Portfolio Update: Philips & West Pharma Experience

Hey guys! I'm super excited to share how I've been revamping my portfolio to really highlight my experiences at Philips and West Pharmaceutical Services. It's all about making sure the experience section is top-notch, so let's dive into the juicy details.

Philips, Cambridge, MA (Jan 2025 – Present): Software Engineer Co-op

In my current role as a Software Engineer Co-op at Philips, I've been knee-deep in some seriously cool projects. My main focus has been on boosting efficiency and streamlining processes, and I've got some awesome results to show for it. Let's break it down:

Architecting and Engineering a Side-by-Side Installation Framework

One of the biggest wins has been architecting and engineering a side-by-side installation framework for PIC-iX (WinForms/.NET). This was a game-changer, guys. The goal was to enable concurrent patch deployment, and we absolutely nailed it. By allowing patches to be deployed simultaneously, we slashed production downtime by over 65%. That's huge! Imagine the impact on productivity and cost savings. This project really highlighted my ability to design robust, scalable solutions that tackle real-world problems. I had to dive deep into the intricacies of WinForms and .NET, ensuring that the framework was not only effective but also user-friendly. The technical challenges were significant, but the results speak for themselves. The framework has become a cornerstone of our deployment strategy, and it’s something I’m incredibly proud of.

Developing a Python-Based Automation Tool for Release Requirement Documents

Next up, I developed a Python-based automation tool that automates the generation of Release Requirement Documents. Trust me, before this, the process was super manual and time-consuming. We're talking days to compile all the necessary information. But now? Minutes! The tool programmatically ingests, transforms, and validates data from Azure DevOps work items. This ensures accuracy and consistency across all releases. We're talking about a 99% reduction in document processing time! That's insane, right? This project showcased my ability to leverage Python to create powerful automation solutions that eliminate tedious manual tasks. The tool has not only saved countless hours but has also significantly reduced the potential for human error. It’s a perfect example of how automation can transform workflows and boost efficiency. Plus, it was a blast to build! Working with Python and integrating with Azure DevOps was a great learning experience.

Streamlining CI Pipelines with GitHub Workflows

I also jumped into streamlining our CI pipelines by enhancing GitHub workflows. I set up automated smoke tests and linting on pull requests. This means that code quality is checked automatically, making sure everything's up to par before it even gets merged. These enhancements have boosted developer experience big time, and it's all about making the workflow smoother and more efficient. We also created workflows to flag unused NuGet package references of .NET projects. This keeps our projects clean and lean. By integrating these checks directly into the pull request process, we’ve made it easier for developers to maintain high-quality code. It's all about catching issues early and preventing them from snowballing into bigger problems. This has not only improved the overall quality of our codebase but has also made the development process more predictable and less prone to surprises. I'm a firm believer in the power of automation, and this project was a perfect example of how it can transform the way we work.

Tech Stack at Philips

My tech stack at Philips includes C#, Python, WinForms, Shell, AWS, Azure DevOps, and GitHub Workflows. It’s a pretty diverse set of tools, and I’m constantly learning and expanding my skillset.

West Pharmaceutical Services, Bengaluru, India

Before Philips, I had a fantastic stint at West Pharmaceutical Services, where I wore multiple hats and tackled some seriously interesting challenges. I started as a Trainee Software Engineer and worked my way up to Software Engineer, gaining invaluable experience along the way. Let’s break down my journey:

Software Engineer (Cross-Platform – Full Stack Application Developer) (Oct 2022 – July 2023)

As a Software Engineer, I was a full-stack application developer, which meant I got to work on everything from the backend services to the frontend interfaces. It was an amazing opportunity to gain a holistic view of software development.

One of my key projects was developing C# backend services for a manufacturing platform. We containerized these services with Docker and deployed them to Kubernetes. This was a significant step towards modernizing our infrastructure and ensuring scalability and reliability. Working with Docker and Kubernetes was a fantastic learning experience, and it’s a skill set that’s highly valuable in today’s tech landscape. The ability to containerize and orchestrate applications has become essential for any software engineer, and I’m proud to have gained hands-on experience in this area.

I also implemented GraphQL endpoints over existing manufacturing data services. This enabled operators to fetch complex nested datasets—such as production orders, machine states, and quality logs—in a single query, reducing API round trips by 40%. This was a major win for performance and efficiency. GraphQL is a powerful tool for building flexible and efficient APIs, and it’s something I’m excited to continue working with. The ability to fetch exactly the data you need, and nothing more, is a game-changer for application performance. This project really highlighted the importance of choosing the right technology for the job and the impact it can have on the overall user experience.

