Pankaj Sabharwal
Bradenton,Florida
Summary
- As Director of AI & GenAI Initiatives and Principal Cloud Architect at IBM Federal, I lead transformative AI and GenAI solutions that drive automation, predictive analytics, and operational efficiency across large-scale cloud environments for key IBM clients. My expertise includes developing AI-driven AIOps and FinOps frameworks, leveraging Generative AI to automate IT operations and enhance decision-making processes. These solutions have optimized cloud infrastructure and operational workflows for IBM’s federal clients, delivering cost savings, increased efficiency, and improved compliance. Additionally, I engage in cross-company collaboration, sharing innovative strategies and solutions across IBM's global teams to ensure continuous innovation and growth for our clients. I aim to continue applying my experience in designing scalable, cloud-native AI architectures to drive innovation and strategic value for IBM's clients.
- Cloud Strategy Leader with 16+ years of experience in IT infrastructure design, modernization, and cloud migrations.
- AI & Automation Pioneer, leading initiatives in AI/GenAI, hyper-automation, and cloud-native technologies to enhance operational efficiency and predictive intelligence.
- Cross-Functional Collaborator, partnering with C-level executives, technical teams, and clients to deliver scalable, secure, and AI-driven solutions.
- Team Leader & Mentor, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation in AI, MLOps, LLMOps and cloud technologies.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of AI Cloud Architecture
IBM
01.2020 - Current
- Led AI & GenAI Initiatives: Delivered AI-driven solutions across federal contracts, generating $50M+ in revenue by optimizing IT operations, predictive analytics, and decision-making processes.
- Cloud Migrations: Directed migrations for federal agencies using AWS, GCP, Azure, and OCI, moving 300+ workloads and cutting operational costs by 40%.
- LLM Deployments: Implemented Large Language Models (LLMs) for document automation and natural language processing, streamlining decision-making workflows.
- MLOps & LLMOps Frameworks: Reduced model deployment time by 50% with MLOps, and pioneered LLMOps pipelines for real-time model fine-tuning, enhancing performance and reducing manual work.
- AIOps & FinOps Solutions: Launched AIOps and FinOps offerings using RedHat OpenShift and IBM Watson, improving issue resolution by 20% and saving $10M annually.
- AI-Driven Cloud Solutions: Architected and delivered AI and LLM-based cloud solutions for federal clients, focusing on scalability and innovation.
- Business Development: Led RFPs, securing contracts worth $100M+, and collaborated with cross-functional teams to meet client needs.
- Leadership & Mentorship: Mentored teams in AI/ML, MLOps, and LLMOps, and led IBM’s AI & Automation Center of Excellence, driving GenAI adoption.
- Executive Collaboration: Worked with IBM’s CTO and leadership to align AI strategies with cutting-edge solutions, including LLM deployments.
Principal AI and Cloud Architect
Citigroup
01.2019 - 01.2020
- AI/ML Integration: Integrated AI and ML models into Citigroup’s cloud infrastructure, improving data analytics and boosting predictive accuracy by 25%.
- MLOps Leadership: Spearheaded MLOps initiatives, reducing deployment times by 50% and saving $5M+ in operational costs annually.
- Application Modernization: Led the migration of 200 legacy applications to a cloud-native OpenShift platform, achieving 30% cost savings while enhancing scalability and compliance.
- Cross-Functional Leadership: Managed cross-functional teams, including developers, data scientists, and DevOps engineers, fostering collaboration and innovation to deliver complex AI and cloud solutions. Partnered closely with business leaders to ensure alignment with Citigroup’s strategic goals.
- Technical Oversight & Governance: Provided technical oversight for cloud infrastructure projects, implementing governance frameworks to ensure security, scalability, and performance. Established best practices for deploying AI/ML models and applications on cloud platforms, enhancing operational resilience.
Senior Cloud & Infrastructure Architect
IBM
01.2012 - 01.2019
- Healthcare Cloud Solutions: Designed and deployed AI-driven healthcare solutions for major US hospitals, ensuring HIPAA-compliant, secure patient data handling. Enabled scalable, cloud-based infrastructure that optimized healthcare operations across IBM Watson Health clients.
