I'm a Senior Software Engineer at Centerfield, specializing in .NET 9, AWS, and event-driven architectures. My focus is on building scalable, resilient backend systems and continuously optimizing development workflows. I thrive on tackling challenging problems and finding innovative solutions in modern cloud environments.
- Collaborative Team Member: I enjoy working closely with my teammates, fostering an environment built on shared learning and collective problem-solving.
- Lifelong Learner: I'm always curious, regularly exploring new technologies and industry best practices.
- Mentor & Advocate: I actively mentor colleagues, sharing real-world insights and encouraging professional growth.
- Quality-Driven: I'm passionate about code quality, maintainability, and efficient software design, emphasizing best practices and test-driven development.
- Balanced Approach: I aim for meaningful growth both professionally and personally, ensuring a healthy balance between career achievements and personal fulfillment.
I believe certifications are more than just credentialsโthey're structured opportunities for deepening my expertise.
| Timeline | Certification | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 2025 | GitHub Foundations | โณ In Progress |
| Q2 2025 | Terraform Associate | โณ In Progress |
| Q3 2025 | AWS Developer Associate | โ Not Started |
| Q3 2025 | AWS DevOps Associate | โ Not Started |
| Q4 2025 | AWS Solutions Architect Professional | โ Not Started |
| Q4 2025 | Security+ | โ Not Started |
| Q1 2026 | Cloud+ | โ Not Started |
| Q2 2026 | CNKA (Cloud Native Kubernetes Associate) | โ Not Started |
| Q3 2026 | GCP Foundational | โ Not Started |
Outside of work, I pursue activities that inspire and refresh me:
- Outdoor Adventures: Hiking, camping, and fishing help me unwind and reconnect with nature.
- Sustainable Gardening: I cultivate unique cacti and practice regenerative farming techniques, emphasizing biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.
- Homelab Experimentation: I maintain a robust homelab setup to explore and test cutting-edge technologies, continuously improving my skills and knowledge.
My homelab serves as my personal platform for learning and experimentation, covering virtualization, container orchestration, and automation:
- Virtualization Cluster (Intel NUCs): Supports VMs and network simulations, enabling high-availability experiments.
- Kubernetes Cluster (Raspberry Pi): Runs containerized applications and custom microservices.
- Advanced Security: Multiple firewalls, layered network segmentation, and comprehensive traffic filtering.
- Synology NAS Storage: Reliable backups and high-capacity data storage.
- Power Backup Systems: Ensuring stability and protection during outages.
- Core Services: Pi-hole, AdGuard Home, Jellyfin, Homebridge, and various automation tools for streamlined management.
flowchart LR
Internet --> Firewall1
Firewall1 --> Firewall2
Firewall2 --> VirtualizationCluster & KubernetesCluster
VirtualizationCluster --> NASStorage & UPSBackup
This setup lets me gain hands-on experience with DevOps practices, cloud automation, infrastructure-as-code, and distributed systems.
I'm a husband and father to an energetic 7-year-old. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is important to me. I cherish sharing experiences and projects with my family, fostering curiosity and creativity in our daily lives.
I love connecting with other professionals to share insights and collaborate. Feel free to reach out!
| Platform | Link | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| linkedin.com/in/stephen-lloyd-jacobs | Technical leadership & cloud architecture | |
| GitHub | github.com/sjacobsio | Open-source & development projects |
| contact@sjacobs.io | Professional inquiries |
๐ฌ Thanks for taking the time to learn about me! I look forward to meaningful discussions and exciting collaborations.