Riccardo Zanei

DevOps • DevSecOps • SRE • Administration • SDET

Founder

Dynamic DevSecOps engineer with 3+ years building secure, scalable cloud infrastructures using blockchain technology, including DAPPs (Decentralized Applications) and validator maintenance in finance environments. Expertise in Python/Rust development, load testing, API development, and efficiency-optimized applications for high-frequency trading. Proven in fast-paced teams, delivering customer-focused solutions in blockchain and finance sectors. Multilingual (Italian native, English C1) with strong interpersonal skills for cross-team collaboration.

Socials & Contact

Languages

• Italian (Native)
• English (C1 Advanced)

What I Do

• DevOps Practices
• Cloud Computing (GCP/AWS), Linux, Kubernetes, cost‑aware infrastructure.
• Blockchain Technology (including Bitcoin, Cosmos, Solana, DAPPs, and Validators)
• API Development and Integration
• Networking (Physical & Virtual)
• Test Automation & Benchmark (SDET)
• Problem-Solving and Debugging
• Leadership and Team Environments
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills
• IT Troubleshooting & Support
• Hardware & Software Maintenance
• High-Frequency Trading Applications
• CI/CD pipelines & GitOps; security‑by‑default delivery.
• Observability & SRE: metrics, logs, traces, alerting, SLOs.
• Security hardening, secret management, DevSecOps practices.
• HA/DR design, backups, incident response readiness.
• Blockchain validator operations (Cosmos, Solana, Ethereum, Bitcoin, more).
• Load testing & performance/SDET for services & nodes.
• Automation with Terraform & Ansible; systems troubleshooting & support.

Skills Summary

• Networking & DevOps: Advanced
• Development: Proficient
• SecOps & SDET: Proficient
• General IT Support: Expert
• Hardware Management: Expert

Professional Experience

• Blockchain Validator Maintainer — Self-Employed / Independent, Dublin, Ireland (Ongoing, 2024 - Present)
  Operate and maintain blockchain validators in finance-related networks, focusing on DAPPs for high-frequency trading and validator business operations, ensuring node security, uptime, and performance optimization for decentralized systems. Monitor and troubleshoot validator operations, applying DevSecOps practices to mitigate risks and enhance reliability in high-stakes environments.
• EverKnow — London, UK (2023–2024) — Junior DevOps Engineer & DevSecOps in Cloud Environment
  Designed and maintained cloud infrastructures integrated with blockchain technology, with a primary focus on Bitcoin for finance applications, ensuring high availability and security. Conducted load testing on blockchain nodes as SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test), identifying performance bottlenecks and optimizing for reliability. Delivered responsive customer support, resolving infrastructure-related queries efficiently in blockchain and finance contexts. Developed custom Python and Rust tools for automation and monitoring tasks supporting Bitcoin networks and related systems. Focus on secure CI/CD, monitoring and reliability.
• Forte — San Francisco, USA (2022–2023) — Junior DevOps Engineer & DevSecOps in Cloud Environment
  Managed cloud infrastructures with blockchain technology, emphasizing Cosmos ecosystem, Solana, and DAPPs for scalability in finance environments. Built CI/CD pipelines and workflows to streamline deployments for blockchain projects. Created blockchain-related libraries to support DAPP development initiatives within Cosmos and Solana ecosystems. Collaborated with clients and contributed to blockchain libraries.
• Costerplast S.R.L — Italy (2018) — Hardware Maintenance Technician
  Performed hardware and robot maintenance, including troubleshooting networks and virtualization environments to minimize downtime. Hardware & terminal software fixes, robot maintenance, network troubleshooting, and virtualization practice.
• Hotel Receptionist & Barista — Various Locations, Italy (2016–2018)
  Managed front-desk operations in high-pressure environments, honing customer service and multitasking skills applicable to team collaboration in tech roles. Front‑desk operations, customer communication, team collaboration, and issue resolution in high‑pressure environments.

Personal Projects

• High-Frequency Trading Applications (2023 - Present)
  Developed efficiency-based DAPPs for high-frequency trading, optimizing for low-latency performance and real-time data processing in finance scenarios. Designed and implemented APIs for trading systems, ensuring secure and scalable integrations with blockchain and cloud services. Applied SDET methodologies to automate testing and benchmarking, improving application reliability and speed under high-volume conditions.

Education

• Diploma in Computer Science (2019 - 2021) — Focus: Systems and Networks, Analysis and Development, Advanced Linux & Windows, Network Design, Hardware Maintenance.
• Mechanical & Robot Maintenance Diploma (2017 - 2018) — Focus: Mechanical Maintenance, CNC & Robotic Assistance, Mechanical Design.
• Electrician Diploma (2015 - 2017) — Focus: Electrician Tasks, Technical Assistance, Microsoft Office 365 Support, Electrical Design.

Certifications & Courses

• English Certificate (C1 Advanced), EF SET, Oct 2024
• Google Cloud Fundamentals: Core Infrastructure
• Google SRE: Developing a Google SRE Culture
• DevSecOps in Google Cloud
• Cloud Application Modernization & DevOps Workflows
• Build Infrastructure with Terraform on Google Cloud
• Base & Intermediate Python Certificates, SoloLearn, Oct 2024
• C++ Certificate, SoloLearn

Work With Me

Need a DevOps/DevSecOps engineer to harden your stack, set up CI/CD, or keep validators reliable? Available for consulting, part‑time and project‑based work.

• DevOps & SRE consulting (cloud, k8s, Terraform, observability)
• Validator operations for Cosmos chains and more
• Security reviews & incident response readiness
• Automation, documentation & team enablement