Timothy Blinsmon
GSK (formerly GlaxoSmithKline)
Raleigh,NC
37
years of professional experience
Experienced engineering professional with strong background in designing and implementing innovative solutions. Skilled in project management, systems integration, and advanced problem-solving. Known for fostering team collaboration and adaptability, ensuring seamless project execution and results. Reliable and focused on driving technical excellence and organizational success.
Work History
Principal Engineer
10 Years 3 Months- Developed shell scripts/ansible playbooks to build new systems and deploy OS upgrades for on-prem and MS-Azure cloud-based systems
- Facilitated Operational Release Board meeting with Service Owners, Service Managers, SAP UNIX Support, SAP Storage, and Engineering to discuss new requests, provide status on releases in development/testing, and gather feedback on recently installed releases.
- Prioritized installation of products and upgrades in release schedules to ensure timely delivery of system enhancements.
- Generated suite of release documents for each release, including Test Entry report, Test Exit report, and updated Release Notes, to ensure clarity and compliance in the release process.
- Planning and managing the activities of the test team members
- Reviewing products with the other Engineers on my team during Engineering Development meetings
- Facilitated Engineering Development meetings to coordinate project updates and discussions with team members.
- Was a focal point working with other groups
Sr. Solutions Consultant
5 Years 1 Month- Transitioned to a new engineering team focused on designing, deploying, and integrating ERP infrastructure solutions.
- Worked with the SAP Basis teams, and IT Architects to generate system requirement documents
- Designed infrastructure solutions based on system requirements
- Wrote and maintained design specification documents for the developed designs
- Maintained Technical Installation Plans, workplans, and guidelines to ensure consistent deployment of ERP infrastructure solutions
- Assisted SAP UNIX team with administrative tasks
- Solved various integration issues presented by new SAP modules
- Addressed audit issues from internal audits, penetration tests, etc and worked to create releases to remediate the fleet and put into place fixes in the build components
- Developed and maintained customized SAP BR
- Facilitated cross-department meetings among SAP UNIX Support, SAP Storage, and Engineering teams to enhance collaboration and address integration challenges
Systems Administrator
7 Years 10 Months- In 2001 I was tapped to be the team lead for a new SAP UNIX Support Team that was to specialize in the administration of the mission critical ERP SAP R/3 systems. The tactical solution was built first running on Sun E10K hardware with the Solaris OS and 2-3 years later the strategic solution was built and migrated to which was a mainframe running DB2 for the database and AIX servers for application, print and backup servers. These systems supported the company’s tier 1 manufacturing sites around the globe. The team also supported print stream output management software which was key for label management on manufactured components. The team’s functions included:
- All aspects of system administration - OS upgrades and patches, software installation/configuration, custom script work to solve business problems
- Collaborated closely with Basis team to ensure seamless integration and support of SAP systems.
- Print queue support for HP laser and Zebra label printers around the globe
- Led the team and managed:
- Guided team in project direction
- Conducted interviews for new team members
- Provided training for new team members
- Mentored team members for skill development
- Led weekly team meetings to discuss progress
- Maintained and updated on-call schedules
- In 2005 I was seconded to a team which would design the company’s first commercial ERP systems consisting of ~12 SAP modules each with multiple landscapes (Prod, DR, QS/Test, Dev, Prototype, Sandbox, etc). After the design was approved, I immediately moved to the integration/deployment team as well as continued to lead the day-to-day operations of the existing ERP SAP team.
- Assembled the build team that later joined the SAP UNIX Team. I was responsible for overseeing the build processes in the infrastructure space and I was closely involved with EMC on the design and development of the backup/restore model for the Oracle database data using BCV and Replication Manager technology. When the full-time production commercial ERP systems became operational, I transitioned full-time back into leading the SAP UNIX Team which now had grown to 12 people.
