Ronald Shields
Atlanta,GA
Summary
Dynamic IT and Payments Technology professional with 7+ years of experience specializing in end-to-end payment platform operations within POS ecosystems, including transaction flow from POS → API → gateway → processor → terminal.
Proven expertise supporting and optimizing payment platforms in enterprise restaurant environments, including monitoring, maintenance, Level 3 support, and post-deployment stability. Adept at collaborating with cross-functional teams, vendors, and business stakeholders to ensure high availability, performance, and guest satisfaction across payment systems.
Hands-on experience with FreedomPay-integrated environments, payment terminals including Verifone and Ingenico, and API-driven transaction systems. Strong background in automation, reporting, and analytics, leveraging scripting and data insights to improve SLA adherence, operational efficiency, and system performance.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Oracle Simphony POS Consultant
Concilium Search
03.2024 - Current
- Led full-cycle Simphony POS implementations with emphasis on payment configuration, tender setup, and transaction validation.
- Configured and supported payment integrations (including FreedomPay environments) ensuring accurate authorization, settlement, and response handling.
- Troubleshot payment transaction failures across POS, API, gateway, and terminal layers, isolating root causes quickly.
- Supported Verifone and Ingenico terminal integrations, resolving device communication and transaction issues in real time.
- Executed go-live validation including payment scenarios (auths, reversals, declines, offline) to ensure production readiness.
- Supported 3700 → Simphony cloud migrations, validating payment data mapping and transaction integrity.
- Acted as SME for POS + payments ecosystem, improving transaction flow reliability and performance.
- Supported Level 3 payment escalations, acting as a point of contact for resolving complex transaction and integration issues.
- Participated in testing, validation, and release readiness for payment-related deployments, ensuring post-launch stability.
F&B POS Technical Engineer
Marriott
06.2024 - 06.2025
- Served as SME supporting enterprise POS platforms with focus on payment processing and financial reconciliation workflows.
- Designed and validated Simphony R&A reporting tied to payment transactions and GL reconciliation.
- Maintained POS–PMS integrations impacting payment posting and guest folio transactions.
- Performed QA testing on transaction flows, settlement accuracy, and system behavior across integrations.
- Supported Level 3 production incidents and escalations related to payment systems, ensuring rapid resolution.
- Automated operational processes using PowerShell scripting, improving efficiency and reporting accuracy.
- Diagnosed and resolved complex production issues related to payments and POS systems, performing deep RCA.
- Contributed to operational reporting and analytics for POS/payment performance, supporting business stakeholders.
- Collaborated with engineering teams to enhance payment integration performance and reliability.
POS Conversion System Administrator
Focus Brands
03.2024 - 06.2024
- Supported enterprise POS rollouts including menu, tender, and third-party payment integrations.
- Conducted RCA on payment and migration-related issues, ensuring stable transaction processing during cutovers.
- Coordinated with internal stakeholders and vendors to ensure successful rollout of payment-enabled POS systems.
- Developed SOPs and documentation for POS and payment workflows.
DMB Support Engineer
Wendy's
10.2023 - 03.2024
- Provided L3/L4 support across networked systems and endpoint devices, strengthening infrastructure troubleshooting.
- Executed scripting to automate deployments and updates, reinforcing process automation experience.
- Supported field operations with real-time troubleshooting and issue resolution.
API Integration Analyst
Equifax
07.2022 - 09.2023
- Supported enterprise clients integrating with REST APIs—mirroring POS-to-payment gateway communication models.
- Troubleshot API requests/responses, authentication, and data mapping issues, aligning with real-world payment flows.
- Used Postman to validate JSON payloads and API performance, ensuring integration reliability.
- Guided clients through onboarding and technical implementation of API-driven solutions.
IT SaaS Cloud POS Engineer
Denny's
02.2022 - 07.2022
- Configured and managed cloud-based POS environments, including menus, items, and system behavior.
- Provided L3/L4 escalation support, resolving critical POS and operational issues.
- Monitored system performance and ensured platform stability across deployments.
IT Integration Solutions Engineer
PayPal
07.2021 - 01.2022
- Implemented payment integrations for merchants, including PayPal and card-based processing workflows.
- Troubleshot payment transaction errors and integration issues, improving merchant adoption and performance.
