Skyline: Network Voice Engineer with Automation Expertise

Aleksandr Kovalev

Network Voice Engineer

**.*******@*****.*** • 646-***-****

New York, NY, 10314, US

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleks-kovalev/

SUMMARY

Results-driven Network Voice Engineer & Subject Matter Expert with expertise in designing, implementing, and optimizing voice networks for maximum performance, quality, and reliability. Proven track record in delivering high- quality technical solutions and leading initiatives to enhance voice network efficiency, automation, and customer experience.

CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES

CCNA Routing and Switching, May 2023

Cisco ID: CSCO14356770

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Network Voice Engineer Skywire Networks New York, NY, USA 11/2024 – present (full time)

- Spearheaded a large-scale, next-generation VoIP cloud migration for over 20,000 business and residential phone numbers, successfully transitioning customers from an on-premises Metaswitch PBX to Alianza's cloud platform to modernize service delivery.

- Engineered and deployed automation scripts using Ansible, Python, and Bash to streamline routine device operations (firmware upgrades, configuration changes, cleanup) on 700+ SSH-accessible voice gateways, reducing manual configuration time by an estimated 75%.

- Streamlined the reporting process by developing Python scripts and leveraging vendor APIs to automatically generate critical operational and customer health reports, improving data accuracy and team efficiency.

- Diagnosed and resolved the most complex Level 3, 4, and 5 voice service incidents, ensuring high availability and quality of service (QoS) for critical business communications.

- Executed advanced packet flow analysis using Wireshark and on-device packet capture to rapidly identify and remediate complex issues related to SIP signaling, RTP media, and network performance.

- Configured, provisioned, and maintained a diverse fleet of customer premise equipment, including Cisco, Adtran, Grandstream, Calix, and Polycom voice gateways and IP phones, with responsibility for end-to-end firmware management and SIP trunk configuration.

- Leveraged hands-on expertise with core network infrastructure, including the Metaswitch voice platform, Juniper switches, and Juniper firewalls, to ensure seamless integration and security of voice services. Lab Network Engineer Nubis Novem Corp Denville, NJ, USA 01/2024 – 10/2024 (part time)

- Designed, configured, and maintained lab network infrastructure, patched firmware, and created diagrams and docs.

- Hands-on experience with Cisco 4K series and ISRG2 routers, Catalyst 3850 and Nexus 3500 switches, Cisco ASA and Juniper SRX firewalls, Extreme and Aruba switches, Wi-Fi access points.

- Designed, deployed, configured, and maintained lab routers, switches, servers, and access points to simulate specific work conditions.

- Deployed server virtualization with VMWare ESXi hypervisor.

- Supported local Voice Services, levels I – III;

- Identified bottlenecks and congestions.

- Tested hardware and software compatibility.

- Created documentation, diagrams, and reports.

- IP Telephony; Managing Network Security; Internet work Troubleshooting; Building Remote Access Networks.

- BGP Configuration; Building Multilayer Switched Networks; Advanced Router Configuration; Troubleshooting.

- Understanding SNMP; Deploying QOS for Enterprise Networks

- Implementing security measures such as Port-security, DHCP snooping, firewalls, access lists, AAA server, and 802.1X protocol.

- Implementing site-to-site IPsec and remote-access VPN services such as Cisco Anyconnect.

- Knowledge of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE), RADIUS and TACACS. Network Engineer Aventa Systems, LLC Lodi, NJ, USA 01/2024 – 03/2024 (temporary contract)

- Implemented, configured, and solved problems on Layer 2 IoT high-available network infrastructure.

- Deployed Cisco StackWise technology and Layer 2 Multi-Chassis EtherChannel (MEC).

- Configured switch interfaces, and monitored and troubleshoot configurations to ensure they were workable.

- Designed, deployed and troubleshoot Wi-Fi 6 802.11ac, 802.11ax solutions.

- Ensured flexibility to connect various Wi-Fi IoT devices, including sensors and electricity meters. Hand-on experience:

- Cisco Catalyst 9400 switches;

- Cisco StackWise technology (Layer 2 Multi-Chassis EtherChannel (MEC));

- High-availability architecture;

- Single-mode fiber cable connections.

- Installed and configured Cisco Prime Infrastructure OVA Template on virtual machine via VMware Network Voice Engineer Konar Chelyabinsk, Russia 06/2022 – 09/2023 (contract)

- Led the migration of a legacy PBX system to Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM).

- Integrated existing voice system Avaya AURA into the new Cisco CUCM BE6000M solution through Cisco CUBE.

- Monitored key performance metrics such as MOS score, jitter, and packet loss to proactively identify and resolve issues.

- Configured SIP trunk to ISP side, dialing plan, ACD, IVR, segmented user groups.

- Implemented different kinds of voice gateways: analogue FXS/FXO ATA-186 and VG-224, digital routers 2800/2900

/3800/3900 with installed voice VWIC T1/E1, G.703 cards.

- Deployed Cisco IP Phones 7965, 6945, 3905, 9951, 9971 with extension panels. Customer relationship management (CRM) integration, and real-time analytics and reporting.

- Proficient in SIP, H.323, RTP, SRTP, MGCP, SCCP, and other VoIP protocols and audio codecs G.711, G.722, G.729, iLBC, WB-AMR.

- Optimized Quality of Service (QoS) policies for a large enterprise network to prioritize voice traffic in collaboration with cross-functional teams.

- Maintained IP Voice Private Branch Exchange.

- Demonstrated SolarWinds network troubleshooting features and capabilities to network teammates and IMC staff to quickly ascertain root cause network events.

Senior Network Engineer Lantan, LLC Chelyabinsk, Russia 03/2015 – 06/2022 (full-time)

- Configured Cisco, Juniper and other switches, routers, firewalls, servers.

