Experienced Senior IT Systems Engineer and Architect with over 20 years of expertise in system architecture and network design across industries like oil and gas, IT consulting, and commercial property management. Skilled in end-to- end IT system development, ensuring alignment with business objectives and ITIL standards. Successfully led major projects in the oil and gas sector. Proficient in Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Windows Server, Active Directory, networking, and virtualization. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Expertise in system administration, including Microsoft Azure, Windows Server, Active Directory, networking, virtualization technologies, and more. Extensive experience with unified communication solutions like Skype for Business and Microsoft Exchange. Skilled in hardware management, including servers, storage, routing, switching, firewalls, and wireless access points.
Currently, Senior IT Systems Engineer and Architect at Intellegens, Inc., overseeing support, administration, and configuration for multi-domain clients, including oil and gas clients. Manage Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Windows Server, Hyper-V clusters, networking, and data backup systems. With a strong foundation in Mathematics, possess excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. Proven ability to drive efficiency, implement secure solutions, and deliver successful outcomes. Combining technical expertise and mathematical aptitude, consistently ensure seamless IT operations and achieve project success.
EXPERIENCE
MSP (2021-Present)
Senior IT Systems Engineer
- Provide support, administration, configuration, deployment, and monitoring for various clients across different domains.
- Manage and optimize Microsoft Azure cloud services, ensuring efficient utilization and effective deployment of resources.
- Oversee the Microsoft 365 platform, including user management, licensing, and security configurations.
- Maintain and manage Windows Server systems, ensuring stability, security, and performance optimization.
- Design, implement, and manage highly available Hyper-V clusters for virtualized environments.
- Configure and maintain physical and virtual networking infrastructure, ensuring seamless connectivity and network performance.
- Implement and manage data backup and retention systems, ensuring data integrity and disaster recovery capabilities.
- Utilize IT monitoring and management systems (RMM) to proactively monitor client environments, identify issues, and perform necessary remediation.
- Administer and optimize Microsoft SQL Servers, ensuring efficient database performance and data integrity.
- Deploy and manage web servers, including configuration, performance tuning, and security hardening.
- Maintain and manage data storage systems, such as NAS (Network-Attached Storage) and SAN (Storage Area Network), ensuring data availability and efficient storage utilization.
- Design and implement services support strategies, including service-level agreements (SLAs) and escalation procedures, to ensure timely and effective resolution of client issues.
Property Management Corporation (2016-2021)
Senior IT Systems Engineer / Architect
- Orchestrated end-to-end support, administration, configuration, deployment, and monitoring of Windows Server systems, ensuring seamless operations and peak performance.
- Engineered and maintained highly resilient Hyper-V clusters, guaranteeing optimal virtualization environments.
- Spearheaded physical and virtual networking endeavors, establishing robust connectivity frameworks.
- Spearheaded unified communication systems, leveraging Microsoft Skype for Business and Microsoft Exchange to foster seamless collaboration.
- Implemented and oversaw cutting-edge data backup and retention systems, harnessing the power of Microsoft Data Protection and Veritas Backup Exec.
- Leveraged advanced IT systems monitoring tools like SCOM to proactively monitor and optimize system health.
- Expertly managed and fine-tuned Microsoft SQL Servers, optimizing database performance and reliability.
- Deployed and fine-tuned web servers to ensure high availability, superior performance, and robust security measures.
- Architected and administered data storage systems (NAS, SAN), ensuring fault-tolerant data storage and rapid accessibility.
- Mentored and trained help desk staff, equipping them with the necessary technical skills to excel.
- Collaborated with the development team, offering technical expertise and support during system initiation, planning, and deployment phases.
- Oversaw the deployment and maintenance of Microsoft Azure environments, harnessing the power of cloud computing for scalable and resilient infrastructures.
Projects:
- Successfully implemented Azure Site Recovery, fortifying disaster recovery capabilities.
- Led the Microsoft Exchange Online Protection deployment, bolstering email security and threat mitigation.
- Executed a seamless migration of Hyper-V clusters from Windows Server 2012 R2 to Windows Server
- 2019, optimizing virtualization capabilities.
- Managed the deployment and configuration of Microsoft Data Protection Manager 2019, streamlining backup processes and reducing recovery time.
- Executed a smooth migration of File Servers to Windows Server 2019 Modern Storage, enhancing data management and accessibility.
- Designed and implemented a robust Skype for Business 2015 Enterprise solution, revolutionizing communication and collaboration.
- Implemented disaster recovery and high availability measures for Skype for Business 2015, ensuring uninterrupted operations.
- Successfully migrated from Mitel 3000 to Skype for Business Enterprise Voice, enabling advanced communication capabilities.
- Designed and deployed Microsoft Rights Management Services, safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring compliance.
- Managed the migration from Cisco ASA to SonicWall, enhancing network security and performance.
Achievements:
- Pioneered the implementation of an Azure disaster recovery site, achieving a remarkable 99% increase in IT services availability.
