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About

IT Systems Operations Engineer

IT Systems & Operations Engineer with extensive technical experience in IT systems, automation, and corporate applications across enterprise and high-growth environments. Based in Santa Monica, California, I have a proven record designing and implementing workflow automations, improving access management and onboarding/offboarding processes, and driving large-scale transitions including data center decommissioning and cloud migrations.

Skilled in MDM (Intune, Kandji), identity platforms (Okta, Azure AD, Active Directory, Workday), and collaboration tools (Google Workspace, Slack, Zoom, Jira) to support distributed teams. Hands-on expertise in network infrastructure, SD-WAN/SDN, VPN, and A/V systems, with a focus on compliance, security, and user productivity.

Recognized as a proactive problem solver and collaborator, building strong vendor relationships and cross-functional partnerships with Finance, Security, and People teams to enable scalable, reliable, and secure operations. Currently working at a great company where I architect and maintain enterprise infrastructure, implement automation strategies, and drive operational excellence across cloud and on-premises environments.

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With F12 you inspect, explore, and understand.
With f12.biz I bring that same curiosity to technology—constantly learning, adapting, and applying new skills to create reliable, automated, and secure systems.

Education

Along side my formal studies in programming and law, I invested heavily in modern IT disciplines. I completed an intensive QA program in Silicon Valley, California, focused on manual and automation testing with extensive labs, projects, and real-world practice. I also earned certifications in DevOps Foundations: Continuous Delivery/Continuous Integration (LinkedIn, 2025), and regularly study advanced technical courses on Pluralsight, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning.

These experiences extend my education beyond traditional degrees, giving me a solid foundation in QA engineering, automation, and DevOps practices. Combined with extensive experience in IT operations, system administration, and cloud infrastructure, this ensures I bring not just theory, but proven, professional-level expertise to every project.

Current / Ongoing
Practical, self-paced training covering containerization & orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes), Infrastructure-as-Code and configuration management (Terraform, Ansible), cloud infrastructure and hybrid workflows (AWS/Azure), monitoring, logging, observability tools, advanced Linux/system-admin tasks and automation. Used continuously to stay current, practice advanced DevOps patterns, and reinforce cloud-based infrastructure skills.
2021-2022
QA Automation Engineer, QA Engineer. Highly intensive program with extensive labs, class and home practice, and real-world tasks. Live online sessions with Silicon Valley professionals focused on manual and automation testing, preparing for QA Engineer positions and advancement from Manual to Automation QA roles.
1996-2000
Technician in CNC Programming (Computer Numerical Control)
2000-2006
Law Degree, specialization in Jurisprudence. Graduation thesis: The Sales Contract in Civil Law.
1986-1995
Completed foundational secondary education, continued into technical college with a focus on engineering and programming.

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Experience

Dec 2025- Present
IT Systems Operations Engineer
GoodRx. Santa Monica, California

IT Systems Operations Engineer

Architecting and maintaining enterprise infrastructure, implementing automation strategies, and driving operational excellence across cloud and on-premises environments. I design and implement workflow automations, improve access management and onboarding/offboarding processes, and support large-scale cloud operations. My work spans MDM platforms (Intune, Kandji), identity systems (Okta, Azure AD, Active Directory, Workday), and collaboration tools (Google Workspace, Slack, Zoom, Jira) to support distributed teams across the global organization. I maintain hands-on expertise in network infrastructure, SD-WAN/SDN, VPN systems, and A/V conferencing solutions, with a consistent focus on compliance, security, and user productivity. I build strong vendor relationships and cross-functional partnerships with Finance, Security, and People teams to enable scalable, reliable, and secure operations. Key contributions: Architect and maintain enterprise infrastructure across cloud and on-premises environments Implement automation strategies to improve operational efficiency and reduce manual workflows Support identity platform integrations and access management at enterprise scale Collaborate with global teams on infrastructure, security, and compliance initiatives Drive continuous improvement in system reliability, security posture, and user experience This role represents the continuation of my infrastructure engineering work, applying expertise gained through previous positions to broader enterprise systems and operations.
Oct 2024- Jul 2025
Sr. Technical Support Analyst
Moody's, Inc. Remote

Sr. Technical Support Analyst

As the sole in-house IT administrator at Praedicat, I was fully responsible for managing and maintaining the company’s IT infrastructure across multiple locations. My role combined hands-on technical support with long-term infrastructure planning, ensuring system reliability, security, and scalability for a growing organization. I led the procurement, deployment, and lifecycle management of hardware, including desktops, laptops, servers, and network equipment. I managed inventory, vendor coordination, and internal asset tracking while supporting all staff with technical troubleshooting and end-user support across macOS, Windows, and Linux systems. I maintained the company’s internal network, file sharing, backup systems, remote access, and account provisioning, while also documenting system configurations, network topology, and shared resources. This documentation supported business continuity, onboarding, and security audits. Security and operational efficiency were priorities. I implemented best practices in access control, system patching, endpoint protection, and secure backups. I regularly reviewed systems to identify risks and worked proactively to reduce vulnerabilities. I also used Python scripting to automate tasks, streamline reporting, and eliminate repetitive manual work. Key contributions: Independently managed all IT operations for a cloud-integrated startup environment Procured and supported all end-user and infrastructure hardware Resolved internal support issues across teams with minimal downtime Maintained detailed documentation of IT systems and processes Developed automation scripts to increase efficiency and reliability This role established my expertise in technical operations, infrastructure support, system security, and cross-functional collaboration — all of which I carried into the Moody’s acquisition project.
Nov 2018- Oct 2024
Sr. Systems Administrator & IT Engineer
Praedicat, Inc. Culver City, California

