Joan Marc Riera Duocastella

Platform Engineering & Infrastructure Leader

Scaling bioinformatics infrastructure from petabytes to exabytes • EMBL-EBI

About

Experienced Platform Engineering and Infrastructure Leader with over 15 years of expertise in large-scale data systems, currently serving as SDO Service & Data Technical Coordinator at EMBL-EBI (European Bioinformatics Institute).

Based in the UK with roots in Catalonia, I specialise in:

  • Petabyte-scale storage systems - Scaled EMBL-EBI storage from 15 PB to over 100 PB
  • Data archiving solutions - Led development of the FIRE (File Replication) archive system
  • Infrastructure automation - Automated core data-transfer platforms and deployment processes
  • Identity and access management - Delivered institute-wide IAM overhauls
  • High-availability systems - Designed resilient, vendor-agnostic solutions

I excel at translating complex technical requirements into scalable solutions that support groundbreaking scientific research. My work directly enables researchers worldwide to harness the potential of big data in biology.

100+ Petabytes Managed
15+ Years Experience
1000+ Hosts Monitored

Professional Experience

Current

SDO Service & Data Technical Coordinator

EMBL-EBI (European Bioinformatics Institute)

Leading multidisciplinary technical teams to define service roadmaps and deliver critical infrastructure for Europe's leading bioinformatics research institute.

  • Manage petabyte-scale storage systems supporting global scientific research
  • Coordinate data management services across multiple data centres
  • Implement unified monitoring solutions across thousands of hosts
  • Drive cost-efficient archive replacement initiatives
Previous

Platform Engineering & Infrastructure Leadership

Various Roles in Enterprise IT

Progressive leadership roles in platform engineering, systems administration, and infrastructure design.

  • Designed and built enterprise-scale archive solutions
  • Led teams in modernising transfer services and deployment automation
  • Mentored technical teams in mixed environments (Linux, Windows, AIX, macOS)
  • Delivered large-scale infrastructure projects on time and within budget

Technical Expertise

Infrastructure & Systems

  • Enterprise Linux Administration
  • High-Availability System Design
  • Storage Systems (15PB → 100PB+)
  • Data Centre Operations
  • Disaster Recovery Planning

Platform Engineering

  • Scalability Architecture
  • Automation & Orchestration
  • Container Technologies
  • DevOps Practices
  • Infrastructure as Code

Data Management

  • Petabyte-scale Storage
  • Data Archiving Solutions
  • Transfer Services
  • Erasure Coding
  • Geo-distributed Replication

Security & Access

  • Identity & Access Management
  • Multi-factor Authentication
  • Security Architecture
  • Compliance Management
  • Risk Assessment

Key Achievements

Massive Scale Infrastructure

Successfully systems from 15 PB to over 100 PB, supporting critical scientific research worldwide

Automation Excellence

Automated the institute's core data-transfer platform, significantly reducing manual intervention and improving reliability

IAM Transformation

Led institute-wide identity and access management overhaul, enhancing security while improving user experience

Unified Monitoring

Introduced comprehensive monitoring solutions across thousands of hosts, providing unprecedented visibility into system health

Archive Innovation

Designed and implemented the FIRE archive system, providing robust, vendor-agnostic, geo-dispersed file replication

Cost Optimisation

Delivered cost-efficient archive replacement solutions, optimising resource utilisation and reducing operational expenses

Professional Documents

Access my latest CVs, cover letters, and professional references

CV - Head of IT Operations

Comprehensive CV focused on IT operations leadership

Download PDF

Resume - Octopus Energy

Resume tailored for energy sector opportunities

Download PDF

CV - Head of Platform Engineering

Platform engineering leadership focused CV

Download PDF

CV - Head of Infrastructure Services

Infrastructure services leadership CV

Download PDF

Get In Touch

Ready to discuss your next infrastructure challenge?

I'm always interested in exploring opportunities where I can leverage my expertise in platform engineering and large-scale infrastructure to drive innovation and efficiency.

Location

Based in the United Kingdom

Originally from Catalonia, Spain

Open to remote and hybrid opportunities