Stefania Calnuschi
Reading
Summary
Java Software Engineer with over 3 years of experience building secure applications within the financial sector. I specialize in Java (Spring Boot) and PostgreSQL, with a solid background in creating reliable RESTful APIs and React interfaces. I'm experienced in managing the full lifecycle of an app—from setting up CI/CD pipelines in OpenShift to monitoring performance with ELK (Elasticsearch/Kibana). Beyond coding, I enjoy mentoring team members and contributing to a more inclusive tech community.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Senior Associate Application Engineer
Discover Financial Services | Capital One
Farnborough
2023.10 - 2026.02
- Optimized vendor API efficiency and accuracy by rewriting legacy logic in Java (Spring Boot) for a high-traffic transaction orchestration app.
- Delivered scalable, customizable client setups by designing and implementing a PostgreSQL configuration database.
- Reduced production downtime by proactively monitoring performance and reliability via Datadog, Elasticsearch, and Kibana (ELK stack).
- Eliminated system bottlenecks through rigorous Gatling performance testing, analyzing throughput and failure rates to optimize response times.
- Streamlined deployment workflows by configuring CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, Gradle, and internal CPC libraries.
- Upheld high code integrity by resolving SonarQube-flagged vulnerabilities and maintaining comprehensive technical documentation for cross-functional teams.
- Drove on-time project delivery through active leadership in Agile/Scrum ceremonies and sprint executions.
Associate Application Engineer
Discover Financial Services
Farnborough
2021.09 - 2023.10
- Built and launched new features for a payment app using Java (Spring Boot), making the system more reliable and easier for customers to use.
- Strengthened internal security through the design and implementation of intuitive React-based UI components, which made the tool simpler to navigate and more secure.
- Managed the move of applications to OpenShift, ensuring they transitioned smoothly and stayed online during the entire migration process.
- Championed organizational diversity and inclusion as an active leader in the Women in Tech community, driving initiatives that fostered a more equitable and collaborative workplace culture.
Education
BSc - Computer Science
University of Southampton
Southampton, UK 2018.10 - 2021.06
Skills
- Java Spring Boot
- RESTful APIs
- React
- GitHub
- Gradle
- Elasticsearch
- Kibana
- Jenkins
- Openshift
- CI/CD
- SonarQube
- PostgreSQL
LANGUAGES
English
Fluent
Romanian
Native
Accomplishments
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (August 2025)
- Delivered a department-wide presentation on PostgreSQL autovacuum, covering performance impact, monitoring techniques, and tunng strategies to improve database efficiency and reliability.
- Security Champion (02/2025 - Present): Led an in-depth investigation of departmental applications to identify and assess vulnerabilities, determine root causes, and propose effective remediation strategies, improving overall system security.
- Mentor (09/2022 - 03/2023): Mentored fellow graduates, providing guidance on technical challenges and best practices, and conducted interviews for new graduate hires.
References
References available upon request.
Affiliations
- Chess, Reading, Knitting & Crochet, Video Games, Baking
Timeline
Senior Associate Application Engineer
Discover Financial Services | Capital One
2023.10 - 2026.02
Associate Application Engineer
Discover Financial Services
2021.09 - 2023.10
BSc - Computer Science
University of Southampton
2018.10 - 2021.06