Network Engineer Hands-On

SUMMARY

RAKESH BRAHMANDAM

*****************@*****.*** +1-682-***-**** Irving, TX

Experienced Network Engineer with 3+ years of hands-on expertise in configuring, deploying, and managing Cisco routers (2600, 3600, 7200) and switches (6500, 7200VXR, 12000 series) across complex LAN/WAN environments.

Proficient in routing protocols such as BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, and MPLS, ensuring high availability and optimized network performance for banking and enterprise clients.

Expert in VLAN setup and troubleshooting inter-VLAN routing, VLAN trucking (802.1q), and Virtual Device Context (VDC) configuration on Cisco Nexus platforms.

Extensive experience with firewalls including Palo Alto, PIX, and Cisco ASA, implementing security policies using ACL, IPSEC, SSL, VPN, IPS/IDS, and AAA protocols.

Strong hands-on expertise with load balancing solutions using F5 Big-IP LTM and GTM for traffic management and ensuring application availability across data centers.

Proficient in Quality of Service (QoS) implementation across WAN links to ensure efficient traffic management, congestion control, and enhanced voice and video quality.

Advanced troubleshooting skills in resolving Layer 2/Layer 3 network issues, including STP, RSTP, VTP, EtherChannel, and HSRP/GLBP/VRRP for redundancy and failover configurations.

Hands-on experience with network analysis tools such as Wireshark, Ethereal, and Sniffer for capacity planning, traffic analysis, and troubleshooting complex network issues.

Excellent communication and team collaboration skills, with proven ability to manage multiple tasks independently or in teams, interact effectively with internal/external customers, and lead change management initiatives in large-scale environments. Skills:

• Networking Fundamentals- TCP/IP, IPv4, IPv6, Subnetting, (Routing Protocols) OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, (Switching Technologies) VLANs, STP, VTP, Network Topologies

• Network Hardware- Routers and Switches: Cisco, Juniper (Firewalls) Cisco ASA, Palo Alto, Load Balancers, Access Points (APs), Network Interface Cards (NICs)

• Network Security- VPN: Site-to-site and remote access, Security Protocols: IPSec, SSL/TLS, Access Control Lists (ACLs), Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

• Monitoring & Troubleshooting- (Network Monitoring Tools) Wireshark, SolarWinds, PRTG, Troubleshooting Techniques, Performance Monitoring, Packet Analysis

• Scripting & Automation- Python, Bash, PowerShell,

• Network Automation Tools: NetDevOps, Cisco DNA Center

• Cloud Networking- AWS, Azure, Hybrid Networking, Software-Defined Networking (SDN)

• Virtualization- Understanding of Virtualization Technologies (e.g., VMware, Hyper-V)

• Documentation & Best Practices- Network Documentation, Best Practices in Network Design, Change Management Procedures

• Communication & Collaboration- Team Collaboration, Client Interaction, Stakeholder Communication

• Regulatory & Compliance- Understanding of Compliance Standards (e.g., GDPR, PCI-DSS)

• Soft Skills- Problem Solving, Time Management, Critical Thinking Experience:

Goldman Sachs Global Feb 2024 to Current

Network Engineer

• Configured and troubleshot various routing protocols including RIP, EIGRP, OSPF, BGP, and MPLS in both service provider and enterprise networks.

• Configured Cisco ASA 5540 firewalls and Juniper Net Screen firewalls for ACLs, NAT/PAT, and VPNs, ensuring high-end network security and seamless internet access for servers.

• Deployed BIG-IP LTM and F5 devices for load balancing and high availability, managing the redundancy of corporate applications across data centers.

• Played a key role in maintaining and troubleshooting LAN/WAN infrastructure in the data center, involving Nexus 7K, 5K, ASR 9K switches, and Cisco Catalyst series for multi-VLAN environments.

• Led deployment and troubleshooting of wireless LAN systems (Aruba, Cisco LWAPs), and LTE/UMTS network design and optimization for seamless corporate network access.

• Monitored network performance and conducted diagnostics using tools like Wireshark, SolarWinds, and NetScout to proactively resolve issues and optimize network traffic.

• Implemented QoS policies, including policy maps and class-maps, to ensure optimal bandwidth allocation and enhanced performance across the network infrastructure.

• Configured and managed Site-to-Site IPSec VPNs, ensuring secure and scalable communication between corporate and remote sites.

• Integrated advanced technologies such as VDC on Nexus 7K, MPLS over SONET multiplexors and Get VPN encryption, improving the performance and security of WAN infrastructures.

• Managed network change requests (CRQ) using BMC Remedy, and created comprehensive network diagrams and documentation using Microsoft Visio for future reference and audits.

• Spearheaded the migration of branch WAN links from TDM circuits to MPLS, leading to a 15% reduction in operational costs while improving network performance.

• Resolved complex network issues by applying advanced troubleshooting techniques, resulting in a 25% improvement in the time to resolution for critical incidents.

Coforges Aug 2020 to Jun 2022

Network Engineer

Oversaw the entire LAN and WAN operations, including configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of Cisco routers, switches, and firewalls to ensure continuous network uptime and security.

Configured and extended VLANs across multiple data centers to enable efficient traffic flow, improved network segmentation, and better resource allocation.

Provided 24x7 on-call escalation support for security operations, administering Cisco ASA firewalls, managing IPsec VPNs, and implementing access control lists (ACLs) for secure network operations.

Collaborated with data center teams to design, deploy, and administer Cisco Nexus switches (2000, 5000, 7000 series) and firewalls, ensuring optimal connectivity and redundancy.

Configured and optimized routing protocols including OSPF, BGP, and EIGRP, ensuring efficient route distribution, reduced latency, and high availability of critical services.

Implemented F5 Big-IP LTM/GTM load balancers to ensure fault tolerance and seamless traffic management across data centers and global sites.

Developed Python scripts to automate network device configurations, reducing manual intervention and accelerating deployment times for VLANs, ACLs, and firewall rules.

Managed multi-platform environments using Cisco, Juniper, and Palo Alto devices, optimizing overall network security and performance while ensuring seamless operations in mixed-vendor ecosystems.

Reduced Network Downtime by 35% by proactively identifying and resolving Layer 2/3 issues, implementing redundancy solutions (HSRP, VRRP), and automating routine network tasks with Python scripts.

Achieved 99.9% Network Availability by optimizing routing protocols (BGP, OSPF), and upgrading to F5 load balancers, improving the resilience of critical applications across global sites.

Decreased Network Security Incidents by 25% through successful firewall migrations, implementing advanced security features on ASA and Checkpoint firewalls, and regularly updating firewall policies.

Valparaiso University

Master of Information Technology

Jayamukhi Institute of Technological Sciences – India Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering

Education: .

Contact this candidate