Michael Bedford

Professional Summary

Python Backend Developer with 18+ years experience. Designed and operated scalable backend systems, automation platforms, and infrastructure for telecommunications and production environments. Extensive experience in REST API development, distributed task processing, and network automation using FastAPI/Django, Celery, and Docker. Proven experience building ISP-grade service provisioning systems, DevOps pipelines, and containerised applications.

Technical Skills

  • Frameworks: FastAPI, Django, Django Ninja, Litestar, Flask, Pydantic, SQLAlchemy
  • Backend: REST APIs, Microservices, Async, Reverse Proxy, Distributed Systems, Netconf
  • DevOps & Infrastructure: Docker Swarm, Registries, Container Orchestration, CI/CD pipelines
  • Version Control: Github, GitLab, Forgejo, Docker Registry, Harbor, GitKraken
  • Automation: Network Automation, Celery, Infrastructure Scripting
  • Database & Messaging: PostgreSQL, MariaDB, MySQL, Redis, Valkey
  • Observability: Grafana, Loki, Elasticsearch, Logstash, Logging Pipelines, Alerting Systems
  • Other Tools: Caddy, Traefik, DNS Servers, Media Servers, etc

Education

Queensland University of Technology - 2014-2019

Bachelor of Information Technology

  • Major in Computer Science
  • Minor in Engineering

Professional Experience

Sunset Orange - 2025-Present

Software Development

  • Built and maintain backend systems, websites, and infrastructure services
  • Designed, deployed, and managed containerised applications and microservices with Docker
  • Deploy and operate full-stack infrastructure and platforms including networking, DNS servers, reverse proxies, CI/CD runners, and databases

Superloop - 2021-2024

Lead Network Automation and Backend Engineer

  • Designed and built a customer service provisioning platform for a national scale Internet Service Provider.
  • The platform automated the provisioning of several hundred NBN services daily, scaling to >5,000 service migrations during maintenance windows, deploying network configuration to over 400 routers nationwide
  • Re-engineered bandwidth shaping systems to improve reliability and prevent upstream packet loss
  • Created a DDoS mitigation system enabling rapid deployment of blackhole routes during incidents
  • Built and maintained REST APIs using FastAPI, Litestar, and Django Ninja
  • Developed distributed systems using Python, Celery, Redis, and async processing
  • Developed tools for network telemetry, reporting, and capacity analysis
  • Implemented real-time log analysis and alerting pipelines
  • Managed Docker Swarm infrastructure, Harbor registry, and CI/CD pipelines
  • Automation Developer / Systems Engineer

Accelerate Communications - 2018-2020

CAD drafter, Administration Systems Development, Warehouse Manager

  • NBNco last mile fibre optic design
  • Administration systems development and process automation
  • Built a custom warehouse and inventory management platform with POS and barcode tracking
  • Developed predictive stock management and automated procurement workflows
  • Replaced off-the-shelf project management tools with custom-built software
  • Implemented systems for live scheduling, reporting, and compliance document generation
  • Reduced manual administrative workload through automation and workflow optimisation
  • Software Developer / Process Automation Engineer

ISGM - 2013-2017

CAD drafter, Administration Systems Development, Field Service Delivery Manager

  • NBNco last mile fibre optic design
  • Software-driven process automation
  • Developed automation tools for NBN infrastructure project workflows
  • Built systems to validate and process as-built project data for auditing and archival
  • Automated reporting and compliance documentation workflows
  • Developed scientific monitoring software for external clients
  • Created data processing and file conversion tools for engineering applications

Current Projects

  • Multi-sever homelab using QuTS, Unraid and Docker
  • Developing a community notifications platform, including the follow technologies
    • Developed a custom ID system inspired by UUIDv7 and Snowflake called FlakeID
    • Built a lexicographical parser supporting boolean logic and error correction, and generating valid SQL from malformed queries
    • Flexible tagging system with support for whitespacing
  • Orchestrating containerized private game servers across VPN

Profile

I'm a backend focused software developer writing Python since 2008. I hold a Bachelor of Information Technology with a major in Software Development from Queensland University of Technology. Following the completion of my degree, I sought employment in a formal software development role, which led me to join Superloop.

At Superloop I was the lead Network Automation developer, utilising my software engineering skills to create a range of robust service platforms; such as the Network Automator, which automated the tracking and provisioning of device configuration for customer services to routers across Superloop's network using Celery and ncclient. Additionally, I was responsible for developing and maintaining scripts and applications, such as DDOS mitigation systems, network state reporting, live log analysis and alerting, internet routing, device and service configuration generation and deployment, and network shaping. I've built many strict and well documented RESTful APIs with FastAPI, Litestar, Django Ninja & Pydantic. I managed our Docker Swarm, the Harbor registry, designed & managed our databases and wrote the CI/CD pipelines.

A notable achievement during my studies was successfully completing a challenging project to develop the game Snake for an integrated circuit with only 4kb of combined RAM and ROM memory. My assessment pieces were recognized in the Hall of Fame and were used as examples for other students in subsequent years.

In addition to my coursework, I pursued elective courses in game design, chemistry, and mathematics, and dedicated a year to engineering studies to broaden my skill set. During my academic years, I worked at two telecommunications infrastructure firms, where I employed my skills in programming to automate, processes, and enhance efficiency. My programs replaced off-the-shelf project management software and streamlined administrative workflows, significantly reducing task completion time. These programs became integral to work order management and reporting across the organization, benefiting both staff members and clients.

The system I developed could perform complex live scheduling predictions, tracking progress across multiple stages of project management, and generating a range of reports viewable live or exportable in different report styles. It also supported the generation of necessary compliance documents for clients and regulatory bodies, such as Queensland Transport and various councils. My innovations in administration were invaluable in developing my experiences with programming in the workplace.