Sr. Systems Administrator & IT Engineer

As the sole in-house IT administrator at Praedicat, I was fully responsible for managing and maintaining the company’s IT infrastructure across multiple locations. My role combined hands-on technical support with long-term infrastructure planning, ensuring system reliability, security, and scalability for a growing organization. I led the procurement, deployment, and lifecycle management of hardware, including desktops, laptops, servers, and network equipment. I managed inventory, vendor coordination, and internal asset tracking while supporting all staff with technical troubleshooting and end-user support across macOS, Windows, and Linux systems. I maintained the company’s internal network, file sharing, backup systems, remote access, and account provisioning, while also documenting system configurations, network topology, and shared resources. This documentation supported business continuity, onboarding, and security audits. Security and operational efficiency were priorities. I implemented best practices in access control, system patching, endpoint protection, and secure backups. I regularly reviewed systems to identify risks and worked proactively to reduce vulnerabilities. I also used Python scripting to automate tasks, streamline reporting, and eliminate repetitive manual work. Key contributions: Independently managed all IT operations for a cloud-integrated startup environment Procured and supported all end-user and infrastructure hardware Resolved internal support issues across teams with minimal downtime Maintained detailed documentation of IT systems and processes Developed automation scripts to increase efficiency and reliability This role established my expertise in technical operations, infrastructure support, system security, and cross-functional collaboration — all of which I carried into the Moody’s acquisition project.
May 2012- June 2017
Systems Administrator
T3Leads . Encino, California

Systems Administrator

T3Leads is the world’s premier online lead generation firm and affiliate network. T3Leads’ expertise is in providing quality payday loan leads, as the go-to pay-per-lead affiliate network for the financial sector. With over 10,000 active affiliates, T3Leads currently operates in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. As a Senior Systems Administrator & Network Security Administrator at T3Leads, my responsibilities include: Network Security • Ensuring system security, spearheading security audits, and working with the Hi Level White Hackers team for penetration testing • Utilizing security tools to monitor the networks and reporting and responding immediately to security or usability issues and incidents • Writing custom monitoring plugins to ensure system security • Coordinating and installing patches and releases on web applications and development, pre production, and production systems • Diagnosing and resolving network connectivity interruptions, including malware infections, faulty hardware, and configuration issues • Implementing functional backup plans and disaster recovery plans • Scheduling, creating, and verifying backups on a regular and ad hoc basis • Deploying backup, antivirus, monitoring, blade logic, and asset management agents as servers are added into the network • Hands on experience with computer forensics, penetration and vulnerability testing tools, and conducting internal audits, vulnerability scanning, firewall, penetration testing • Install, diagnose, repair, and upgrade all hardware, applications and equipment, including regulation of any software incidents
And 5 more
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IT Systems Operations Engineer

Over the course of my career, I have built a deep and well-rounded foundation in IT operations, system administration, infrastructure engineering, and cloud integration, combining technical expertise with practical problem-solving. My professional path has taken me through organizations of all sizes — from agile startups and high-growth technology firms to large-scale, globally distributed enterprises — where I have planned, implemented, and maintained mission-critical systems that directly support core business functions.

I have successfully led high-impact infrastructure transitions, including cloud migrations, data center consolidations, enterprise network upgrades, and hybrid environment integrations, ensuring minimal downtime and smooth adoption across teams. My work spans Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms, with hands-on experience in AWS, Microsoft Azure, VMware, Docker, Kubernetes, and infrastructure-as-code solutions such as Terraform and Ansible. I have collaborated closely with development, security, and business stakeholders, bridging the gap between technical requirements and organizational objectives while ensuring compliance with security frameworks and best practices.

In every role, I bring a solutions-focused approach centered on reliability, performance optimization, and security hardening. This includes implementing proactive monitoring with tools like Prometheus, Grafana, and CloudWatch; refining CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions and Jenkins; enforcing identity and access controls through SSO, IAM, and Active Directory; and establishing governance policies that support long-term operational efficiency. I have a proven ability to troubleshoot complex technical issues, design resilient architectures, and optimize cloud resources for cost-effectiveness while maintaining a secure, well-maintained environment.

Beyond day-to-day operations, I actively contribute to modernization efforts — introducing automation to reduce manual workloads, codifying infrastructure for repeatable deployments, and improving disaster recovery and business continuity plans. Whether supporting end users, advising on technical strategy, or leading infrastructure upgrades, my consistent priority is enabling teams to work faster, smarter, and more securely while aligning technology with organizational goals.

Colleague Feedback

I echo everything Stephen C. Jones has said about Denis, he was a great team member and immensely helped me. Good luck Denis 💪

Colleague Feedback

Andrew Simmons

Managing Director, Praedicat UK

Denis is an expert in everything related to system administration, linux, and IT. He would be a fantastic asset for any organization. I highly recommend him.

Colleague Feedback

Slava Rybalka

SEO Director, T3Leads

Working with Denis has been a good experience. If you’re looking for a skilled and dependable IT professional, I highly recommend connecting with Denis!

Colleague Feedback

Febrianto Setiawan

Software Architect, Praedicat

Denis is an extraordinary IT professional who keeps things running and solves issues with speed and precision. Your company would be lucky to have him on board.

Colleague Feedback

Michael Ragland

Sr. Product Disigner, Praedicat

I would strongly recommend Denis — he brings solid technical expertise and is a great team player. Any company would benefit from having him on their team.

Colleague Feedback

Tigran Makaryan

IT Project Manager CSM, Praedicat

I strongly recommend Denis! He is resourceful, clever, and patient. For 6 years he did everything IT-related at Praedicat. An essential team member. It was a pleasure working with you, Denis. I miss sitting next to you everyday!

Colleague Feedback

Stephen C. Jones

General Counsel, Praedicat