Hello! đź‘‹

Hello! I’m Kyaw Myint Thein, but most people call me Joe. I’m a Senior Software Engineer originally from Myanmar (Burma), currently living in Sydney, Australia.

This blog is my personal corner of the internet where I share thoughts on technology, experiences as an immigrant, life in Sydney, and anything else that sparks my curiosity.

My Journey

I moved to Australia for opportunities and to experience life in a different part of the world. It’s been quite the adventure – from navigating cultural differences to building complex software systems, every day brings something new to learn.

What I Do Professionally

I work as a Senior Software Engineer focusing on large-scale data infrastructure and distributed systems. My day-to-day involves:

  • Building and optimizing data processing pipelines
  • Managing Apache Iceberg-based DataLakes
  • Operating large-scale Cassandra clusters
  • Leading database migrations for high-traffic applications
  • Creating tools that make other engineers’ lives easier

Technical Background

  • 6+ years in software engineering across e-commerce, gaming, and telecommunications
  • Experience with systems handling 200+ million users and 10,000+ RPS
  • Specialized in Scala, Golang, Java, Python
  • Deep expertise in Apache Cassandra, Kafka, Spark, Iceberg, and AWS
  • Distributed Systems and Data Platform Services specialist

What You’ll Find Here

This blog covers a mix of topics close to my heart:

🔧 Technology & Engineering

  • Distributed systems and database engineering
  • Real-world experiences with large-scale systems
  • Programming insights and best practices
  • Tech industry observations

🌏 Life & Culture

  • Experiences as a Myanmar expat in Australia
  • Cultural observations and adaptations
  • Life in Sydney - the good, the challenging, and the beautiful
  • Travel stories and local discoveries

đź’­ Personal Thoughts

  • Career reflections and growth
  • Learning experiences and failures
  • Books, movies, and random musings
  • Anything that catches my interest

Personal Touch

This blog is my digital space where I blend my professional journey with personal experiences. Moving from Myanmar to Australia has been an incredible adventure, and I want to share both the technical insights I’ve gained and the life experiences that have shaped me.

Beyond Code

When I’m not debugging distributed systems or optimizing database queries, you might find me:

  • Trekking and travelling: Exploring new places and discovering hidden gems
  • Road trips: There’s nothing like hitting the road and seeing where it takes you
  • Cycling: Pedaling around Sydney and exploring different neighborhoods
  • Spending time with dogs: I absolutely love dogs and can’t resist saying hello to every pup I meet
  • Trying to binge-watch Netflix: Been attempting to get back into series over the past few months
  • Reading: From technical articles to books on various topics
  • Exploring Sydney’s food scene: Still hunting for great Asian food - Japanese is my absolute favorite
  • Planning the next adventure: Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a longer journey

Let’s Connect

I love connecting with fellow engineers, Myanmar expats, Sydney locals, or anyone with interesting stories to share:

Feel free to reach out if you want to chat about:

  • Technology and software engineering
  • Life as an international worker in Australia
  • Myanmar culture or experiences
  • Sydney recommendations and travel tips
  • Trekking and road trip adventures
  • Cycling routes and neighborhood discoveries
  • Dog stories (I’d love to hear about your furry friends!)
  • Japanese food recommendations (always looking for the best spots!)
  • Book and Netflix recommendations
  • Career advice or mentoring
  • Or just to say hi!

“Life is a journey of continuous learning – whether you’re debugging code, adapting to a new culture, or simply figuring out the best coffee shop in your neighborhood.”