IT systems Specialist

Firefly space systems – Austin, Tx [ 2014 – 2016 ]

·   Full time role to plan a long-term solutions and sustainable IT strategy and support for Firefly, an aerospace startup company that designs and builds space rockets.  Implemented solutions and followed approved IT strategy to stay on top of everything IT. 

·   Deployed Dell Poweredge server hardware with VMware on Dell direct attached storage (Powervault DAS) to host Windows and Linux and Redhat virtual servers for accounting, HR, video camera DVRs, system resource monitors, and engineering projects.  

·   Installed and configured VMware products on HP and Dell servers, managed by VCenter server, to host a variety of virtual machines for  MS Windows Server, SharePoint Server, MS System Center, CentOS, and virtual appliances to monitor network devices and services.

·   Setup Multi-Factor authentication, a Single Sign-On (SSO) solution with Active Director Federation Services (ADFS), to link onsite Windows domain login with Office 365 website email, SharePoint, Autodesk, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud servers.

·   Purchased and renewed all software licenses used onsite for Microsoft Partner Network, MSDN and Autodesk subscriptions.  Setup a floating license server to automate management and issuing shared Autodesk Inventor software licenses. 

·   Created and maintained an internal ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) Compliance Program information on regulations that control the export and import of defense-related articles, products, and services.

·   Designed and implemented SharePoint sites for each department and to document all IT infrastructure information.    SharePoint sites included a custom built, automated IT issue ticket tracking site, the company intranet for everyone to access with internal sign-off forms, Aerospace Government Compliance documentation for processes, procedures, Change Control, Accounting, Project Management, Executive Reports, Disaster Recovery procedures, HR Onboarding, and Site Security procedures with building access cards.     

·   Promoted user & team collaboration, organization, and consistency with Office 365 and SharePoint 2013.  Provided basic user training for SharePoint, Office 365, and Autodesk Product Design Suite 2015 Inventor, PLM, and Vault.   

·   Established internal and external live monitoring of software, hardware, connections, and applications for onsite production servers, services, LAN/WAN and hosted cloud services on Amazon Web Services (AWS) with Logic Monitor, Nagios, New Relic, and SolarWinds.

·   Secured and restricted then monitored all WAN connections that included a hosted phone system at 8x8.com for users IP phones at multiple company sites and site-to-site VPN tunnels to keep all sites secure and connected. 

·   Hired and trained a  few IT techs and established a first level support Helpdesk team with defied SLA’s, to support rocket design engineers, company executives, test site construction crews, remote international users, and onboarding new employees. 

·   Company moved out of Austin in 2015, to Briggs Texas, forcing a job search for a new local position in Austin.   

it Systems administrator

pERSONIQUE sURGERY CENTERs  –  Austin, Tx  [ 2011 – 2014 ]

·   Contract position to plan and update outdated IT infrastructure at multiple sites in Austin and San Antonio.

·   Reduced server hardware costs by virtualizing and consolidating all legacy systems and servers with VMWare software and solutions.

·   Reduced voice and data costs by replacing the T1 and PRI services with one large internet connection.  Upgraded obsolete onsite PBX with hosted PBX services with new IP phones.  Configured QOS and tagging to shape and police the WAN connection to avoid latency.

·   Installed and configured Windows & CentOS servers on VMware ESXi servers on Dell Hardware. 

·   Virtual machines included Remote Desktop Services with RDWeb, to extend remote access to custom business software NexTech Medical Practice on MS SQL server, vCenter, Windows Server, Exchange Server, SharePoint Server, SQL Server, and Backup Exec Server.

·   Monitored and managed server deployments, updates, and alerts with Microsoft Systems Center and Solarwinds modules. 

·   Setup live monitoring and alerts for all servers, workstation, printers, application, and all other network devices.

·   Setup, maintained, and supported an on premise Enterprise SharePoint 2013 server with the backend MS SQL database, intranet, WIKI, company documents, IT Infrastructure, security, inventory, processes/procedures, and employee information. SharePoint implementation included a clustered MS SQL databases with failover.  SharePoint configured to use versioning, custom workflows, change control, sales reports, shared calendars, training, and secure forms for sales, marketing, and reporting services.   

senior systems engineer

Austin Onsite 365 – Austin, tx [ 2007 – 2011 ]

·   Contract position with many IT projects for clients, with focus on delivering successful on-time and on-budget engagements.  

·   Roles changed from project to project, and included IT Lead Engineer, Project Manager, IT Systems Design Architect, Helpdesk Tech Support, Webmaster, Pre-Sales Engineer, and SharePoint Admin/Dev/Support.

·   Planned and implemented many system upgrade and migration projects for Windows Server, Exchange Server, SharePoint Server, SQL Server, VMWare, Excel Services, Dashboards, Team Foundation Server, Dynamics CRM, SSLVPN, site-to-site VPN, Office 365, and rebuilt entire Windows domains with up to 900 workstation nodes and 400 server nodes on multi-site networks. 

·   Implemented consolidation projects to move all server loads of windows to VMWare virtual machines.  Setup software testing and developer environments to protect production networks. 

·   Verified and Certified enterprise production systems and applications with Microsoft Best Practices, and Microsoft Operations Framework as guidelines on all projects and implementations.  Analyzed and Audited systems functionality, configuration and architecture as a prerequisite for new application integration or implementations.

·   Setup and configured Dell server hardware with DAS storage solution in Austin, then shipped to Germany and Japan to host a global Exchange solution for Bank of America.  Used Skype to remotely walk the onsite tech through physically setting up the server and getting it online for ongoing remote maintenance and management.   

·   Successfully completed large user email migration from Google Apps to Office 365 or away from Office 365 to an Exchange 2013 Server.  

·   Created and documented Disaster Recovery plans and procedures with emergency contact list, then published it in SharePoint.  

·   Configured SharePoint Online and on premise for secure document sharing with One Drive for Business and for IT documentation, helpdesk ticket tracking, project management, process automation, executive reports, accounting purchase orders, business contracts, custom forms, HR onboarding, and converted paper forms to custom electronic forms with workflows and digital signatures. 

·   Identified many cost saving opportunities to suggest, plan, and implement.   Planned and followed yearly IT budget.   

Exchange & Network admin

ClearCube – Austin, tx  [ 2006 – 2007 ]

·   Full time position to implement a server migration project of Windows server and Exchange server 2003 to 2007 and to manage a team of three helpdesk techs to support over 300 users.  

·   Configured and scheduled DR solution to backup domain servers, SQL databases, and user workstation data. 

·   Increased network security with VLANs and segmenting the network with Cisco switches, wireless mesh, and routers. 

·   Setup a helpdesk ticket tracking system with TrackIT.  Setup system monitoring and alerts with Solarwinds solutions and online tools.