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Work and experience.

Field Software Engineer at Canonical | Linux, OpenStack, Kubernetes, Ceph

I work on infrastructure at Canonical, then recreate the interesting parts in a homelab built to test what I cannot safely try in production. This site is where I write down what I learn from breaking, rebuilding, and connecting those systems.

Experience

Roles and education, with the details that are useful to keep on the record.

  1. Work

    May 2024 — Present

    Canonical Ltd.'s Logo

    Field Software Engineer I

    Canonical Ltd (Ubuntu) · Remote

    • Architected and led the deployment of large-scale private cloud solutions (OpenStack, Kubernetes, Ceph).
    • Created automations using Python, Terraform, and Bash, reducing errors and manual effort.
    • Partnered with core engineering and support teams to architect custom solutions for unique customer scenarios, enhancing system performance and reducing support escalations.
    • Authored custom CIS and DISA-STIG tailoring files to assist in meeting compliance requirements like CMMC and HIPAA, as well as strengthen the overall security posture.
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    • Troubleshot issues across the entire suite, from the kernel to the networking and switches, all the way to applications running on the OS, providing patches to bugs where necessary.
    • Documented root cause analyses and solutions in the knowledge base, improving time-to-resolution.
    • Partnered with the sales team in the pre-sales process, leading solution-oriented discovery calls, delivering customized demonstrations, and advising clients on alternative strategies to better address their business goals.
    • Assisted with drafting Statement of Work documents while ensuring alignment between sales, support, and engineering teams, effectively providing a solid outline of the engagement.
    • Collaborated with product management and engineering teams by providing critical field feedback on customer use-cases and technical challenges, influencing the product roadmap.
  2. Work

    Dec 2023 — May 2024

    Checkered Shield

    Cybersecurity Analyst Intern

    Technical Consulting & Research, Inc. (TCR) · Fremont, CA

    • Addressed multiple cloud provider compliance issues via fit-gap analysis, improving regulatory adherence.
    • Leveraged the MITRE ATT&CK framework to refine threat modeling processes, achieving a notable 15% reduction in system vulnerabilities and bolstering security defenses.
    • Applied security best practices such as the principle of least privilege and network segmentation.
    • Developed automation scripts in Python, reducing the need to direct human work hours by 1-2 hrs. per week.
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    • Built demo applications in JavaScript showing the effects and operation of compliance requirements.
    • Orchestrated secure authentication and authorization with Okta's Auth0, enhancing user access control.
    • Delivered detailed security reports and visualizations, significantly raising non-technical stakeholder awareness.
    • Presented at the IGNITE and Bucknell University conferences on "Navigating AI Risks for Small Businesses."
  3. Education

    Jun 2023 — Jun 2023

    Graduation Cap

    Bachelor of Science, Computer Science

    University of California · Santa Cruz, CA

    • I graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where I was deeply involved in the Slug Security Club.
    • As a regular participant, I participated in various cybersecurity workshops and competitions, enhancing my skills in network security and ethical hacking.
    • Relevant Coursework: Computer Systems and C, Cryptography, Advanced Computer Networking, Principle of System Design, Artificial intelligence, Natural Language Processing

Skills

The platforms, tools, and practices I use often enough to keep close.

Infrastructure

  • OpenStack
  • Ceph
  • KVM
  • LXC/LXD
  • Kubernetes
  • AWS
  • Azure
  • Linux
  • Git
  • CI/CD
  • Terraform

Cybersecurity

  • CMMC
  • CIS
  • DISA-STIG
  • FIPS 140-3
  • MITRE ATT&CK
  • NIST
  • Metasploit
  • Burp Suite
  • Firewalls
  • VLANs
  • Network

Development

  • Python
  • Rust
  • Bash
  • TypeScript
  • React
  • NextJS
  • Vercel
  • Tailwind
  • HTML
  • PostgreSQL

Certifications

Issued and expiry dates stay visible, including lifetime and expired credentials.

Contact

Say hello. A question, an opportunity, or a simple note all reach the same inbox.