SubZeroDev

Professional uncertainty since 2026.

Well… Why not?


Ben Richards

Founder & Principal Architect | Entrepreneurial Software Builder

contact.mbowp@aleeas.com · +359 (BG) – Available Remote / International

GitHub (where I build & break in public)Portfolio

🧠 About Me

Entrepreneurial software architect and founder with 20 years of experience launching and scaling digital products, building high-performing teams, and delivering transformative solutions for SMEs and startups. Founder of SubZeroDev, a consultancy and product studio blending technical innovation with business impact. Proven at bridging the gap between vision and execution—reducing costs, accelerating delivery, and creating sustainable platforms for growth. Active open-source contributor and mentor who thrives on turning complex problems into practical, elegant solutions.

C# · React · Node.js · Docker · AWS · Azure · TypeScript · Angular · PowerShell · Python · GitHub Actions

Founder · Principal Architect · DevOps Automator · Open-Source Contributor · Package Maintainer · Technical Mentor · Full-Stack Developer

💼 Professional Experience

SubZeroDev

Founder & Principal Architect · 2023 – Present · Remote / International · https://subzerodev.com

Founded a boutique consultancy delivering cloud-native platforms, DevOps automation, and workflow modernization. Actively building open-source projects including Docker-Webhooks, Docker-Watchdog, Docker-BuildAgent, and contributing to Microsoft's WinGet ecosystem.

  • Built Docker-Webhooks for automated container management via GitHub workflows
  • Created Docker-Watchdog for robust Docker Compose environment monitoring
  • Developed Docker-BuildAgent for CI/CD pipelines with pre-configured tools
  • Contributed multiple packages to Microsoft WinGet ecosystem
  • Built comprehensive Azure DevOps pipeline templates and IaC modules
  • Created Docusaurus Template for professional documentation sites

C# · .NET Core · Docker · Azure · AWS · React · Node.js · DevOps · TypeScript

BlueLionHeart

Co-Founder & Lead Engineer · 2023-2024 · Remote

Co-founded and developed an IoT-powered predictive analytics platform for municipal infrastructure monitoring, focusing on proactive maintenance and automated alerting systems.

  • Architected scalable IoT platform for real-time sensor data processing
  • Implemented machine learning models for predictive maintenance analytics
  • Built automated notification systems for municipal infrastructure monitoring
  • Developed time-series data processing pipelines for municipal clients

Python · TensorFlow · IoT · Azure IoT Hub · Time Series Analytics

VistaPrint

Technical Lead · 2022 – 2023 · Remote · https://vistaprint.com

Led the payments engineering team, architecting new payment methods and mentoring developers to improve code quality, delivery velocity, and system reliability.

  • Led cross-functional payments infrastructure team
  • Architected and implemented new payment method integrations
  • Improved payment processing reliability and error handling
  • Mentored junior developers in clean code and microservices architecture
  • Established testing strategies and CI/CD practices for payment systems

C# · .NET · Payment APIs · Microservices · Kafka · Redis

Derivco Sports

Team Lead · 2019 – 2022 · Cape Town, SA (Remote) · https://derivco.com

Introduced modern development practices including Azure DevOps pipelines, agile methodologies, and test-driven development across the trading systems division.

  • Implemented CI/CD pipelines reducing manual deployment processes
  • Established TDD practices and automated testing strategies
  • Led agile transformation across multiple development teams
  • Architected real-time trading platform with SignalR and high-frequency data processing
  • Mentored teams on clean code practices and SOLID principles

C# · .NET Framework · Azure DevOps · SQL Server · SignalR

Inventive Group

Principal Engineer · 2017 – 2018 · Sofia, Bulgaria

Delivered multiple MVP projects for new client acquisitions, built scalable cloud infrastructure, and grew the engineering team while establishing development processes.

