Hi, I'm I Putu Wahyu Mahendra. Building Secure & Reliable Systems
I'm currently at the University of Sydney focusing on practical software engineering, cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity. I build tools that solve robust challenges using modern web stacks and systems languages.
About Background
I build secure, reliable, and user-centric systems. With a strong foundation in computer science and a specialized interest in cybersecurity and cloud infrastructure, I try to bridge the gap between performance, security, and the developer experience.
Whether it's writing robust backend services in Rust or creating resilient cloud architectures using Terraform, my focus is always on engineering pragmatic solutions for complex problems with a "security-first" mindset.
sys.profile
- LocationSydney, Australia
- EducationUniversity of Sydney
- DegreeB. Advanced Computing
- MajorComputer Science & Cybersecurity
- AchievementWAM: Distinction
Credentials
- Kali Linux for Ethical HackersUdemy — Mar 2025
- ACA System OperatorAlibaba Cloud — Mar 2025
- Automate and Scale (IaC/DevOps)Alibaba Cloud — Mar 2025
- Disaster-Proof Your BusinessAlibaba Cloud — Mar 2025
- Intro to Infra as Code (IaC)Alibaba Cloud — Mar 2025
Experience & Leadership
Professional history, technical volunteering, and academic focus.
Tech Specialist Executive
Feb 2026 - present- Engineered and managed the scalable cloud-based infrastructure for society-wide CTF competitions, ensuring 99.9% uptime for 100+ concurrent participants.
- Collaborated with the executive and CTF teams to design and implement technical solutions that support workshops, competitions, and training activities for society members.
- Automated the deployment of security challenges using Docker and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) principles to streamline environment setup and teardown.
- Monitored competition traffic for "fair play" and infrastructure stability, applying troubleshooting skills in Linux and networking environments.
CTF Subcommittee Member
2025-2026- Sub-committee member in the CTF (Capture The Flag) Division, contributing to the design and development of competition challenges and training materials for USYD CyberSoc events
- Assisted the executive team in organizing and running multiple society events, ensuring smooth coordination and engagement for participants
- Participated in cyber security workshops on Blue Teaming, Red Teaming, and Penetration Testing to strengthen practical security skills
Information Technology Directorate
Jan 2025 - Present- Contributed to the Information Technology Directorate by collaborating on team projects and technical initiatives.
- Developed and maintained the backend systems for the PPIA website, focusing on database developing and data management.
- Participated in social, national, and seminar events to enhance personal growth and professional networking.
- Strengthened organizational and responsibility skills through hands-on experience in planning and execution.
Awardee
2023 - Present- Received the opportunity as one of the fifty students of Indonesia Maju Scholarship Batch 3 to study abroad for an undergraduate degree
- Followed the preparation program, including English and mathematics classes, seminars, and workshops
Featured Engineering Work
Selected projects demonstrating backend architecture, applied cryptography, and systems programming.
Mini SOC Lab (Wazuh SIEM)
Designed and deployed a mini Security Operations Center (SOC) lab on VirtualBox by configuring a multi-node environment: Wazuh Manager/Indexer/Dashboard, Ubuntu endpoint, and Kali Linux attacker and simulating real world attacks mapped to MITRE ATT&CK:
- Brute Force (T1110) using Hydra
- Privilege Escalation (T1548.003) via sudo abuse
- Valid Accounts (T1078) using Netcat
Monitored and analyzed logs to generate actionable alerts via Wazuh Dashboard by troubleshooting network configurations (NAT, Host-Only, Internal Network) to ensure proper agent-server communication, and understanding of log collection, SIEM pipelines, and detection engineering fundamentals.
Automation & CI/CD Pipeline Project
Designed and implemented a CI/CD pipeline using Jenkins, integrated with GitHub for automated build and deployment workflows by configuring Gradle as the build system to manage dependencies and automate project compilation and exposing local services using ngrok to enable external webhook triggers and testing
Technical Proficiencies
Practical skills acquired through academic study, personal engineering projects, and security research.
Programming & Technical
- LanguagesIntermediate proficiency in Python and Java (OOP); foundation-level skills in JavaScript, C, React, and Next.js.
- Cloud & InfrastructureHands-on experience with Alibaba Cloud (IaC, DevOps, Disaster Recovery) and managing CTF server infrastructure.
- Security ToolsetSolid working knowledge of Kali Linux, Wireshark, and Burp Suite for traffic analysis; experience with Wazuh SIEM for log monitoring.
Soft Skills
- Leadership & Project ManagementLeading technical teams as Tech Specialist Lead for USYD CyberSoc.
- AI-Enhanced ProductivityLeveraging AI tools to accelerate debugging, documentation, and technical research workflows.
- Team CollaborationExperience working in cross-functional teams and society environments.
- Research & Analytical Thinking
Languages
- Indonesian (Native)
- English (Fluent)
Interests
- Cybersecurity & Ethical HackingPassionate about understanding system vulnerabilities, penetration testing, and secure software design. Curious to explore how systems and security integrate, and eager to deepen that knowledge through practical experience.
- Problem Solving & AlgorithmsEnjoy tackling complex problems through structured reasoning and efficient algorithm design.
- Software Engineering & Scalable System DevelopmentInterested in designing and building scalable applications. Previously developed simple Java projects using Gradle as a build automation tool.
- Technology & InnovationInterested in emerging tech trends like AI in cybersecurity and cloud security architectures.
Initialise Handshake
My inbox is open for internships, grad roles, networking, or tech questions.
Direct Contact
My inbox is always open. Whether you have a question or just want to say hi, I'll try my best to get back to you!