- Supported front-end and backend payment implementations across e-commerce platforms.
IT Microservices Solutions Engineer
AT&T
11.2019 - 06.2021
- Designed and supported RESTful APIs and microservices, foundational to payment system communication.
- Built and validated JSON schemas and API payloads using Postman.
- Supported uptime and reliability of transaction-driven systems.
IT Enterprise Services Solutions Engineer
Paradies Lagardère
02.2019 - 11.2019
- Configured and supported Oracle Simphony POS environments with direct involvement in payment workflows and tender configurations.
- Troubleshot payment transaction issues across POS, network, gateway, and terminal layers.
- Coordinated directly with vendors and internal stakeholders to manage payment system issues and production stability.
- Worked with vendors including NCR and Verifone to resolve payment-related defects and integration issues.
- Performed RCA on recurring transaction failures, improving system stability and reducing downtime.
- Supported payment system integrations and POS migrations, validating transaction flow integrity.
Service Desk Analyst & SME
Inspire Brands
05.2018 - 01.2019
- Provided L1–L3 support for POS systems (NCR Aloha, PAR Brink) and payment peripherals.
- Troubleshot payment devices, connectivity issues, and transaction failures in high-volume restaurant environments.
- Acted as a central point of contact for franchisee and operator escalations, ensuring timely issue resolution.
- Supported POS migrations and cloud transitions, ensuring stable payment operations.
- Generated and analyzed service performance reports (FCR, MTTR, CSAT) to improve operational efficiency.
- Served as SME for POS hardware and payment devices, supporting field technicians and operations teams.
Level III Helpdesk Support Analyst
Invenco
03.2017 - 04.2018
- Delivered Tier-3 support for PCI-compliant payment terminals in high-volume retail environments.
- Specialized in device lifecycle management including provisioning, firmware updates, and Remote Key Injection (RKI).
- Troubleshot EMV, card reader, and transaction processing issues at the device level.
- Performed tamper recovery and re-certification, ensuring PCI compliance.
- Analyzed device logs to resolve transaction failures between terminal, host, and processor systems.
- Supported end-to-end payment flow from terminal to backend systems, minimizing downtime.
- Supported enterprise payment device environments in QSR and retail settings, aligning with franchise operations.
Education
No Degree - Forensic Psychology
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York, NYThD - Theology
Hebraic Institute of Theology
Tucker, GA06-2021
High School Diploma -
Deer Park High School
Deer Park, NY06-2001
Skills
- Payment Processing Lifecycle & Transaction Flow
- Oracle Micros Simphony POS (Configuration, Deployment, Support)
- Payment Integrations (FreedomPay, Gateways, Tokenization Concepts)
- Payment Terminals (Verifone, Ingenico – Config & Troubleshooting)
- REST APIs, JSON, Postman (Integration & Validation)
- POS–PMS Integrations (Opera, Agilysys Stay, HotelKey, LMS)
- PowerShell Automation & Reporting Optimization
- Incident Management, RCA & Production Support
- PCI Awareness & Secure Payment Handling
- ITSM Tools (ServiceNow, JIRA)
- Payment Platform Monitoring, Stability & Optimization
- Release Management, QA Testing & Post-Launch Support
- Vendor & Franchisee Communication / Stakeholder Management
Timeline
F&B POS Technical Engineer
Marriott
06.2024 - 06.2025
Oracle Simphony POS Consultant
Concilium Search
03.2024 - Current
POS Conversion System Administrator
Focus Brands
03.2024 - 06.2024
DMB Support Engineer
Wendy's
10.2023 - 03.2024
API Integration Analyst
Equifax
07.2022 - 09.2023
IT SaaS Cloud POS Engineer
Denny's
02.2022 - 07.2022
IT Integration Solutions Engineer
PayPal
07.2021 - 01.2022
IT Microservices Solutions Engineer
AT&T
11.2019 - 06.2021
IT Enterprise Services Solutions Engineer
Paradies Lagardère
02.2019 - 11.2019
Service Desk Analyst & SME
Inspire Brands
05.2018 - 01.2019
Level III Helpdesk Support Analyst
Invenco
03.2017 - 04.2018
No Degree - Forensic Psychology
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
ThD - Theology
Hebraic Institute of Theology
High School Diploma -
Deer Park High School