medium sized teams, mentoring junior developers and participating in recruitment.

Technical Experience

Commercial Experience

Programming languages: Java, C, Pro*C, C++, JavaScript, CSS, HTML, XML,Visual BASIC and VBA, PowerBuilder, Smalltalk, DataFlex, Powerflex, SQL (MS Transact-SQL and Oracle PL/SQL), Oracle Forms, Bash scripting, PowerShell

Development tools: Eclipse, Spring Tool Suite, IntelliJ Ant, Maven, Jenkins, Subversion, CVS, IBM Visual Age Java, IBM Visual Age Smalltalk, Symantec Café, Visual Basic

Design tools: Rational ROSE, ERWIN, MS Visio

Project Planning: MS Project
Frameworks: J2EE (JavaMail, JAXP, JAXB, JSP, EJB2), Spring, Hibernate, Struts, Tiles

Middleware: WebLogic Server, Apache Tomcat, Tuxedo, MQSeries, SWIFT Alliance Access Server

Databases: Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase SQL Server, Oracle, Microsoft Access, and Paradox

Operating systems: Windows, UNIX/Linux, MS-DOS, OpenVMS

Networks: TCP/IP (Windows and UNIX), Lantastic, Novell

 

Academic and Hobby Experience

C#, Delphi, Eiffel, VRML, Pascal, Perl, Python, COBOL, Lisp, Prolog, x86 assembly language

Employment History

Reserve Bank of Australia
Senior Developer   -
February 2005 - September 2024

Technical Lead         - September 2024 - January 2025

Team Lead               - January 2025 - Present

 

 

 

 

Achievements

·      Acting manager for a team of six on several occasions for duration of up to one month. Tasks included:
- Resource allocation and project planning
- Attending project planning, change approval and management meetings
- Recommending a course of action for project and support work
- Staff administration, task allocation and follow up

·      Designed and developed major enhancements to the RITS transaction settlement queue and overnight processing including introduction of Targeted Bilateral Offset (TBO), Funds Reservation, PEXA Property transactions and Fast Settlement (FSS) System transactions for New Payment Platform (NPP)

In the 12 months to October 2014, RITS settled on average around 42 000 RTGS transactions each day, with an aggregate daily value of over $164 billion. On the peak value day in that period, RITS settled around 50 000 RTGS transactions with a total value of $258 billion.[1]

·      Design and Lead development of Property Feeder interface for PEXA batch transactions. Included estimation, project planning, message format specification, liasing with PEXA developers

·      Design and led development and support of a C based SWIFT ADK component for a sanctions screening system. This integrated with SWIFT Alliance Access Server to route messages based on screening results

·      Participated in software upgrade of mission critical components to work with later versions of Oracle

·      Replaced existing Telnet terminal screens with web-based GUI components using a variety of J2EE technologies such as EJB2, JavaScript, Struts, JSP, Hibernate later moving to lighter weight frameworks including Spring

·      Improved documentation of the team’s J2EE/Struts debugging environment

·      Resolved difficult code errors using debugging tools in a legacy Pro*C/Oracle system on VMS

·      Supported Microsoft SQL Server data warehouse data import and operation

·      Migrated build scripts to Jenkins based Enterprise Release Platform

·      Migrated all team projects in CVS code repository to Subversion while preserving history

·      Developed and implemented a source code audit strategy to ensure enhancements and fixes were consistently applied on different source code branches.

Duties

·      Support and ongoing software development of the Reserve Bank Information and Transfer System (RITS) and other systems. Includes analysis, design, project planning, development and testing for both user interface and backend components

·      24 hour on call and on site level 2 and 3 support including after-hours support on a roster

·      Participation in weekend implementation, site rotation and business resumption testing

·      Advanced software debugging and troubleshooting

·      Code reviews and code security audit and remediation

·      Evaluation of new tools and technologies

·      Documenting technical procedures including build and release procedures, troubleshooting, and environment setup

·      Producing release handover documentation

·      Writing and contributing to technical and business reports

·      Liaison with other teams and third parties to achieve development and support goals

·      Preparation and delivery of presentations to other teams and senior management

·      Participation in recruitment panels and graduate committee including responsibilities for designing interview questions and conducting and reporting on candidate interviews

·      Mentoring of junior developers and new team members

 

 

 

Sandstone Technology Pty. Ltd.

Information Technology Consultant - August 1999 – February 2005

 

·      Successfully designed, developed, tested, delivered and maintained a wide variety of software including n-tier internet banking and online insurance front-ends, corresponding intranet back-ends, integration servers, and stand-alone clients

·      Highly regarded by clients - requested as a specific resource to be loaded to one client for unrelated consulting

·      Acted as company representative and sole on-site developer for development work and design workshops when required, and small teams of 2 to 3 at other times

·      Provided technical advice to management, business analysts and testing client staff

·      Packaged software for deployment, preparing documentation including product manuals, testing, release, and migration documentation

·      Provided level 2 and 3 phone support for systems developed including 24 hr on call support

·      Successfully conducted troubleshooting and problem investigation, formally reporting on production and user acceptance test issues

·      Engaged in hardware and software installation as required in a small company setting, including involvement in maintaining a secure internet presence

·      Systems based on company products were typically written in Java and Smalltalk interfacing via ODBC to Sybase SQL Server, MS-SQL Server or MS-Access databases, which were integrated to back end core systems and third party software as required.

