Singapore-based backend developer / SRE

Building reliable backend systems from engineering first principles.

I moved from mechanical engineering into software, and now work across Java backend systems, production reliability, automation, and self-hosted infrastructure.

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10+

years engineering discipline

Java

Spring backend focus

SRE

production reliability mindset

Illustration of Jun Long
Backend-focused SRE in Singapore

What I Work On

Systems, reliability, and backend execution.

Java / Spring / Batch

Backend Systems

Building service workflows, batch jobs, and backend features with Java, Spring Boot, and Spring Batch.

SRE / Observability / Ops

Reliability & Automation

Working close to production systems with monitoring, automation, logging, and operational resilience in mind.

Proxmox / Linux / Self-hosted

Homelab & Self-hosting

Exploring open-source infrastructure on a Proxmox MiniPC to understand systems beyond application code.

Workbench

What I am actively building and studying.

Active focus
Building

A stronger backend portfolio with realistic Java/Spring workflows.

Learning

Concurrency, object-oriented design, and system design interview depth.

Running

A Proxmox homelab for self-hosted tools, experiments, and infrastructure practice.

About

A practical path from mechanical systems to software systems.

I’m a software developer who made a mid-career switch from mechanical engineering to tech. The common thread is systems thinking: understanding constraints, failure modes, and how moving parts affect each other.

At work, I mainly build backend systems using Java, Spring Boot, and Spring Batch. I also bring an SRE lens to how software behaves in production: logs, automation, reliability, and recoverability matter.

Outside of work, I use side projects and a Proxmox homelab to keep learning across the stack, from frontend experiments to self-hosted infrastructure.

BaseSingapore
Core StackJava, Spring, TypeScript
Learning LabMiniPC running Proxmox
Reset ModeFish keeping, Plants, Paludarium

Experience Snapshot

Non-traditional background, production-minded direction.

2014-2022

Mechanical engineering

Marine systems, industrial equipment, and process-focused engineering work.

2022

Career conversion

Entered tech through TFIP and focused on Java backend fundamentals.

2022-2024

DBS tech path

Moved from trainee to contract role, then into a permanent SRE position.

Now

Backend-focused SRE

Combining production reliability habits with hands-on backend development.

Stack

Tools I use to build and understand software.

Backend

APIsBatch jobsService workflows

Reliability

LoggingMonitoringAutomation

Infrastructure

Self-hostingLinux systemsHomelab experiments
Java
Spring Boot
React
Node.js
TypeScript

Writing

Recent notes from the journey.

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From Mechanical Engineering to Software Development - My Career Pivot

How I made the switch to software development

journey
Read More →