- Hybrid Cloud Deployments: Led hybrid cloud projects using IBM Cloud and AWS, integrating advanced DevOps and security practices, resulting in a 40% increase in application deployment speed and a 35% boost in compliance efficiency.
- AIOps Integration: Implemented AIOps solutions to enhance cloud infrastructure performance, reducing downtime by 20% and ensuring optimal system functionality for healthcare and federal clients.
- Federal Cloud Modernization: Spearheaded cloud migration initiatives for federal agencies, leveraging OpenShift and Kubernetes to modernize legacy infrastructure and cut operational costs by 25%. Ensured seamless transition to cloud-native architectures while maintaining operational continuity.
- Automation & Efficiency: Led cross-functional teams to automate IT operations using RedHat Ansible, improving deployment efficiency by 30% and streamlining workflows for both healthcare and federal sectors.
- Security & Compliance: Architected secure, multi-cloud environments for federal clients, ensuring strict compliance with FedRAMP standards. Improved system security and regulatory adherence while providing robust, scalable cloud solutions.
Senior Cloud Architect
City of New York
01.2010 - 01.2012
- Led the architecture and implementation of cloud-based financial systems for the City of New York, ensuring compliance with state regulations and enhancing scalability
- Managed a team of 15 engineers responsible for migrating legacy financial systems to AWS, resulting in a 30% reduction in infrastructure costs
- Spearheaded the automation of key financial processes using Ansible, improving efficiency by 25% and reducing manual errors.
Infrastructure Architect
Wells Fargo
01.2008 - 01.2010
- Designed and implemented a high-availability WebSphere environment to support critical banking applications, improving application uptime by 40%
- Migrated legacy infrastructure to a cloud-ready platform, reducing operational costs by 20% and improving scalability for future growth.
Senior IBM WebSphere / Portal Server Administrator
The World Bank
01.2007 - 01.2008
- Managed WebSphere infrastructure projects for global World Bank initiatives, improving performance and scalability of mission-critical applications
- Led the migration of legacy systems to WebSphere, reducing downtime by 25% and enhancing digital services across multiple World Bank departments.
Education
MS in Computer Science - Computer Science
New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey03.2008
Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science - Computer Science
Pune University
India03.2006
Skills
- AI & Machine Learning Deployment
- Cloud-Native Architecture (OpenShift, Kubernetes, Docker)
- MLOps & LLMOps
- Hybrid Cloud Management (AWS, Azure, GCP, IBM Cloud)
- AIOps Solutions
- Containerization & Orchestration (Kubernetes, OpenShift, Docker)
- Cloud Migration Expertise
- DevOps & Automation (RedHat Ansible, Jenkins, Terraform)
- Compliance & Security (FedRAMP, HIPAA)
- AI & GenAI Strategy Leadership
- Cloud Infrastructure Leadership
- Cross-Functional Team Management
- Business Development & Client Engagement
- Center of Excellence (CoE) Leadership
- Change Management & Cloud Adoption
- Strategic Vision & Roadmap Development
- Cost Optimization & Efficiency
- Linux System Administration
- Virtualization (VMware, Hyper-V)
- IT Operations Management
Certification
- OpenGroup Certified Architect – Master Level
- AWS Certified Solution Architect
- AWS Certified Developer
- IBM Certified Senior Software Architect
- IBM Cloud Certified Architect
- IBM Cloud Certified Developer
- IBM Certified OpenShift Administrator 4.6
- RedHat Certified Engineer (RHCE 8)
- RedHat Certified Specialist in OpenShift and Kubernetes
Accomplishments
- Patent, A system and method using cognitive technologies to identify and resolve issues in distributed infrastructure, https://patents.justia.com/patent/20190163594
Timeline
Director of AI Cloud Architecture
IBM
01.2020 - Current
Principal AI and Cloud Architect
Citigroup
01.2019 - 01.2020
Senior Cloud & Infrastructure Architect
IBM
01.2012 - 01.2019
Senior Cloud Architect
City of New York
01.2010 - 01.2012
Infrastructure Architect
Wells Fargo
01.2008 - 01.2010
Senior IBM WebSphere / Portal Server Administrator
The World Bank
01.2007 - 01.2008
MS in Computer Science - Computer Science
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science - Computer Science
Pune University
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