Systems Administrator
2 Years 11 Months- During a reorganization I was moved into the role of Systems Administrator with a UNIX Support Group chartered with supporting R&D. My team was responsible for:
- 100+ R&D UNIX Servers
- 400 workstations of various UNIX platforms including Sun, SGI, HP and AIX systems
- Performed installation and decommissioning of systems, backup and restore functions, system upgrades and patching, collaborated with hardware vendors for upgrades and repairs, and provided 2nd level helpdesk support.
- Led migration of servers from Epoch Backup to Veritas NetBackup, including product testing, procedure documentation for installation/configuration/maintenance, and migration schedule planning.
- Managed a project to replace hardware in the largest UNIX server with a new Sun server featuring faster CPUs and more memory. This project required careful planning to prevent data loss and return the computer to service promptly.
System Programmer
1 Year 10 Months- Collaborated within a self-directed team of liaisons between operations and technical support to identify and automate routine functions, enabling support groups to focus on critical needs.
- Engaged with UNIX Support Group to automate backup/restore and user account functions, streamlining processes for operations teams.
- Also, during this I assumed control of a faltering remote access authentication system (Security Dynamics ACE Server) running on a DEC Ultrix platform. I secured 2 SUN Sparc5 workstations that were not being used, worked with the vendor (Security Dynamics) to port the ACE Server from the faulty Ultrix systems to the more reliable SUN Sparc5 workstations, and created a primary/secondary relationship between the 2 systems. This work was hugely successful and stabilized the remote access solution for all RTP based clients that connected to the network from outside locations. This work also led to my working with ACE Server administration counterparts in the UK to create a 'realm' relationship between the US ACE Servers and those located in the UK. Doing so allowed company personnel travelling between the US and UK to seamlessly have access to the corporate networks in both countries with no human intervention needed.
- Configured IBM PowerServer 570 running AIX 3.2.5 as print server for RTP site's three high-speed mainframe printers, installing Print Service Facility (PSF) 6000 software and porting printers from outdated OS/2 server.
Contractor
7 Years 10 Months- Executed system operations and administration for multiple computing platforms.
- 3 DEC PDP 11/70 systems running RSX11M+
- 1 DEC PDP 11/84 system running RSX11M+
- 3 clusters of DEC VAXes 6000/7000/8000/Alpha systems running VMS
- 5-10 UNIX servers/workstations running Solaris
- 5-10 Sun Microsystems
- 4 IBM PowerServer systems (570, F50, 43P) and a FileNet document management system running AIX
- System administration (user access, file restores, disk quotas).
- System monitoring
- Coordinating all system backups and data archiving across all platforms
- Logistics coordination of back up media handling with offsite storage vendor
- Network cable pulls throughout building
- Network printer installation/troubleshooting
- Assembly and maintenance of in-house designed microcomputers used to control lab equipment. This work included soldering components onto blank printed circuit boards (Z80 processors, memory boards, digital control boards, and printer control boards).
- Installation of network drops, and construction of network cables for connectivity (4-pair shielded for loop network, 10baseT coaxial for ethernet).
- Administered all departmental purchase requisitions and purchase orders.
- Administered DEC Storage Library System (SLS) on VAX, overseeing validated documentation for installation, upgrades, and operations.
Education
Associates of Applied Science - Business Computer Programming
Skills
System design
Test automation
Technical documentation
Test procedure development
Workflow coordination
Document review
Data review
Drawing review
Project team leadership
Infrastructure automation
Team mentoring
Team building
Problem-solving
Customer focus
Stakeholder management
Research and analysis
Team building
Timeline
Principal Engineer
GSK (formerly GlaxoSmithKline)
12.2014 - 03.2025Read More
Sr. Solutions Consultant
GSK (formerly GlaxoSmithKline)
12.2008 - 01.2014Read More
Systems Administrator
GSK (formerly GlaxoSmithKline)
01.2001 - 11.2008Read More
Systems Administrator
Glaxo Wellcome
01.1998 - 12.2000Read More
System Programmer
Glaxo Wellcome
03.1996 - 01.1998Read More
Contractor
Burroughs Wellcome
05.1988 - 03.1996Read More
Durham Technical Community College
Associates of Applied Science from Business Computer Programming
Read More