Moving to the Public Sector with Yu Jianshu, a DevOps Engineer
Tell us more about yourself
I’m Jianshu, a DevOps Engineer at ESTL (Experimental Systems & Technology Lab). Prior to joining ESTL, I worked as a Site Reliability Engineer at Garena, a gaming company, and as an IT Systems Engineer at PSA, a seaport operator. In my free time, I prioritize spending quality time with my wife and 3-year-old son. I also enjoy cooking, swimming, and exploring new destinations through travel.
What inspired you to join the public sector, in particular ESTL?
I have seen firsthand the significant impact that GovTech has had on citizens in the fight against COVID-19. Products like TraceTogether and SafeEntry have truly transformed the way Singapore tackled the pandemic.
I have also greatly benefited from Singapore’s education system, having completed my undergraduate studies with a MOE scholarship. As a result, I am eager to give back and contribute to the system that has supported me. I believe that working in the public sector, specifically in ESTL, is an excellent way for me to do that.
There are several differences between working in the public sector and the private sector, and one of the most notable is the difference in mission. In the private sector, the primary focus is usually on maximising profits, while in the public sector, the goal is often to serve the needs of the community and the people. This difference can be seen in the key performance indicators (KPIs) set each year, with a significant portion often based on user satisfaction. This aligns with one of the digital government efforts of Govtech — “Tech For Public Good”.
Tell us about your current role in ESTL
As a DevOps Engineer at ESTL, my primary focus is to ensure that all developers have a smooth and efficient experience while creating and deploying code. I am also responsible for managing and securing our cloud infrastructure. My ultimate goal is to ensure that our team is able to deliver reliable and best-in-class online services to our users.
In addition, I am a member of the Facilities and Operations DRI. DRI stands for Directly Responsible Individuals. It refers to people who are in charge of ESTL’s operational duties such as publicity and outreach, and cohesion and morale.
As a member of the Facilities and Operations DRI, we strive to provide a comfortable and productive working environment for all staff. This includes orientating new hires to the workplace, and overseeing the general cleanliness of the office.
What is the most impactful work you have done since you joined ESTL?
I have successfully migrated all of our applications from self-managed EC2 instances to AWS-managed Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS). Our team has experienced substantial benefits from this transition. We have been able to reduce the number of self-managed instances by over 50%, which has simplified our infrastructure and enhanced the reliability of our services.
Additionally, we have reduced the time required for bi-monthly preventive maintenance by nearly 40%, from 4 hours to just 2.5 hours, which has reduced the administrative burden on our team.
EKS has also provided isolation for different projects, enabling us to manage our applications more effectively and streamline our development processes. By granting developers greater permissions, we have been able to empower them to perform major version updates on their applications independently, resulting in faster release times for new features and updates.
What do you enjoy most about working in ESTL?
One of the things I enjoy most about working at ESTL is the opportunity to collaborate with a talented and committed team of public servants, including Software Engineers, UX Designers, Agile Delivery Managers, and Education Officers. My colleagues constantly inspire me and help me to grow and improve as a professional. The open culture at ESTL also allows for open communication and the sharing of ideas, which I appreciate.
Additionally, I am excited to be part of projects that have a meaningful impact on the education sector and contribute to the digital transformation of education. It is fulfilling to know that my work is making a difference in an area that is so important to society.
What are you looking forward to in the next 2 years?
In the next 2 years, I am looking forward to continuing to provide our developers and users with the best service possible by constantly improving and enhancing our cloud infrastructure. I am also excited to see how ESTL can bring even more value to the education sector and make a positive impact on the field.
Apart from work, I’m looking forward to exploring new places around the world with my son and family. He’s at an age where he’s curious about everything, and it’s been wonderful to see him experience new cultures and sights.
If you’re interested in working at ESTL, check out our openings here. Alternatively, head over to our website here to know more about ESTL and the work we do.
