Kiran Pillai Email and Phone Number

Distinguished engineer and Cloud Networking architect for IBM Cloud.Chief software architect for scalable SDN, AI networking for GPU clusters, Network Services, Hybrid Cloud connectivity, and Cloud security.I lead and manage the network architecture team to meticulously define the best network, software architecture and solutions for IBM Cloud.

Software Architect for Cloud Networking, SDN, Datacenter, Service Provider, and Campus Networking technologies.I have worked on NXOS, ACI, IOS-XR and IOS-XE during my stay at Cisco. Cloud Networking and SDN automation:I have led many strategic projects in APIC/ACI SDN Controller, the Cloud SDN controller platform. The solutions target private cloud deployments in service providers and enterprise networks.Cloud & WAN Edge Networking in NX-OS: Led strategic projects to bring full-stack solutions for data center WAN Edge and multi-site interconnect solutions in Cisco Nexus 9000 routers and switches. These initiatives include bringing the data center to WAN hand-off solutions such as VXLAN EVPN to Segment Routing (SR - MPLS) and Segment Routing v6 (SRv6).Cloud Native Host Networking: I have architected and led the team to develop cloud-native micro-services solutions for advanced cloud host deployments. The architecture of this solution includes container BGPs, and container RIB/FIBs running on VPP(fd.io). The solution uses gRPC APIs for inter-service communication. It provides scale-out, highly available deployments using Kubernetes. GRPC Integration and SDN controller for Cisco IOS-XR: Led a strategic project to enable fully functional bidirectional gRPC APIs in Cisco IOS XR Operating System, running on Cisco ASR 9000, Cisco 8000, and Cisco NCS 5500 series. The gRPC APIs supported advanced route APIs for EVPN and L3VPN solutions. This solution is a crucial enabler for Cisco IOS XR integration with controllers for advanced automation using GRPC.Campus Networking, Mapping Servers for Campus SDA: Led teams to enable scalable campus networking (Software Defined Access) with mapping servers (LISP protocol). These solutions are critical enablers for Cisco Catalyst 9000 series campus switches and Cisco DNAC controllers.Key TechnologiesSDN, VXLAN / EVPN, SRv6/SR/MPLS, Protocols - BGPVirtualization, Microservices, APIs - GRPC,Host Networking

Principal Engineer, and software architect for Multi Services Provider Edge Routers, Cell Site switches and routersLed many teams with very talented engineers and delivered products successfully for many major product releases. Developed IP/MPLS features for IPOS software running in Ericsson’s Smart Service Routers (SSR), Ericsson Smart Edge routers, Ericsson Virtual Routers, and Ericsson R6000 platforms.Involved in leading and developing Network Function Virtualization (NFV) with virtual routers, SDN (Software Defined Networking), Evolved Packet Core (EPC), Broadband Network Gateway (BNG), Services such as Pseudo wires/VPLS/L2VPN, L3VPN and Segment routing software features for Ericsson products. Actively involved in customer requirements analysis, performing feasibility studies, designing and developing solutions, designing and developing software for features, leading the teams for developing the features, and making sure that product and features are delivered with high quality to the customers.Designed and developed networking software on IPOS routing stacko Architect for IP, SR, MPLS, L2VPN, L3VPN, Fast re-route, BGP, LDP, RSVP-TE, features.o Designed and implemented L3VPN, Pseudowires, and Fast Re-Route solutionso Integration with EPC (Evolved Packet Core) for 4G deployments. o Virtualization and NFV solutions for vEPC, and vEMBMS for 4G deploymentso Lead development teams and networking software developmento Design end to end solutions for customer requirements and deploymentso All round team building and mentoring engineers

IPOS routing/switching stack- IP, MPLS, SR, BGP, IGPs, L3/L2VPNs, LDP, RSVP-TE.

Worked on Nortel (Bay Networks) products part of Avaya routing and switching products

Design and development of WiMAX Base stations, Ethernet Switches/Routers.I worked in routing protocols and forwarding(micro code) in Intel IXP Network Processors

Co-founder of Netscience to develop and launch the world's first VDSL IP - DSLAMs in the year 2002. Netscience also developed FTTH (OLTs and ONUs). The product was successfully deployed in Korea Telecom. - Developed VDSL IP DSLAMs with Unicast (IPv4/IPv6), and Multicast (VOD) features.- Developed products and solutions in one of the world's first successful VDSL deployments.- Developed Layer2-Layer3 Gig Ethernet aggregation switch/routers.- FTTH ( Passive Optical Networks) ONUs and OLTs

Protocol stack development for IP/Ethernet/ATM routers.Development/Enhancement of protocols in FutureSoft stack : IP/MPLS, OSPF, BGP, L2TP, PPP, PPPoE, RSVP, RSVP-TEPorted the protocol stacks on to various platforms ranging from CE, Switches, routers, PE boxes.