Another major project was re-engineering manufacturing data storage by migrating time-series production logs from MongoDB to PostgreSQL with partitioned tables. This improved analytical query speed by 35% for reporting dashboards. This was a significant performance boost that had a direct impact on our ability to generate timely and accurate reports. The transition to PostgreSQL allowed us to leverage its powerful indexing and partitioning capabilities, which were crucial for handling large volumes of time-series data. This project taught me the importance of database optimization and the impact it can have on application performance. It’s a skill that’s essential for any full-stack developer.

I also created a Jenkins + Azure DevOps hybrid CI/CD pipeline to run automated integration tests, build Docker images, and roll out updates to Kubernetes. This reduced release lead time from 1 week to under 2 days. This was a huge improvement in our release process, and it significantly accelerated our ability to deliver new features and updates to our users. Automating the build, test, and deployment process is crucial for any modern software development team, and this project gave me valuable experience in building and managing CI/CD pipelines. It’s a skill that’s essential for ensuring the quality and reliability of software releases.

Associate Software Engineer (July 2020 – Sep 2022)

Before becoming a Software Engineer, I was an Associate Software Engineer at West Pharmaceutical Services. This role gave me the opportunity to dive deep into application development and learn the ins and outs of the software development lifecycle.

One of my main projects was designing and implementing a Digital Manufacturing application using .NET framework, Xamarin.Forms, and MAUI. This was a cross-platform application that needed to work seamlessly on a variety of devices. I followed MVVM architecture and Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) principles to create a robust application. This was a challenging but incredibly rewarding project. It gave me a solid foundation in cross-platform development and taught me the importance of clean, well-structured code. The MVVM architecture helped us to keep the UI and business logic separate, which made the application easier to maintain and test. This is a best practice that I continue to follow in all my projects.

I also implemented design patterns such as Command, Decorator, and Builder to enhance the software architecture. This was a great learning experience that helped me to understand the power of design patterns in creating flexible and maintainable software. Design patterns are like tried-and-true solutions to common problems, and knowing them can significantly improve your ability to design robust software systems. The Command pattern allowed us to encapsulate actions as objects, the Decorator pattern allowed us to add behavior to objects dynamically, and the Builder pattern allowed us to construct complex objects step by step. These patterns have become essential tools in my software development toolkit.

I also integrated MQTT brokers with backend services to stream live sensor and machine data into PostgreSQL-backed queues, achieving sub-second processing for shop-floor dashboards. This was crucial for providing real-time visibility into the manufacturing process. The ability to process and visualize live data is essential for modern manufacturing operations, and this project gave me valuable experience in building high-performance data streaming systems. MQTT is a lightweight messaging protocol that’s perfect for IoT applications, and PostgreSQL is a robust and scalable database that’s well-suited for handling large volumes of data. This combination allowed us to build a system that could handle the demands of a busy manufacturing environment.

Finally, I implemented a SignalR-based connection to efficiently route orders across the manufacturing plant. This ensured that orders were processed quickly and efficiently, which was crucial for maintaining productivity. SignalR is a library that makes it easy to build real-time web applications, and it was the perfect tool for this job. The ability to push data to clients in real-time is a game-changer for web applications, and it’s something I’m excited to continue working with.

Trainee Software Engineer (Jan 2020 – July 2020)

My journey at West Pharmaceutical Services started as a Trainee Software Engineer. Even in this role, I had the opportunity to lead projects and make a significant impact.

I was the team lead for an Asset management application to digitize the handling of all organization’s assets. This was a challenging but rewarding experience that gave me valuable leadership skills. Leading a team is a different ballgame than working as an individual contributor, and it taught me the importance of communication, delegation, and collaboration. It’s a skill set that’s essential for any software engineer who wants to advance their career.

I developed both frontend (MAUI) and backend (SQL) of the application, based on .NET framework. This gave me a comprehensive understanding of the full-stack development process. Working on both the frontend and backend allows you to see the big picture and understand how all the pieces fit together. It’s a skill set that’s highly valued in the industry.

I also leveraged Azure to create web apps to host APIs, blob storage for file management, and SQL database for the application. This was my first experience with cloud computing, and it opened my eyes to the power and flexibility of the cloud. Azure is a comprehensive cloud platform that offers a wide range of services, and it’s a valuable tool for any software engineer. The ability to deploy and manage applications in the cloud is a skill that’s in high demand.

Tech Stack at West Pharmaceutical Services

My tech stack at West Pharmaceutical Services was extensive and included C#, .NET, MAUI, SQL, Azure DevOps, GraphQL, Docker, MongoDB, Kubernetes, Jenkins, and PostgreSQL. It was a fantastic opportunity to work with a wide range of technologies and gain valuable experience in different areas of software development.

Key Takeaways

Guys, updating my experience section has been a blast, and it's really helped me reflect on all the cool stuff I've been working on. From slashing downtime at Philips to streamlining manufacturing processes at West Pharmaceutical Services, it's been an incredible journey. I hope this gives you a good glimpse into what I've been up to. Stay tuned for more updates!