Swapnil is a class of 2024 MSc Cloud Computing graduate from NCI. He previously completed a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science in Pune, India, where he developed a strong interest in automation and problem-solving. During an internship, Swapnil gained his first exposure to cloud computing, which inspired him to pursue a career in the field. He relocated to Ireland in 2023 to complete his Master’s at NCI and also gained experience working in hospitality during and after his studies. Swapnil is now based in Dublin and works as a Cloud & DevOps Engineer, building and managing production-grade cloud systems.
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Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background:
Hi, I'm Swapnil. Honestly, before Ireland, I'd never really left my parents' house — I was quite a shy, unsure kid growing up, especially when it came to figuring out what I wanted to do with my career. But one thing that stayed consistent was that I was always studious and drawn to solving problems — even everyday, ordinary problems in regular life, not just academic ones.
That instinct really took shape once I started my Bachelor's degree in Computer Science back in Pune, India. I became fascinated with the idea of taking tasks that normally took hours to do manually and finding ways to get them done in minutes, or even seconds. Looking back, that's really where my passion for automation was born.
Then, during my internship, I got my first real exposure to cloud computing, and I was genuinely in awe of how it all worked — the scale of it and the way infrastructure could be built and managed through code. That moment stuck with me, and it's what pulled me toward the path I'm on today.
Moving to Ireland in 2023 for my Master's at NCI was a huge step for someone who'd never really left home — starting fresh in a new country, not knowing many people and stepping into the unknown while still being that naturally unsure kid inside. It wasn't always easy.
I even worked in hospitality for a while during and after my studies, which taught me a lot about patience and handling pressure — skills that, surprisingly, help me every day in DevOps too.
Now I'm working as a Cloud & DevOps Engineer here in Dublin, and looking back, I feel genuinely proud of how far that journey has come — from a shy kid unsure of his path to someone building production-grade cloud systems for real businesses.
What made you choose Ireland as a place you wanted to work?
I saw Ireland as a real hub for technology — so many major tech companies have a strong presence here, and that made it feel like a place where I could genuinely grow in my field. But it was more than just the career angle. I also wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone, and Ireland felt like the right place to do that.
From what I'd read and heard, Ireland had a reputation for being safe, with friendly and welcoming people — and that mattered a lot to me, especially since it was my first time living away from home.
I wanted a place where I could take that leap, challenge myself and still feel supported while I found my footing. Looking back, Ireland gave me exactly that — a safe environment to grow both personally and professionally.
What was your most memorable experience from your time at NCI ?
One of my most memorable experiences from NCI actually goes beyond the classroom, though it started there. Dr. Shivani Jaswal was one of the first professors I met, and she took the time to explain how things worked in Ireland — not just academically, but practically, which meant a lot to someone who'd just arrived.
That early guidance helped me settle in and gave me confidence when everything still felt new.
Alongside my studies, I was also working part-time at the airport — and that journey became one of the most memorable parts of my time here. I used to cycle 10km every day to get there, rain or shine.
I started as ground staff, serving food to customers — and as a vegetarian, having to handle non-vegetarian food every day was genuinely a big adjustment for me. I remember constantly telling myself, “This is a new experience, stay motivated,” just to get through those early days.
From there, I worked my way up — from ground staff to bartender, and eventually to associate manager, where I was running the entire store on my own during shifts.
Along the way, I met people from so many different countries, learned how differently people communicate, react under pressure and work together — and I realised just how hard hospitality work really is.
It taught me patience, resilience and how to lead, and it has shaped who I am today just as much as my degree did.
How did you hear about your role?
I actually found out about my current role through LinkedIn. I'd been actively using the platform to network, follow companies in the cloud and DevOps space and keep an eye out for opportunities — and that's ultimately how I came across the role at Enterprise Registry Solutions.
It's a good reminder of how valuable it is to stay visible and engaged on LinkedIn, not just for applying to jobs, but for actually being discovered by opportunities you might not find otherwise.
What did the recruitment process involve and how did you prepare for it ?
For most roles I applied to, the process typically involved two rounds — an HR round and a technical round.
Going through multiple company interviews, I picked up on something really valuable: companies aren't always looking for deep, textbook-level technical knowledge. What they're really assessing is your ability to communicate clearly, how you approach and solve problems and whether you'd be a good team player.
That realisation actually changed how I prepared. Instead of just memorising technical concepts, I focused more on being able to explain my thinking clearly, walk through how I'd approach a problem step by step and show that I could collaborate well with a team.
That mindset shift made a real difference in how confident I felt going into interviews.
Can you describe the visa process you underwent ?
After completing my Master's at NCI, I moved from a Stamp 2 student visa to the Stamp 1G graduate visa, which gave me time to find work in my field.
Once I secured my role at Enterprise Registry Solutions, my employer's HR team supported me through the process of obtaining a Critical Skills Employment Permit.
They provided all the necessary documentation and guided me through each step, which made the transition much smoother than I expected. Having that employer support really took a lot of the stress out of the process.
What is a typical day like in your current role?
A typical day for me involves handling deployments, cloud operations and automation — making sure everything runs smoothly and reliably.
I work closely alongside developers, which I really enjoy, whether that's architecting solutions together, troubleshooting issues or planning out infrastructure for new features.
I also try to bring new ideas to the table where I can — whether that's a better way to automate a process, improve monitoring or streamline a deployment pipeline.
It's rewarding to see how those improvements help boost the company's confidence in delivering software reliably and efficiently. No two days look exactly the same, which is part of what keeps the role interesting.
What do you enjoy most about your current role?
What I like most about my current role is the opportunity the company gives me to explore and research new ideas — not just execute tasks, but actually experiment with newer technologies and approaches.
For example, I've been able to dive into areas like AI-driven operations and FinOps, exploring how things like RAG-based systems and agentic AI workflows could improve how we monitor, automate and manage cloud costs.
That freedom to research and bring in new thinking makes the job feel less repetitive and much more fulfilling.
I also really enjoy the variety — one day I might be writing Terraform to provision infrastructure, and the next I'm troubleshooting a production issue or exploring a new automation idea. It keeps me constantly learning, which is something I've always valued.
Beyond the technical side, I genuinely enjoy the collaborative environment — working closely with developers, understanding their pain points and building solutions that actually make their lives easier.
There's a real sense of purpose in knowing that the systems I build directly help the team deliver better and faster
What has been the most challenging part of your graduate journey ?
Honestly, my graduate journey was quite smooth overall — NCI did a great job supporting international students, and I never felt lost or unsupported along the way.
If I had to point to one challenge, it was probably just adjusting to a completely new environment early on — a new country, new systems and a new way of doing things.
But even that wasn't overwhelming because NCI's support system, the professors and the community made the transition much easier than I expected.
Top 3 tips for students and graduates entering the Irish job market ?
If I had to give my top three tips, they'd be:
1. Don't be too “bookish.”
Focus less on memorising theory and more on understanding how things actually work in practice. Employers value practical understanding over textbook knowledge.
2. Stay plugged into the current market.
Don't just apply blindly — regularly read job descriptions, even for roles you're not applying to yet, to understand what skills are in demand. Keep an eye on what's happening in the industry so you know where things are heading.
3. Come prepared to solve problems, not just answer questions.
In interviews, show that you understand the challenges the company might be facing and come with a genuine willingness — even a rough plan or idea — for how you'd help solve them.
That mindset stands out far more than simply reciting correct answers.