Brandon Cruz

Professional Summary

Professional Experience

1. Staff DevOps Engineer

   09/2023 – Present

   Ad Hoc LLC - CMS Website Design Systems Platform Ops Team · McLean, VA - Remote

   • Contributed to the CMS WDS Contract by supporting the CMS v4 AWS migration, transitioning from a single AWS account to a multi-account configuration (Prod and Non-Prod) with CMS EUA Federated Access replacing direct user IAM access.
   • Oversaw the migration of 16 applications across 64 AWS accounts, ensuring a seamless transition while maintaining system integrity.
   Key Responsibilities:
   • Mentored a team of 12 engineers, fostering professional growth and enhancing overall team performance.
   • Administered internal infrastructure for Ad Hoc’s “A-Team,” managing resources in AWS and GCP environments.
   • Fostered a DevOps culture by co-facilitating a DevSecOps Guild & Club, promoting collaboration and best practices among engineers.
   • Provided mentorship to DevSecOps engineers, supporting skill development and enhancing team performance.
   • Participated in competitive bids and code challenges, contributing to securing new contracts for Ad Hoc through technical expertise and
   innovative solutions.
   Key Achievements:
   • Successfully executed a large-scale AWS migration, ensuring enhanced security and operational efficiency.
   • Established reusable infrastructure frameworks, reducing deployment time and simplifying maintenance.
   • Played a pivotal role in cultivating a DevSecOps mindset within the organization, leading to improved processes and collaboration.
   • Supported business growth by contributing to winning new contracts through strategic technical participation

2. Senior Software Engineer - DevOps Team Lead

   09/2019 – 09/2023

   Ad Hoc LLC - CMS Medicare Compare Tools · McLean, VA - Remote

   • Implement DevOps methodologies to build tools and services that empower application teams to self-service and deliver stable, performant services.
   • Facilitate cross-team collaboration to ensure the delivery of high-quality digital services for the American people.
   Key Accomplishments:
   • Load Testing Leadership: Spearheaded load testing initiatives to ensure system stability and performance in preparation for Open Enrollment periods.
   • Jenkins Migration: Successfully migrated from CBJ to CB Core Jenkins, streamlining CI/CD workflows and improving build efficiency.
   • Monitoring & Alerting Enhancements: Increased visibility and awareness of monitoring and alerting systems, refining processes to enhance operational reliability.
   • Development Stack Improvements: Updated and hardened the local development stack, simplifying workflows and reducing setup time for developers.
   • Cloud Migration: Transitioned from self-hosted EC2 instances to AWS ECS Fargate, containerizing the MCT API for scalability and ease of management.
   • Mentorship: Provided mentorship to multiple software and DevOps engineers, fostering professional growth and improving team performance.
   • Cost Optimization: Led efforts to optimize costs within MCT’s AWS account, reducing operational expenses while maintaining system performance.

3. Systems Administrator III

   01/2016 – 08/2019

   Roper Center for Public Opinion Research - Cornell University · Ithaca, NY

   • Administered and supported internal IT and external customer environments, including computer networks, physical and virtual architecture, servers, and storage, with a focus on web services and development support.
   • Managed physical and virtual infrastructure, including hardware/software upgrades, performance tuning, and system monitoring.
   Key Achievements:
   • Migrated manual configurations to Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Terraform, Packer, and Ansible for AWS production environments.
   • Physical Migration of Data Center from UConn to Cornell.
   • Collaborated with software engineers to build, test, and deploy applications across environments using Jenkins, AWS ECR, Nexus, and SonarQube.
   • Developed and maintained WordPress and Drupal CMS for Roper Center’s main site.
   • Migrated services to virtualization and Docker for enhanced scalability and efficiency.

4. Sr. Client Technologies Specialist

   03/2007 – 01/2016

   BorgWarner Inc. · Ithaca, NY

   • Managed and enhanced IT customer environments, delivering specialized IT services, including high-level meeting support, root-cause analysis, and customer consulting.
   • Led IT-related projects as the Technical Lead, including Verizon/AT&T DAS installation, campus fiber upgrades, IDF cabinet upgrades, VoIP implementation, and Cisco WLC upgrades.
   • Collaborated with business units to assess IT technical needs and align solutions with organizational goals.
   Key Achievements:
   • Improved the desktop environment by standardizing configurations and streamlining deployment processes.
   • Enhanced network performance by resolving coverage and latency issues and upgrading critical infrastructure.
   • Increased operational efficiency through effective license management and automation of routine tasks.

5. IT Intern

   07/2002 – 03/2007

   BorgWarner · Ithaca, NY

   • Performed PC repairs, troubleshooting, and setup to support end-user productivity.
   • Conducted networking tasks, including cable management and network device configuration.
   • Implemented and managed Altiris for streamlined PC imaging and deployment processes.
   • Managed users and computers in Active Directory, including account creation, updates, and permissions.
   • Administered mailboxes on Microsoft Exchange servers and supported migration from Exchange 5.5 to 2003.
   • Oversaw user account management in Team Center Engineering and IBM AS/400 mainframe systems.
   • Executed payroll processes for accounts payable, factory workers, exempt, and non-exempt staff, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
   • Contributed to IT projects, including the successful migration of Exchange environments.

Education

1. Bachelors - Network Administration

   07/2012 – 07/2016

   Western Governors University · Online

2. Associates - Computer Support Specialist

   08/2004 – 06/2006

   Tompkins Cortland Community College · Dryden, NY

Certifications/Licenses

1. CIW Web Foundations Associate

   04/2017 – Present

   CIW

   CIW ID 509300

2. CompTIA Security+

   04/2014 – 04/2018

   CompTIA

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3. CompTIA Network+

   10/2013 – 04/2017

   CompTIA

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4. CompTIA Project+

   04/2013 – Present

   CompTIA

   90WGC16C83F4CW59

5. CompTIA A+

   08/2012 – 04/2017

   CompTIA

   8JZ4BKXCXKVE2XS5

Interests