Racquel Mays

Infrastructure Deployment:

• Designed and deployed dynamic data center and cloud-based infrastructures using software-driven techniques.
• Built lab physical and virtual environments which served as pre-prod/testing for Ansible playbooks, new software and hardware/upgrades employing Docker, Vagrant, VirtualBox.
• Deployed, configured, and managed network devices for optimal performance and reliability.
• Spearheaded support and troubleshooting for cloud and data center infrastructure, ensuring operational continuity.
• Executed performance tuning, hardware upgrades, and resource optimization for peak system performance.
• Resolved issues related to operational components for WAN.
• Managed and monitored systems for maximum availability.

Cloud & Application Support:

• Provided operational support with F5/A10 load balancing API, Web, and Mobile application traffic, analyzed for threat activity.
• Instantiated customer applications on Kubernetes clusters in AWS, GCP using DevOps methodologies like GIT/LAB, Terraform/Terragrunt.
• Orchestrated deployments, configurations, and updates of network software for optimal performance and adaptability.

Software Deployment & Automation:

• Managed rollout of software releases, system upgrades, and patches, addressing hardware and software issues.
• Collaborated with teams to automate workflows for rollout, patches, and version upgrades, ensuring hardware/software health.
• Documented processes in JIRA to enhance deployment of new applications.

Security & Compliance:

• Assisted in crafting and implementing robust security mechanisms against internal and external threats.
• Reinforced system security standards and organizational policies.

Project Management & Process Optimization:

• Delivered project requirements on time through streamlined installation processes.
• Refined procedures to adapt to changing demands.
• Engaged in development meetings for high-value customers and business operation updates.

Network Engineering & Infrastructure:

• Engineered and maintained critical data center network infrastructure for LAN/WAN solutions.
• Managed deployments, conducted code testing, and led feature research.
• Designed and rolled out simulation lab replicating production LAN/WAN, supporting global expansion and enhanced testing.
• Designed and engineered simulation lab to simulate pre-production for global expansion and enhanced testing capabilities.
• Oversaw creation, design upgrades, and troubleshooting of core network elements, emphasizing both software and hardware layers.

Security & System Management:

• Led security vulnerability assessments and remediation processes for system protection.
• Maintained server/application infrastructure, ensuring user response time, availability, and stability.
• Refined application delivery systems, implementing best practices and collaborating with teams for quality assurance.

Operational Leadership:

• Influenced decisions, vetted vendor proposals, and deployed complex network projects across key global regions
• Standardized documentation, process templates, and operational practices for work consistency.
• Mentored junior engineers to promote team growth and knowledge sharing.

Payment Infrastructure

• Performed Tier IV network project engineering, enhancing transactional capacity and security for global payment card processing giant

Systems Architecture

• Engineered LAN/WAN solutions and maintained critical data infrastructure, emphasizing fault tolerance and redundancy
• Established default configurations and standards for network infrastructure, ensuring optimized and consistent performance

Security & Compliance

• As ISA Engineer, drove creation of Default Access Standards for production firewalls, ensuring airtight security transactional network
• Spearheaded Network Segmentation initiative, defining strategic inter-departmental IT approaches towards enhancing network hygiene, ensuring reduced risk.
• Executed rigorous quarterly firewall audits and provided in-depth documentation, ensuring airtight security.
• Mastered and managed Tufin appliance,

Operational Leadership & Workflow Enhancement:

• Streamlined configuration, deployment, and documentation processes for Data Center expansions, emphasizing agility and scalability
• Offered vital support and leadership, acting as primary escalation point for junior and mid-level support engineers
• Innovated firewall maintenance strategies, establishing comprehensive cleanup processes and workflow procedures, ensuring minimal downtime and maximum efficiency
• Provided network support services for devices such as hubs, bridges, routers, and other hardware.
• Managed, tracked, and coordinated problem resolution and escalation processes.
• Monitored network capacity and performance to diagnose and resolve complex network problems.
• Assisted with implementation and support of network monitoring tools.
• Provided detailed network diagrams and procedural guidelines.
• Liaised with stakeholders to keep project goals and deadlines on target.