Cybersecurity, infrastructure and software.

I’m an engineering student who loves taking things apart to understand how they work (and, hopefully, putting them back together). I have designed, secured and built both software and hardware systems, from threat detection systems to containerized DevOps pipelines.

I’m studying for a Master of Engineering in Computer Science (Secure Software) at KU Leuven, and alongside my studies I work as an IT Engineer at Vertical Compute. I keep improving my skills through hands-on projects, CTFs and real-world engineering challenges, including a homelab that I run like a production environment.

Experience

IT Engineer, Vertical Compute

Aug 2026 – Present · Infrastructure, Networking, Security, Monitoring, CI/CD, GCP, AWS

  • Architecting and deploying core IT infrastructure and hardening the network (on-prem + GCP).
  • Designing and building automated data pipelines for centralized telemetry, log management and system monitoring (on-prem + AWS + GCP).
  • Implementing security best practices and continuous monitoring to safeguard organizational assets and maintain infrastructure uptime.
  • Streamlining CI/CD deployment pipelines and automating multi-cloud integrations.
  • Provisioning and maintaining on-premises lab environments: servers, cabling, and configuring routers, switches and VLANs for testbed isolation.

DevOps Engineer (Cloud Team), Approach Cyber (AXS Guard)

Jan 2026 – May 2026 · DevOps, CI/CD, ELK Stack, TheHive, Jenkins, Kubernetes, GitLab

  • Built and integrated automated data pipelines and active responders to centralize system telemetry and security intelligence using the ELK stack and TheHive.
  • Managed CI/CD workflows and containerized infrastructure using Jenkins, Kubernetes and GitLab integrations to streamline application deployments.

Cybersecurity Engineer (Cloud Team, part-time), Approach Cyber (AXS Guard)

Sep 2025 – Dec 2025 · Cybersecurity, Threat Detection, SOC, Python, GoLang

  • Developed and tested a threat detection and analysis system to identify malicious files and URLs distributed via email and other channels.
  • Conducted research and wrote performance reports to improve malware detection rates and benchmark alternative security solutions.
  • Collaborated with the cloud security engineering team to prepare the system for production deployment.

Software Engineer (part-time), Diabatix

Feb 2025 – May 2025 · Python, CI/CD

  • Contributed to the Python pyColdStream library: worked on the code, added tests and created GitHub Actions workflows.
  • Built Python automation tools for simulation output, including ParaView and file converters.

Projects: pyColdStream

IT, VTK Leuven

Sep 2024 – Jul 2025 · PHP, Symfony, MySQL, JavaScript, TypeScript, Teamwork, Technical Support

  • Worked within a dedicated team to maintain the organization’s website and internal systems.
  • Provided technical support through a shared ticketing system, ensuring uptime and responsiveness.
  • Co-developed a student file-sharing platform (BurgieClan) using PHP/Symfony, MySQL and modern front-end tools.

Projects: BurgieClan, Litus Project

Education

Master of Engineering: Computer Science, Secure Software

KU Leuven, Faculty of Engineering Sciences · Present

Focus on cybersecurity and secure software development.

Bachelor of Engineering Sciences: Computer Science

KU Leuven, Faculty of Engineering Sciences

A broad engineering foundation covering algorithms, systems programming, networking and software design, with hands-on project work through the PnO (Problem Solving and Design) curriculum, where teams built real systems under engineering constraints. The bachelor took longer than usual because I switched over from Electrical Engineering.

Java, Python, C, Algorithms, Networking, OOP

Projects: SimLife, Wi-Fi Cracking Tool, Automated Transportation System

Skills

  • Languages: Dutch (native), English (full professional proficiency), French (limited working proficiency)
  • Programming languages: Python, PHP, Bash, C, GoLang, Java, C++, TypeScript, JavaScript
  • Networking and security: WPA/WEP cracking, vulnerability scanning, threat detection
  • Back-end development: REST API design, database integration
  • Frameworks and tools: Flask, Node.js, React, Symfony, Docker, Kubernetes, TheHive
  • Databases: MySQL, Elasticsearch
  • DevOps: Linux server management, CI/CD (Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions), Git
  • Infrastructure: Proxmox VE, TrueNAS, ELK Stack
  • Hardware: digital design (SystemVerilog), RISC-V, Arduino

Community & Activities

Main Organiser, Coding Challenge 2024

BEST Leuven · Aug 2024 – Nov 2024

  • Led the planning, coordination and execution of a hackathon with 62 participants and 24 teams.
  • Held regular meetings with the team to make sure the challenges and the event met, and exceeded, our quality standards.

Challenge Responsible, Coding Challenge 2023

BEST Leuven · Aug 2023 – Nov 2023

  • Oversaw a team of 4 to design and develop engaging, innovative challenges for the participants.
  • Supported participants during the event by clarifying challenge requirements and offering technical guidance.

Logistics Responsible, Game Jam 2023

BEST Leuven · Aug 2023 – Oct 2023

  • Planned, managed and coordinated the logistics support for the event.

Competitions

Hackathons

  • Techscape AE 2024, 2nd place · Techscape · Mar 2024. Analyzed web app vulnerabilities and encryption flaws to solve challenge scenarios.
  • BEST Coding Challenge 2022, 2nd place · BEST · Nov 2022. A Python coding competition built around logic and algorithmic problem solving.

CTF / Security

  • Cyber Security Challenge Belgium 2025, participant · KU Leuven · Mar 2025. Took part with a team in a national CTF competition focused on real-world security challenges.
  • ULYSSIS CTF 2025, participant · KU Leuven · 2025. Gained hands-on experience with web exploitation, binary analysis and cryptography challenges.

References

  • Ine Vandebeek, CTO · Diabatix. Letter of recommendation available on request.
  • Thibault Van Win, SOC Lead · AXS Guard. Contact information available on request.