Nathan Holmes

Location: Queensbury, Bradford, BD13 2JT
Mobile: 07939 233 017
Email: contact@nathanholmes.uk
Clearance: Active NPPV Level 3 | Security Check (SC)

Professional Summary

Technical Consultant and Cloud Operations Engineer with a strong background in Azure and enterprise SaaS delivery across the UK Public Sector. Equally experienced in project engineering, technical implementation, and cloud operational reliability, supporting high-compliance environments handling police and local government data. A proven “safe pair of hands” for complex deployments, production releases, and cloud migrations. Skilled in Azure infrastructure, SQL recovery (PITR), observability, IIS configuration, and large-scale data movement. Combines customer-facing delivery experience with hands-on technical depth across IaaS, PaaS, and on-prem to Azure transitions.

Core Technical Skills

  • Cloud & Infrastructure: Azure (IaaS/PaaS), AKS, Azure SQL, Azure Monitor, AzCopy, Data Factory
  • DevOps & GitOps: ArgoCD, Pulumi, GitHub, CI/CD promotion, YAML, Helm, OpenLens
  • Applications & Platforms: IIS, Apache Tomcat, Java, Windows Server, SQL Server, SSDT, SSRS
  • Networking & Security: TCP/IP, Proxies, Firewalls, Wireshark, Azure PIM, MFA, Zero Trust
  • Operational Excellence: ITIL, Incident Management, RCA, Disaster Recovery (PITR)
  • Data Migration: On-prem to Azure SQL, unstructured data/document migration

Professional Experience

Civica UK Ltd

Technical Consultant / Cloud Operations & Delivery Engineer
Apr 2022 – Present

Lead technical delivery engineer for the Civica D360 Electronic Document Management (EDM) SaaS platform, supporting cloud-native operations for 100+ councils.

Cloud Operations & Reliability

  • Manage application lifecycles on Kubernetes. Responsible for modifying deployment configuration parameters to control resource quotas, replica counts, and environment variables across multi-tenant clusters.
  • Orchestrate zero-downtime production releases for local government. Utilise ArgoCD to detect and reconcile configuration drift, ensuring the live cluster state always matches the Git source.
  • Diagnose and resolve pod startup failures and networking issues by analysing container logs and events via Azure monitor and Grafana.
  • Led the technical delivery of legacy on premise workloads to Azure. Utilised AzCopy for high-volume data transfer to Azure storage.
  • Conduct Azure SQL PITR restores and controlled rollbacks to meet strict RTO/RPO requirements.
  • Perform RCA on live issues using Grafana, Azure Monitor, and container logs.

Technical Project Engineering

  • Install, upgrade, and configure D360 environments across Azure and hybrid infrastructures.
  • Lead technical workshops, producing SoWs, firewall requirements, and Azure prerequisites.
  • Work closely with Project Managers to assess deliverables, risks, and constraints.
  • Supporting multiple out of hours Go Live activities for server and application deployments.
  • Collaborated with various departments to integrate our systems, contributing to projects from inception to completion by designing, developing and deploying bespoke configurations.

Cloud Migration Delivery

  • Designed and executed bespoke migration plans for moving on-prem workloads to Azure.
  • Migrated large SQL datasets and millions of documents using AzCopy and scripted processes.
  • Developed strong expertise in IIS configuration, application deployment, and secure connectivity.
  • Lead technical scoping workshops with clients to define infrastructure requirements. Author detailed Statements of Work (SoW) and deployment documentation, outlining Azure prerequisites, firewall rules, and proxy configurations for successful cloud adoption.

Key Achievements

  • Successful technical lead on 100+ Azure migrations with zero data loss incidents.
  • Trusted as the escalation point for complex application, infrastructure and deployment issues.
  • Maintained compliance with NPPV3 and SC requirements using Azure PIM.

Civica UK Ltd

Product Support Analyst
Jul 2017 – Mar 2022

  • Supported mission-critical applications for 100+ UK councils.
  • Diagnosed SQL Server issues using queries, SSDT schema comparison, and data validation.
  • Managed incidents via ITIL processes, ensuring SLA compliance during high-volume workloads.
  • Troubleshot across Windows Server, networking, IIS, Tomcat, VPNs, batch jobs, Java apps, and remote connectivity.
  • Organised with strong external and internal communication skills with both technical and non-technical individuals.

Ring Automotive Ltd

IT Support Analyst
Jun 2016 – Jul 2017

  • Managed the internal helpdesk supporting Windows Server, Active Directory, ERP system (Infor System21), and network infrastructure.
  • Resolved physical and logical network issues (patching, routing, TCP/IP, VPN).
  • Administered domain services, ERP integrations, and VOIP (IP Office).
  • Delivered 1st/2nd line support for 150+ users.

Pitchero Ltd

IT Support Analyst (Apprentice → Analyst)
Oct 2014 – Jun 2016

  • Handled customer support via phone, email, and live chat, meeting strict SLAs.
  • Performed QA testing, app troubleshooting, software fixes, and iOS support.
  • Developed strong professional communication and customer-facing skills.

Certifications & Education

  • L4 Diploma: DevOps Engineering (In progress – expected completion Dec 2027)
  • Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)
  • ITIL: Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management
  • Cisco: CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate)
  • L3 Extended Diploma: ICT Systems & Principles
  • L3 Extended Diploma: IT Networking & System Support
  • L3 Diploma: Professional Competence for IT & Telecoms Professionals

Security & Additional Qualifications

  • NPPV Level 3 Clearance
  • Security Check (SC) Clearance
  • Full Clean UK Driving Licence

Interests & Achievements

  • England & Halifax Panthers Wheelchair Rugby League Player: Competing internationally, demonstrating resilience, discipline, and teamwork.
  • Snooker, Gym, Walking, and TV Shows/Movies.

References

Available on request.