Michael Danko

Backend & DevOps Engineer | Java · Python · Spring · Docker

Austin, TX
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linkedin.com/in/madanko
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Summary

Backend and DevOps engineer with six years at General Motors building Java/Spring backend applications and CI/CD pipelines in Jenkins and Azure DevOps. Since 2023, running a self-hosted Proxmox and Docker home lab and exploring Kubernetes. Former Firefighter/Paramedic who stays calm under pressure. Open to remote senior backend (Java/Python) and DevOps roles, and to software roles in the Austin, TX area.

Experience

Independent Engineer — Home Lab · Self-directed

May 2023 – Present

Built and run a self-hosted home lab on a custom consumer-hardware server running Proxmox VE.
Containerized services with Docker, including Home Assistant, a UniFi Network controller, a self-hosted Git server, and game servers.
Run Nginx Proxy Manager as the reverse proxy, handling TLS for self-hosted services.
Exploring Kubernetes for container orchestration.

Career break for family during this period: time at home caring for my kids.

Software Engineer · General Motors

Mar 2017 – May 2023

Developed Java backend applications with Spring.
DevOps work building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines in Jenkins and Azure DevOps (VSTS).
Migrated a Salesforce-based backend service to an in-house Java/Spring backend.

Firefighter/Paramedic · Marion County Fire Rescue

2013 – 2016

Dual-role emergency medical and fire response, working as part of a crew in high-pressure situations.

Skills

Languages & frameworks: Java · Spring · Python
CI/CD & tooling: Jenkins · Azure DevOps · Git · Docker
Infrastructure: Linux · Proxmox · Nginx · Kubernetes (learning)

Education

B.S. in Computer Science · Florida State University

2016

Certifications

Private Pilot License · FAA

Nov 2025

Honor Code Certificate: Linux · edX

Aug 2014

Languages

English (native) · Spanish (elementary)