Build and Release Systems Engineer (DevOps Toolchain team)

Company Description

Altenar is a provider of sportsbook software and services to licensed gaming operators. Ranging from ‘software-only’ product offers to the provision of a fully-managed sports betting platform stack, Altenar offers proven stability coupled with a flexible and personalised service. Our software is developed and operated in-house, whilst being powered by premium quality data feeds.

The DevOps Toolchain team works closely with the Information Security and Technical Compliance team, the DevOps Automation team, the cross-functional development team in Altenar and the Quality Assurance team.  The team has a pivotal and well-segregated role in the overall delivery and operation activities.

Job Description

The Build and Release Systems Engineer forms part of the DevOps Toolchain team.

The team is responsible for two key domains:

• The management of decentralised code versioning systems (Git) to achieve a scalable repository of code that reflects the needs of each software development team with a branching strategy and commit policy that enforces proper four-eyes review, code-security and code-quality requirements
• The setup, configuration and ongoing maintenance of the code build, packaging and release processes and the associate tool-chain (msbuild, Azure DevOps Pipelines, Proget/Nuget release streams, container repositories, etc)

The team is part of the collective that implements DevOps practices and its members are at the intersection between software development and systems engineering.

The Build and Release Systems Engineer exhibits the following behaviours and brings the following skills:

• Understands the Git versioning system in detail and is capable to participate in the planning of the relevant branching strategy (Github / Git flow, for example) with the respective development team
• Can balance consistency of approach with the need of tailored approaches in a multi-product, multi-language, intercultural environment
• Is proficient with Power-shell scripting and .Net/.Net core build systems
• Has a strong understanding of code versioning, build and release versioning (and would ideally have worked with Semantic Versioning previously)
• Has some experience with package management of built software artifacts, and package repositories based on Nuget (though other analogous experience is also suitable)
• Understands the importance of artifacts and versioning even in an environment where deployable outputs may be entire container images
• Is able to digest complex information at reasonable rates and has the ability to listen, evaluate, and ultimately merge best practice recommendations with on-the-ground realities to deliver a solution
• Can contribute to strategies and tool-chain technology choices, can participate in focused research and testing, and is willing to seek that domain expertise that may be required to achieve a task or project
• Is willing to support (not hand-hold) more inexperienced members on their personal development journey
• Is reasonably self-sufficient (preferably) in the system administration of associated tool-chain technologies.

Qualifications

Self-evaluation checklist (Musts)

• Degree (or post-secondary education) in a related major (Engineering / CS)
• System administration experience in heterogeneous environments (Windows / Linux with RPM package management predominantly)
• Scripting skills (bash, powershell, python or other)
• Good familiarity with the Azure DevOps suite of ALM tools, specifically Pipelines
• Hands on experience in the setup and configuration of at least one build/release system
• Strong understanding of a variety of topics such as code versioning, merge conflict, code tagging, feature branching, audit trails, authentication, automated deployment
• Practical skills with Git, and yaml/json-based configuration management/templating
• Strong research and validation skills
• Strong coaching and presentation skills
• Deep understanding of development team practices
• Excellent documentation skills.  Fanatical at capturing unstructured feedback, concerns
• Logical, critical-thinker, able to change perspective 
• Self-driven, and able to work with local and remote stakeholders
• Able to communicate properly in English (both verbal and written)

Self-evaluation checklist (Wants)

• Experience with container-based deployment workflows
• Experience with different build and packaging systems, and strong grasp of dependency management
• Prior experience in a continuous delivery environment with exposure to real-world scenarios and issues
• Strong systems engineering background

What you’d be responsible for:

• Streamlined functioning of the software development toolchain (build, release, packaging, artifact management, and automation pipelines, as well as external services like automated code security scanners integrated into the pipelines)
• Planning and implementing incremental improvements to the toolchain along a roadmap
• Major contributor to the development toolchain roadmap
• Support breakfix resolution in a timely manner for toolchain systems on rotation within the team, and work on projects with the development departments globally
• Embracing innovation and experimentation in a structured way 
• Communicating effectively with peer leaders and subject-matter experts in a matrix organization with overlapping areas of ownership 
• Being guided by the principles of security by design and guaranteeing auditability throughout the toolchain
• Owning control of the structure used to implement best practice segregation within the toolchain
• Working in a highly technical, multicultural environment

Additional information

What we are responsible for:

• Providing a fantastic environment to work in
• Supporting your personal and technical development with training opportunities
• Providing career growth in a very interesting company with global customer base
• Providing you with support to ensure you have a good working environment
• Providing guidance and technical direction
• Providing fair market compensation and all the comfort and peace-of-mind to focus on your role and being part of Altenar's success
• Building a strong Technology Operations team around you to ensure we maintain agility whilst keeping compatible segregation of duties.

Some of the benefits of working at Altenar:

• Stable and flexible working environment
• Training and professional development events
• Health insurance
• Sponsorship business trips according to the role
• Good compensation and a fantastic office environment
• Discretionary bonus in line with employee and annual company performance
• Modern office in the centre of St Julians 
• Corporate parking near our office
• Multinational team with experts around the world
• Interesting work with smart colleagues