Network Engineer Palo Alto

Lakshmi Sowmya Yerra

Charlotte, NC

*************.*@*********.*** 980-***-**** linkedin.com/in/lyerra Professional Summary

Results-driven Network Engineer with over 3 years of experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining enterprise- grade network systems. Proven expertise in troubleshooting, performance monitoring, and security hardening across global infrastructure. Strong command of routing, switching, VPNs, firewalls, and cloud networking (AWS, Azure). Passionate about optimizing network performance, reducing downtime, and ensuring compliance with best practices and business goals. Technical Skills

Networking: TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, VLANs, NAT, VPN, MPLS Hardware: Cisco Routers/Switches (2900, 3750, 3850), Palo Alto, Juniper, Fortinet, Load Balancers Tools: Wireshark, SolarWinds, Nagios, PRTG, Splunk, Cisco Prime, ServiceNow Cloud & Virtualization: AWS (VPC, Direct Connect), Azure Network Services, VMware NSX, Hyper-V Security: Firewalls, IDS/IPS, SSL VPN, Port Security, ACLs, 802.1x Operating Systems: Windows Server, Linux (Ubuntu, Red Hat), Cisco IOS/NX-OS Scripting & Automation: Python (Network Automation), Ansible, Bash, PowerShell Protocols: SNMP, STP, HSRP, ARP, ICMP, RADIUS, TACACS+ Professional Experience

MetLife Jan 2025 – Present

Network Engineer USA

Spearheaded the monitoring and optimization of enterprise LAN/WAN systems spanning over 45 global locations, maintaining 99.99% network uptime and improving network resilience.

Led deployment and configuration of Cisco Catalyst 3850/9300 switches and ISR routers, reducing network latency by 23% through optimized routing and load balancing.

Partnered with InfoSec to redesign firewall architectures using Fortinet and Palo Alto appliances, tightening internal access controls and reducing security incident response times by 35%.

Resolved over 250+ high-priority Layer 2/3 incidents using Wireshark, Splunk, and NetFlow Analyzer to identify root causes and proactively eliminate recurrent issues.

Architected secure VPN solutions (SSL/IPSec) for over 3,000 remote users, ensuring seamless hybrid work operations and 100% compliance with SOX and HIPAA mandates.

Played a key role in AWS and Azure cloud integration projects, configuring Direct Connect and Site-to-Site VPNs, resulting in a 60% faster cloud app response time.

Developed Python-based automation scripts to track bandwidth utilization, leading to 18% reduction in non-business traffic and better resource allocation.

Quantum Technology Aug 2021 – Dec 2023

Network Engineer Hyderabad, India

Led end-to-end redesign of network architecture across 5 branch offices, increasing throughput by 40% and reducing downtime by 30%.

Managed and secured a fleet of 500+ Cisco switches and Fortinet firewalls, performing firmware upgrades and rule audits to meet ISO 27001 standards.

Developed and maintained network health dashboards in SolarWinds and PRTG, enabling real-time monitoring and decreasing ticket volume by 22%.

Automated daily device compliance checks and backup routines using Python and Ansible, eliminating manual errors and saving 10 hours/week of manual work.

Diagnosed and resolved critical WAN performance issues using Wireshark, improving VoIP call quality scores from 3.1 to 4.5 MOS across multiple sites.

Education

University of North Carolina at Charlotte Expected May 2025 Master of Science in Computer Science Charlotte, NC Certifications

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) – (In Progress)

• Palo Alto Networks Cybersecurity Specialization – Coursera

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