Richard Jones
RALEIGH,NC
Summary
Dynamic Senior Engineer with extensive expertise in designing, implementing, and optimizing cutting-edge storage solutions. Known for a meticulous approach to solving complex technical challenges and demonstrating exceptional problem-solving skills. Proficient in SAN, NAS, and cloud storage technologies, ensuring robust data integrity and availability while delivering innovative storage architectures. Experienced in enterprise architecture design, specializing in leading storage solutions such as PURE Storage, Dell Unity, and Commvault backup systems, along with multi-tier data migrations and Cisco fiber environments to enhance data reliability and recovery.
Overview
53
53
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr. Storage Engineer
Cerecore
01.2024 - 12.2025
- Upgraded Pure storage environment per support recommendations.
- Upgraded UCS Server environment per support recommendations.
- Managed Comvault backups to local, off-site and cloud environments.
Sr. Storage Engineer
Cerecore
03.2020 - 01.2024
- Migrated data center environment from EMC Unity to PURE Storage.
- This included VNX5300 5500 5600 5700 5800 storage arrays to PURE X50R3.
- Bought and implemented more PURE storage for growth.
- Upgraded Pure storage to X50R4's.
- Upgraded and configured new Cisco Fiber Switches.
- Upgraded Cisco Server environment.
- Maintained current hardware code levels for all formats according to maintenance service level agreements.
- Migrated from EMC Replication Manager to PURE storage and Comvault Backup Services for fiber and network off-site replication.
- Implemented NetApp storage for off-site data replication.
Senior Storage Engineer
Cerecore
02.2018 - 03.2020
- Employed by Cerecore to take over maintenance and control of their storage environment and fiber switch management while maintaining data replication off site to another data center.
- After reviewing the current configured environment many changes had to be implemented as there were issues discovered with the network and fiber configurations for multi-platform failover.
- This consisted of multiple arrays of EMC VNX storage, Cisco fiber switches, HP physical servers hosting 1500 plus VM servers all replicating off site to another Data Center to maintain Disaster Recovery in the event of the primary site becoming unavailable.
- Comvault tape backups were configured and maintained for data recovery.
- Using EMC Replication Manager to replicate data to off-site Disaster Recovery Center.
- Cerecore was taking control of their physical storage and network environment that was formally managed under the umbrella of HCA. (Parent corp.)
- Upgraded storage from VNX5500 and 5700 to Unity 650F.
Sr. Solutions Architect
EMC Corporation
10.2015 - 07.2015
- Prepared and presented technical proposals for clients.
- Aggressively diagnosed and resolved web application issues escalated from customer support and other departments with a 100% success rate.
- Proactively monitoring and reporting on network traffic and performance.
- Worked with clients to analyze computing and network needs and installed appropriate solutions within each organization's budget.
- Subject Matter Expert for Celerra providing technical support for entire EMC organization.
- Presented and managed project plans while providing status updates to management.
- Designed and implemented large scale storage and network solutions, then migrated clients to the new solutions while ensuring 99.9 access of client resources.
- Provided milestone testing for projects while keeping management informed of progress.
- Installed and/or upgraded multi-platform environments with diverse network protocols while keeping customer data access available at 99.9%.
Regional Technical Specialist, Regional Software Support Specialist, Regional Network Specialist
EMC Corporation
09.1999 - 10.2005
- Designing and implementing complex project plans for SAN and NAS storage.
- Installing and training customers on EMC Software Management Products.
- Designing and implementing SRDF applications for EMC storage arrays.
- Actively providing supports for new and existing SRDF applications.
Sr. Customer Service Technician
EMC Corporation
10.1995 - 09.1999
- Installed EMC Storage Arrays and provided support for piers in complex environments.
Subject Matter Expert for DASD
IBM Corporation
04.1991 - 09.1995
- Provided support for IBM Main frames model 3081, 3083, 3084 and 3090.
Senior Customer Engineer
IBM Corporation
07.1984 - 04.1991
- Installed IBM storage to Mainframe MVS and VM tier storage.
- Provided support for IBM Mainframes.
Customer Service Technician
Bell Atlantic Business Systems
05.1979 - 04.1984
- Installed and serviced customer desktop hardware.
Carpenter
Fox and Jacobs
01.1973 - 12.1979
- Carpenter for Fox and Jacobs. Going to college at night while working during the day as a carpenter.
Education
Associate of Applied Science - Digital Computer Electronics
Eastfield College
Skills
- Commvault backup management
- NetApp storage management
- EMC RecoverPoint expertise
- SRDF implementation expertise
- Expertise in Dell Unity 650F
- VMware vSphere administration
- EMC VCE Vblock expertise
- EMC VPLEX management
- Proficient in EMC NSX
- Cisco fiber network management
- Cross-tier component integration
- Data migration management
- VMware SRM expertise
- EMC VNX management
- Experience with EMC Data Domain
- Proficient in Pure Storage
- Cisco UCS expertise
- Expertise in various network protocols
Accomplishments
- Designed and implemented complex data migration plan on multiple NAS databases From USA, to Belgium, to India, to England, and back to USA across multi-platform environments and networks.
- Brought up new data systems while keeping data access 99.9% and syncing data platforms 100%.
- Worked to increase core system availability to systems and network environments.
- VLAN/VSAN expertise across multi-tier platforms to provide Business Continuance and Backup Solutions.
- Deployed multiple storage and database environments using UCS cloud technologies to enhance data access and to secure backup environments using VMware.
Timeline
Sr. Storage Engineer
Cerecore
01.2024 - 12.2025
Sr. Storage Engineer
Cerecore
03.2020 - 01.2024
Senior Storage Engineer
Cerecore
02.2018 - 03.2020
Sr. Solutions Architect
EMC Corporation
10.2015 - 07.2015
Regional Technical Specialist, Regional Software Support Specialist, Regional Network Specialist
EMC Corporation
09.1999 - 10.2005
Sr. Customer Service Technician
EMC Corporation
10.1995 - 09.1999
Subject Matter Expert for DASD
IBM Corporation
04.1991 - 09.1995
Senior Customer Engineer
IBM Corporation
07.1984 - 04.1991
Customer Service Technician
Bell Atlantic Business Systems
05.1979 - 04.1984
Carpenter
Fox and Jacobs
01.1973 - 12.1979
Associate of Applied Science - Digital Computer Electronics
Eastfield College
Career Overview
Storage Solutions Architect providing services for designing - implementing projects to install and connect new storage products to existing environments without down time.
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Qualifications
Cross-tier components implementation, Proficiency in multiple network protocols, Trained in Windows, Unix/Linux based tools, Multi-Tier Data Migrations, Backup solutions to multi-tier environments using Comvault to tape, disk off site and cloud., Strong Presentation Skills, Project Planning and Management, Presentations and Project Briefings, Training Piers on New Products, Keeping team members appraised with progress and status of current Projects.