- Implemented routing protocols including OSPF, EIGRP, and BGP.

- Redesigned, maintained and troubleshoot customer’s VoIP networks (many) based on Cisco CUCM, Nortel, Avaya, and Asterisk technologies.

- Switched customer’s connections to PSTN from E1 links to cost-effective and flexible SIP trunks.

- Adept in VoIP protocols and codecs, such as SIP, H.323, MGCP, SCCP, G.711, iLBC, wide-band AMR, and so on.

- Maintained network currency through systematic firmware upgrades, updates, and patches, enhancing overall reliability and mitigating vulnerabilities across diverse network environments, focusing on Cisco.

- Maintained MS Active Directory.

- Monitored network health and vulnerability with Solarwinds NPM, Security Event Manager, Syslog.

- Managed and executed network/system administration duties including, but not limited to, installing, testing, configuring, monitoring, maintaining, supporting, and optimizing all network services, including Cisco Wi-Fi and VoIP systems for HQ and 30 branches.

- Reduced downtime, improved reliability, and heightened end-user satisfaction by swiftly and effectively resolving network issues through adept troubleshooting.

- Involved in regression testing on weekly builds using Python OS package and CSV packages for output processing. KEY SKILLS

Telecom experience:

Configuring and troubleshooting Telecom Equipment, Including Cisco CUCM, Nortel CS1000E and Avaya Aura S8500 PBXs, SIP Trunks, and PSTN connectivity.

Implementing of QoS policies to prioritize voice traffic over the network. Voice over IP:

Experience with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM), Avaya Aura Communication Manager, Asterisk, and other call control systems.

Experience with Cloud Telephony PBX (Zoom/Teams)

Experience with Cloud Migration

Deploying videoconferencing systems Polycom.

Configuring and troubleshooting of Cisco Voice Gateways (ISRG2 routers), SIP Trunks, and PSTN connectivity. Configuring Cisco CUBE

Configured automatic call distribution (ACD), interactive voice response (IVR), and agent desktop integration to optimize call handling and improve customer satisfaction. Deploying IP telephony solutions based on Asterisk IP PBX, Cisco CUCM, Avaya Aura 8K, Nortel CS1000E. Ensuring the availability and reliability of IP telephony services. Planning, designing, and deploying IP telephony solutions for organizations of all sizes. Planning, designing, and executing the migration strategy, configuring SIP trunks, and ensuring seamless transition for end-users across multiple locations.

Advanced troubleshooting skills to diagnose and resolve issues related to call quality, connectivity, and performance. Documentation of VoIP configurations, procedures, and best practices, as well as providing training to end-users. Migration TDM platforms to VoIP systems

Deploying migration from Nortel Meridian and Avaya Definity to modern VoIP systems. Implementing Asterisk VoIP systems.

Integration of voice, video, and messaging services into unified communications platforms. Quality of Service (QoS):

Configuring QoS parameters for prioritization of real-time traffic. This included classification, marking, and policing of voice packets to minimize latency, jitter, and packet loss. Protocols and audio codecs:

Strong knowledge of SIP, H.323, RTP, SRTP, MGCP, SCCP. Knowledge of various audio codecs (G.711, G.722, G.729, iLBC, WB-AMR, GSM) and their impact on call quality and bandwidth utilization.

Network Design and Architecture:

Redesigning and upgrading enterprise networks for real-time applications and IP telephony. Creating high-available network infrastructure.

Routing and Switching:

Deploying, configuring, maintaining and troubleshooting a variety of different vendor’s switches, routers, firewalls, focusing on Cisco. Hands-on experience with Cisco ASA, ISR, ASR routers, Catalyst and NEXUS switches, Juniper SRX firewalls.

Implementing routing protocols such as BGP, EIGRP, and OSPF. Knowledge on SD access, DNA Center, VxLANs.

Configuring NTP, DHCP, DNS, PKI.

Security:

Enhanced the security of a VoIP network by implementing encryption (SRTP), access control lists (ACLs), and intrusion prevention measures. Conducted security assessments and vulnerability scans to identify and mitigate potential threats.

Wireless LAN (Wi-Fi):

Designing, deploying and troubleshooting Wi-Fi 6 802.11ac, 802.11ax solutions. Ensuring flexibility to connect various Wi-Fi IoT devices, including sensors and electricity meters. Troubleshooting:

Troubleshooting of Cisco Voice Gateways (ISR routers), SIP Trunks, and PSTN connectivity. Advanced troubleshooting skills to diagnose and resolve issues related to call quality, connectivity, and system performance.

Automation:

Using Ansible for network automation to simplify management and enhance operational efficiency. Performing automaton testing by creating test scripts in Python code. Coding experience: C, Python.

Capacity and Bandwidth Management:

Increasing capacity and bandwidth by four times, with the potential for further scalability. Managing WAN links and ensuring reliable delivery of all traffic. Monitoring and Management:

Utilizing 24*7 monitoring for network nodes.

Implementing monitoring solutions, such as Solarwinds toolset. Collaboration and Teamwork:

Collaborating with cross-functional teams, including network and system engineers, installers, administrators, and developers.

Successfully completing projects with a team of up to 15 people. Project Management:

Setting clear goals and objectives for each project. Overcoming challenges related to limited resources, bad links, and complex requirements. Vendor Management:

Evaluating and selecting equipment from different vendors based on functionality and requirements. Communication:

Effectively communicating technical solutions to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Adaptability and Learning:

Demonstrating the ability to adapt to different vendor equipment and technologies. Rapidly learning and implementing new solutions.

EDUCATION

Chelyabinsk Polytechnic Institute (Southern Ural State University) Degree: Radio Electronic Devices, University Diploma with Honors (Bachelor’s Degree) City, State: Chelyabinsk, Russia

Contact this candidate