·      Designed and built software tools for use in development and on client production systems. These included a message validating Java proxy server, XML document parsers in Java and Smalltalk, and productivity tools for developers in C, Java, Smalltalk, MS-Access VBA and using windows batch files

 

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Information Technology Consultant - November 1997 - July 1999

 

 

·      Participated in analysis, design and development and successful delivery of a vehicle information system for a car finance company, in a small team setting

·      Designed and developed data export batch programs (windows batch), PowerBuilder data entry screens, Tuxedo services and stand-alone clients (Microsoft Visual C and UNIX C++)

·      Successfully implemented a Visual Basic API for data import and financial calculation, used to ensure consistency of the behaviour and to verify correct calculation of Tuxedo services

·      Maintained a technical infrastructure and environment including the creation of make files and Tuxedo configuration files at the team and project levels

·      Created and maintained project-wide data models using ERWIN

·      Estimated software development effort for a small team

·      Performed troubleshooting and development of user acceptance test and production environments

·      Optimised code and performed performance analysis

·      Prepared programming tutorials for programmers new to the environment

·      Coordinated code migration between development and user acceptance test environments

·      Clients included a finance company, bank, and major department store

 

University of Technology, Sydney
Lecturer -
Part Time 1999

 

 

·      Lectured the subjects “Systems Programming” (Autumn semester) and “Applications Development with Visual Basic” (Spring semester), updating prepared curricula as needed

·      Coordinated week to week running of the subjects with permanent staff, including guest lecturers and teaching assistants

·      Developed grading schemes for assignments, performed assignment grading, supervised grading by teaching assistants, and settled student disputes

 

 

University of Technology, Sydney
Computer Laboratory Assistant -
Part Time 1996, 1997

 

 

·      Provided student support in troubleshooting software development

·      Graded students assignment and tutorial submissions

 

Silicon Crafts Pty. Ltd.

Computer Programmer - November 1993 - December 1994 (F/T), June - July 1995 (Casual)

 

·      Tailored export software to specific client needs, including data entry and reporting modules

·      Converted a variety of software interfaces from Powerflex (DOS procedural) to DataFlex for Windows (object-oriented), learning object-oriented principles in a sink-or-swim setting

·      Sole developer of and vendor liaison for EDIFAX fax transmission software (DOS and Windows versions) and EDITELEX telex emulation software, based on EDI standards, communicating on Telstra's AS400 network via the CONNOTC communication module

·      Designed and developed in-house tools for improved developer productivity

·      Installed, configured and tested software on client and vendor sites

 

Education

Master of Astronomy with Distinction

University of Western Sydney

       High Distinction in 8 out of 9 subjects

2000 - 2002

Bachelor of Science (Computing Science) Honours First Class

University of Technology Sydney
       Graduated 4th in order of merit in Computing Science
       Returned as a part time lecturer by request
       Faculty Board Student Representative, Publicity Officer Programming Society

       Electives included: Artificial Intelligence (Machine Learning, Knowledge Based
          Systems), Languages And Translators, Quantitative Modelling, Graphics

1995 - 1997

Statement of Attainment (C programming)

TAFE NSW

1994

         Certifications and Short Courses

 

Azure DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400) Cert Prep: Introduction

Learning Docker

Cloud Native Twelve-Factor and Fifteen-Factor Applications

First Look: Java 10 and Java 11

Git: Branches, Merges, and Remotes

Git for Teams

Python Basics for Java Developers

Ethical Hacking: System Hacking

Node.js Essential Training

React.js Essential Training

Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment

Upgrading Your Skills to SQL Server 2016 (10986)

2024

2024

2023

2020

2020

2019

2019

2019

2019

2018

2017

2016

Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server (20463)

2016

PRINCE2 Foundation Certificate

2016

Leadership Development

2016

Java SE 8 New Features

2016

Leadership Foundations Course

2015

ITIL Intermediate Certificate - Release, Control & Validation

2014

ITIL Foundation Certificate

2014

HP TRIM 7.1 Level 1 and Level 2

2012

Hack Your Own Code (OWASP Secure Programming)

2012

Advanced TIDAL Administration

2010

Visual Basic For Applications Excel 2007

2010

Developing SWIFT Alliance Access Plug-ins with ADK

2010

Spring Core Web Services

2009

Technical Writing

2009

Think On Your Feet

2009

Core Spring

2007

Advanced JBoss Hibernate Training

2006

BEA Tuxedo Intensive

1998

Oracle Forms Developer/2000 Forms 2

1998

PricewaterhouseCoopers MITIS Consultant Training (8 weeks, Florida, USA)

1998

Personal Interests

Photography, Science and Astronomy, Aviation, Guitar, Chess, Programming.



[1]  http://www.rba.gov.au/payments-and-infrastructure/rits/self-assessments/2014/pdf/2014-assess-rits.pdf