  • Delivered multiple MVPs that successfully secured new client partnerships
  • Architected and built scalable cloud infrastructure on Azure
  • Grew engineering team and established mentoring processes
  • Implemented development standards, code review practices, and CI processes
  • Led full-stack development using .NET and Angular technologies

C# · ASP.NET MVC · Azure · SQL Server · JavaScript · Angular

🎓 Education & Learning

Alfred University (NY, USA)

B.S. Computer Science (Cum Laude), Minor in MIS

Formal foundation in software engineering and information systems

Continuous Learning

Self-directed education in Clean Code, DevOps, and Modern Software Practices

Pluralsight, .NET Code Camps, Open-source contributions

🚀 Recent Projects & Open Source

Docker-Watchdog

2025

Robust containerized management tool for Docker Compose environments with automated updates and health monitoring

Docker · Node.js · TypeScript · REST API

AzureDevOps-Templates

2025

Comprehensive collection of reusable Azure DevOps pipeline templates and infrastructure-as-code modules

Azure DevOps · ARM Templates · YAML · IaC

Docker-Webhooks

2025

Node.js API for managing local Docker containers via GitHub workflow webhooks through Cloudflared

Node.js · Express · Docker · TypeScript · Webhooks

Docker-BuildAgent

2025

Pre-configured Docker image for CI/CD pipelines with Node.js, Angular CLI, TypeScript, and PowerShell

Docker · Node.js · Angular · PowerShell · CI/CD

Docker-DNSAtHome

2025

Containerized dnscrypt-proxy solution with encrypted DNS, blocklists, and automated monitoring

Docker · DNS · dnscrypt-proxy · Security · Privacy

Docusaurus Template

2025

Professional Docusaurus template with TypeScript, theming, and automated build scripts

React · Docusaurus · TypeScript · Markdown · SSG

iCloudSync

2023

PowerShell automation scripts for downloading and organizing iCloud media files

PowerShell · File Management · Automation

QuickSync

2025

Windows desktop utility for comparing and synchronizing folders using CRC32 checksums

.NET · C# · WinForms · File Management

Image Event Processor

2025

.NET WebAPI hosted on AWS Lambda with Angular UI for processing images

.NET · AWS Lambda · Angular · Serverless

BarStrad Restaurant System

2025

Angular-based restaurant menu application with Discord integration and multilingual support

Angular · TypeScript · Discord · i18n

🌟 Open Source Contributions

Microsoft WinGet Packages

Multiple contributions to Windows Package Manager community repository

Package management for Windows ecosystem

Package Management · YAML · Windows

Chocolatey Community Packages

Contributed packages for popular software including Spotify, JetBrains tools

Simplified software installation for Windows users

Package Management · PowerShell · Chocolatey

GitHub Actions Automation

Automated WinGet package updates for SideQuest Easy Installer and XYplorer

Continuous integration for package maintenance

GitHub Actions · CI/CD · YAML · Automation

AliaSQL Database Migration

Contributed to open source database versioning and migration tool

Database deployment automation

SQL Server · Database Migration · .NET

📈 Career Timeline & Key Projects

2023-Present (SubZeroDev Era)

Containerization & DevOps Automation

Docker-Watchdog (Container Management) · Docker-Webhooks (CI/CD Integration) · Docker-BuildAgent (Pipeline Tools) · AzureDevOps Templates (IaC) · Docusaurus Template (Documentation)

2019-2022 (Derivco Sports Era)

Enterprise Development & Trading Systems

Business Intelligence Web Interface · Manual Testing Applications (Angular) · Equipment Repairs System · Code Generation Tools (Razor Templates)

2017-2018 (Inventive Group Era)

Full-Stack Development & MVPs

Patient Viewer (.NET & Angular demos) · Menu Creator (ASP.NET Core) · NetAssure Platform (Angular/Node.js/Docker) · Shopping Service Microservice

2014-2016 (Early Career)

Automation & Build Tools

OctopusDeploy Integration Tools · PowerShell Automation Scripts · BoxStarter Package Management