Hi, I’m
VENKATA SRINIVAS RAO ARALA
Senior Technical Consulting Engineer
Texas,US
Summary
Results-driven Senior Technical Consulting Engineer with over 7 years of expertise in designing, optimizing, and automating scalable networks for Tier-1 service providers and hyperscale cloud platforms. Specialized in IP/MPLS architecture, advanced routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, IS-IS), and L2/L3 VPNs. Proficient in Cisco platforms (IOS XE, ASR9K, NCS series) with robust experience in automation using Ansible, Shell scripting, and REST APIs. Adept at programmable network management using YANG/NETCONF/OpenConfig. Demonstrated success in global network rollouts, emergency recovery, and SDN/cloud integration. Proven leadership in cross-functional environments with a strong focus on innovation, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
Overview
7
years of professional experience
2018
years of post-secondary education
5
Certifications
Work History
Cisco Systems Inc
Sr. Technical Consulting Engineer
03.2019 - Current
Job overview
- Provide expert technical support for AT&T’s large-scale service provider networks, designing, configuring, and troubleshooting high-end routers such as ASR9K, CRS-16, NCS5K, and NCS6K.
- Implement and optimize routing protocols including IS-IS, BGP, MPLS, OSPF, L2VPN, L3VPN, and Multicast to ensure scalability, performance, and high availability for enterprise clients.
- Led the critical network recovery following the Nashville Christmas Day 2020 bomb blast, restoring multiple affected customers’ services within 72 hours through 24/7 coordinated efforts with cross-functional teams.
- Enhanced network efficiency through advanced route redistribution, traffic engineering, and Quality of Service (QoS) implementation in complex service provider environments.
- Automated network configuration, provisioning, and server management using Ansible and Shell scripts, significantly improving operational efficiency and reducing manual errors.
- Collaborated closely with the Global TAC team and engineering groups worldwide to resolve complex issues involving SP and XE routers (including ISR 4K, ASR 1000 series, and others).
- Conducted in-depth investigations in AT&T’s dedicated lab to reproduce and troubleshoot elusive network faults, creating detailed test cases and procedures to ensure issue resolution prior to production deployment.
- Identified and escalated software defects by opening bugs and working with Business Unit teams to deliver patches and software updates, improving overall network stability and performance.
- Supported network upgrades, SMU installations, and RMA replacements through remote sessions, guiding customers via WebEx and MS Teams for smooth and timely deployments with minimal service interruptions.
- Delivered comprehensive technical training and documentation through presentations, chalk talks, white papers, Cisco Live events, Tech Zone articles, and community engagement.
- Played a key role in migrating legacy network systems to cloud platforms, optimizing resource management and reducing operational costs by up to 40% while improving system uptime and performance.
- Developed intellectual capital by authoring scripts and troubleshooting signatures that expedited issue diagnosis and resolution.
- Built and maintained strong professional relationships with premium customers and internal teams, consistently demonstrating reliability and a strong work ethic.
- Mentored junior engineers in network troubleshooting, configuration management, and automation best practices; actively participated on the interview panel for the past 3 years.
- Provided critical support to Microsoft, Google, and other teams working with AT&T during staff shortages by working extended and night shifts for over one year, showcasing dedication and adaptability.
KForce Inc
Engineer - Support
05.2018 - 03.2019
Job overview
- Delivered advanced technical support for Cisco hardware and software platforms, including routers (ASR1K, ISR4K, CSR1Kv, ASR900s, 2900, CBR-8) and switches (C9500, 7600, 6500, Nexus 9K, 7K, 3K, etc.), focusing on high CPU and memory utilization issues.
- Assisted customers, partners, and TAC engineers in troubleshooting complex router and switch architecture problems via phone, email, and Jabber, ensuring timely and effective resolution.
- Managed defect reports, identifying root causes of system crashes and working with engineering teams to verify and escalate issues accurately.
- Supported router and switch hardware upgrades, bandwidth management, and licensing issues to maintain optimal network performance.
- Collaborated with internal teams (DCSW, ENT-RS, MS, AAA, RP) to resolve escalated cases requiring specialized expertise.
- Utilized debugging and analysis tools including Smart Decoder, GDB, Pisces, SWIMS, UCD, and decoder-dev for crash file and core dump analysis.
- Created and maintained detailed documentation of troubleshooting processes and defect reports to streamline future support workflows.
Collabera Inc
Engineer - Support
12.2017 - 05.2018
Job overview
- Provided technical support for Cisco routers and switches across various platforms, troubleshooting hardware/software issues including performance bottlenecks and system crashes.
- Delivered end-to-end problem resolution via multiple communication channels to customers, partners, and internal teams.
- Analyzed crash reports and software defects, submitting comprehensive and accurate defect reports to engineering teams for timely fixes.
- Assisted customers in router upgrades, licensing, bandwidth issues, and hardware troubleshooting to maintain stable network operations.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to address complex issues requiring specialized knowledge, ensuring efficient case resolution.
- Leveraged diagnostic tools such as Smart Decoder, GDB, Pisces, SWIMS, UCD, and decoder-dev to analyze logs, core files, and crash reports.
- Contributed to knowledge base articles and technical documentation to improve team efficiency and customer support quality.
Education
The College of Saint RoseAlbany, NY
M.S. from Computer Information Systems
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University
B.Tech from Electronics & Communications Engineering
Skills
Routing & Switching: BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, MPLS, VRF, VxLAN
Certification
CCNP Service Provider (CCNP-SP)
Accomplishments
· Emergency Network Recovery – Nashville Bomb Blast (Dec 2020): Led network restoration after bomb blast severely damaged AT&T’s infrastructure. Re-established critical services in 72 hours through coordinated efforts.
· Circuit Emulation (CEM) Project:Supported migration from legacy T1/T3 WAN services to Metro Ethernet at AT&T, reducing costs while maintaining legacy service support. Managed circuit tracking and delivered training to new team members.
· Cross-Functional Support & Shift Flexibility: Assisted Microsoft and Google teams during staffing shortages, working two shifts for over a year and night shifts for several months supporting AT&T. Demonstrated resilience, dedication, and a strong work ethic.
· Automation & Cloud Migration: network provisioning with Ansible and scripting. Led cloud migration projects resulting in 40% cost savings and improved system uptime.
· Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: mentor for junior engineers and regular participant on interview panels. Created training documentation and facilitated knowledge transfer sessions.
Timeline
Sr. Technical Consulting Engineer
Cisco Systems Inc
03.2019 - Current
Engineer - Support
KForce Inc
05.2018 - 03.2019
Engineer - Support
Collabera Inc
12.2017 - 05.2018
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University
B.Tech from Electronics & Communications Engineering
05.2015
The College of Saint Rose
M.S. from Computer Information Systems
05.2017
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