- Successfully deployed Microsoft Data Protection, resulting in reduced backup windows and faster recovery times.
- Led the Skype for Business 2015 Enterprise deployment, significantly reducing total cost of ownership
- (TCO) and boosting productivity.
- The implementation of Skype for Business 2015 Disaster Recovery measures significantly improved service availability.
Oil and Gas (2002-2016)
IT Manager January
- Part of Global Energy UK Plc
- Network Infrastructure Management: Support and maintain network assets across three domains, ensuring availability, operability, and stability for users.
- SharePoint Workflow Solution: Provide project advisement on architecture, implementation, deployment, and employee training for efficient workflow processes.
- Server and Security Device Configuration: Implement and configure servers, routers, firewalls, telecommunications systems, wireless access points, LAN controllers, and other network connectivity and security devices.
- Technology Research and Recommendation: Stay updated on industry trends and recommend new technologies to improve network performance while reducing IT operation costs.
- Incident and Problem Management: Perform project and incident management, diagnose outages, escalate technical support cases, and resolve system outages promptly.
- Data Backups and Security: Ensure data backups are completed, security updates are implemented, and network policies and procedures are enforced to meet business requirements.
- User Education: Educate users and team on proper technology usage and management practices.
Achievements:
- Deployed highly available Hyper-V cluster on HP hardware running Microsoft Windows 2012 R2, significantly increasing IT systems availability.
- Implemented Hyper-V-based Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) for secure geoscience system operations, utilizing the Halliburton GeoGraphix suite.
- Designed and deployed Microsoft Active Directory infrastructure to support company operations in three geographically distributed locations.
- Successfully implemented Microsoft Skype for Business (Lync) across domains, enabling audio/video capabilities and reducing travel, telecommunications, and paperwork expenses. Integrated with Siemens
- Hipath 3700 and VoIP Avaya systems using Cisco routers as SIP gateways.
- Established a topology with 2 Standard servers for High Availability, Edge Servers, and Reverse Proxy, protected by a Cisco PIX firewall.
- Deployed Lync clients for internal, external, and mobile users, enhancing communication capabilities.
Consulting Oil and Gas (2000-2002)
Support IT Manager
- Strategic Planning: Collaborate with clients to develop strategic plans for system migrations, capacity planning, system upgrades, and other IT service deliverables.
- Project Implementation and Administration: Lead and guide all project participants and stakeholders throughout enterprise business technology initiatives, ensuring successful completion of implementation and administration projects.
- Business Needs Assessment: Work closely with customers to assess their needs and translate requirements into viable, supportable solutions that align with their strategies.
- Vendor Management: Conduct vendor management activities, including evaluating and generating
- Request for Proposals (RFPs), and perform budget and performance reviews to align IT operations with business objectives.
- Technical Issue Resolution: Analyze, diagnose, and resolve technical issues, collaborating with end users and organizations to restore and maintain the continuity of business technologies and processes.
Experience Highlights:
- Provided main support to offshore oil and gas companies, offering crucial consulting services and support for IT operations.
- Developed and executed strategic plans for system migrations, capacity planning, and system upgrades, ensuring smooth transitions and enhanced performance.
- Led implementation and administration projects, guiding participants and stakeholders to successful outcomes.
- Collaborated closely with clients to assess their unique business needs and translate requirements into effective and supportable solutions.
- Managed vendor relationships, evaluated proposals, and conducted performance reviews to align IT operations with business objectives.
- Analyzed and resolved technical issues promptly, working closely with end users and organizations to minimize downtime and maintain business continuity.
EDUCATION
- Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
Skills
System Administration:
- Microsoft Azure
- Microsoft 365
- Windows Server
- Active Directory DS management and
- administration
- Networking
- Virtualization technologies
- Microsoft System Center Suite
- SQL Server
- Windows PowerShellscripting language programming
- Symantec Corporate Protection Suite
- Veritas Backup Exec
- Veeam Backup Solutions
- Linux
Unified Communication Solution:
- Skype for Business 2015 architecture and deployment
- Skype for Business Server 2015
- integration with ExchangeUnified Messaging (UM)
- High availability and disaster recovery for Skype for Business Server 2015
- Monitoring and archiving of Skype for Business Server 2015
- Enterprise voice deployment for Skype for Business Server 2015
- Microsoft Exchange 2007-2016 architecture and deployment
- Microsoft Exchange 2007-2016 Mailbox and Client Access roles monitoring and troubleshooting
- Microsoft Exchange 2007-2016 DAG deployment, troubleshooting, and monitoring
Hardware Experience:
- Servers(Dell, HP, IBM)
- Storage (HP, Dell, Tegile, Tintri)
- Routing and Switching (Dell, HP, Cisco,
- SonicWALL)
- Firewalls(Cisco, SonicWall)
- Wireless (Cisco)
- Session Border Controllers (AudioCodes)
