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Kevin Pirnie

Contractor, DevOps Engineer at Mode Effect

@kevp75 Western MA USA joined Aug 2016

kevinpirnie.com github.com/kpirnie Slack: @Kevin Pirnie

    Bio

    My journey started when dial-up was the standard, and it has evolved into a deep specialization in creating robust, secure, and high-performance WordPress ecosystems and web applications.

    Interests

    Camp fires, IPA’s, Astronomy, hanging with my babies and granbabies 🙂

    WordPress Origin Story

    I started out welding and wrenching on diesel engines — not exactly a traditional path into tech. But I eventually found my way back to computers, and WordPress kind of grabbed me and never let go.

    I spent 11 years as a DevOps Support Lead at Emagine Communications, built my own hosting company out here in Western Mass, and went deep on everything WordPress had to offer. Not just the surface stuff — I’m talking custom themes with full build pipelines, my own PHP utility libraries, a field framework for options pages and metaboxes, and three plugins published to the official WordPress.org repository.

    But WordPress was really just the foundation. It pushed me to get better at PHP, then DevOps, then containerization, and eventually I found myself building PodNest — a full self-hosted site management platform written in Go, running on Podman, with its own WAF, audit logging, backup system, and more.

    Not bad for a guy who used to spend his days under a truck.

    Badges

    CODE
    1 badge
    Plugin Developer
    PRACTICE
    1 badge
    Support Contributor '26

    Current Job

    Contractor, DevOps Engineer
    Mar 2026 – Present
    Mode Effect · Contract
    Manage web hosting services across AWS, WPEngine, and Kinsta hosting platforms
    Utilize PHP, .Net, MySQL, Microsoft SQL, and WordPress best practices
    Manage logging and querying across AWS CloudWatch for all IIS servers

    Job History

    DevOps Support Lead, WordPress/Hosting
    May 2014 – May 2025
    Emagine Communications LLC · Full-time
    Lead client-facing technical and web support for all clients
    Manage Linux and Windows Web, Database, and Email Servers
    Provide support for server control panels like CPanel, WHM, and ServerPilot, as well as Cloud SaaS platforms such as AWS, WPEngine, Cloudways, and Pantheon
    Maintain and support existing websites, including development in PHP, .Net, MySQL, Microsoft SQL, and WordPress
    Ensure WordPress security, hosting, and core/plugin updates for all clients
    Web Developer
    Jun 2012 – Oct 2013
    Foresite Technologies / Infotree Web Services · Full-time
    Develop and optimize CMS & E-commerce web applications
    Create and enhance custom CMS, ModX, and WordPress solutions
    Troubleshoot and maintain Linux web, database, and email servers
    Utilize PHP, .Net, MySQL, Microsoft SQL, ModX, Magento, and WordPress best practices
    Provide ongoing support for existing websites and applications
    Software Developer
    Nov 2007 – May 2009
    MembersFirst, Inc. · Full-time
    Develop web applications and automation processes
    Develop and maintain custom CMS utilizing Microsoft SQL, .Net, JavaScript, and XML for golf courses and country clubs
    Maintain existing websites and provide support for the custom CMS
    Sync and maintain account statements and membership rosters utilizing REST & SOAP API’s
    Vice President of Development
    May 2006 – Sep 2007
    Internet Services Inc. · Full-time
    Lead web development and support for company and client sites
    Manage development and design services using various technologies
    Provide hosting and tech support for incoming client tickets
    Utilize PHP, .Net, MySQL, Microsoft SQL, and WordPress best practices
    Develop and maintain product and service documentation

    Key Accomplishments

    Authored open-source PHP libraries published to Packagist, including a WordPress field framework used across multiple plugins and themes. Built custom themes with modern build pipelines (esbuild, Tailwind, cssnano).
    Full-stack site ownership extending beyond WordPress into server provisioning, nginx configuration, SSL, performance tuning, and security hardening at the infrastructure level.
    Three plugins published on WordPress.org — Security Header Generator, The Cache Purger, and KP Agent Ready — all independently developed, submitted through the review process, and actively maintained.
    Over two decades of hands-on WordPress experience spanning plugin and theme development, full-stack site ownership, security hardening, and DevOps-level infrastructure management.

    Recent impact

    Score weights high-impact work (commits, releases, approved translations, props) at 3x routine activity.

    Last 30 days
    4contributions
    high2
    medium2
    score8
    Last 90 days
    31contributions
    high26
    medium5
    score83
    Last 12 months
    144contributions
    high88
    medium56
    score320

    Contributions

    Type
    September 2026
    Sep 25 Fri · 17:28
    Forums med
    Posted a reply to [ISSUE] Array in CSP Sandbox checkboxes, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    the fix, along with other fixes and updates are now in place and just waiting…
    Sep 25 Fri · 17:22
    Plugins high
    Committed [3713374] to Plugins SVN:
    release 6.1.04
    Sep 25 Fri · 17:18
    Plugins high
    Committed [3713367] to Plugins SVN:
    14 updates, in readme changelog
    Sep 25 Fri · 14:38
    Forums med
    Created a topic, [ISSUE] Array in CSP Sandbox checkboxes, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Found an issue here folks, going to have an update pus…
    Sep 02 Wed · 14:04
    Plugins high
    Committed [3678133] to Plugins SVN:
    tagging 2.3.59
    Sep 02 Wed · 13:38
    Plugins high
    Committed [3678100] to Plugins SVN:
    stop file purge from deleting wp super cache; fix redis connect/auth/select; fix pagespeed header detection; fix varnish headers; guard nginx globs; keep php cache slug list; fix activation notice; clean options/transients/scheduled actions/logs on uninstall; prefix purge flag; unschedule recurring purge when off; gate admin bar; correct docs; prep transient; purge site transients; silence nonce sniff; tightent header guards; guard divi blob; catch throwable for fastly; update fastly module;
    Sep 02 Wed · 12:01
    Plugins high
    Committed [3677939] to Plugins SVN:
    tagging 6.0.86
    Sep 02 Wed · 12:00
    Plugins high
    Committed [3677935] to Plugins SVN:
    remove dead class and stale vendor/bin
    Sep 02 Wed · 11:57
    Plugins high
    Committed [3677929] to Plugins SVN:
    rem unused basic auth settings; fix uninstall; fix duplicated sandbox; fix php version checks; add versioning to assets based on plugin version; fix settings rendering; fix markup in docs; fix transalating submenu items; remove dead code;
    Sep 02 Wed · 11:01
    Plugins high
    Committed [3677824] to Plugins SVN:
    tag 1.2.08

    Developer

    3 plugins

    Plugins

    3 favorites