Ricardo Hillbrecht Email & Phone Number

Waterloo, On, Ca

Ottawa, On, Ca

As an Infrastructure Engineer at Shopify, I drive the adoption of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles leveraging configuration management tools to optimize deployment processes and drive efficiency gains.Accomplishments:• Developed Python applications and containerized them for deployment on Google Cloud Platform, ensuring scalability and flexibility for cloud-based solutions.• Designed and orchestrated ETL (Extract-Transform-Load) pipelines on GCP, leveraging Google Cloud Storage (GCS), Cloud Functions, and BigQuery to efficiently process and analyze large datasets.• Designed CI pipelines to automate repetitive tasks, such as application deployment, service provisioning, and user account and password management. These initiatives enhanced productivity and reduced manual effort.• Led the adoption of IaC principles across the network team, transforming our on-prem server infrastructure. By introducing coding practices and configuration management tools, such as Ansible, I achieved remarkable improvements in deployment time and overall efficiency.• Developed a suite of Ansible Plugins to streamline network configuration for our on-prem infrastructure. This initiative significantly reduced deployment time and errors, resulting in enhanced efficiency and reliability.• Created Python frameworks that enabled pushing agnostic network configurations to devices via SSH and REST endpoints. This framework also included robust functional testing, ensuring the reliability of network configurations.• Designed modules to improve our monitoring services with Prometheus, Grafana, Vector, Splunk, and Datadog. This enhanced our monitoring and alerting capabilities, enabling us to identify and mitigate issues proactively.• Mentored and coached engineers in creating effective CI/CD pipelines using Buildkite, resulting in streamlined and reliable code deployment processes.

Cambridge, On, Ca

• Orchestrated the deployment of a cutting-edge network performance monitoring and diagnostics tool across multiple global sites. This solution revolutionized network utilization insights, empowering the organization to make data-driven decisions that fostered peak operational efficiency.• I played an instrumental role in the seamless integration of computer networks in new offices, designing wired and wireless access for PCs, mobile devices and IoT with focus on performance and security.• Troubleshooting application performance issues in remote offices emerged as one of my core strengths. Employing advanced methodologies such as traffic flow analysis, end-to-end path monitoring, and packet capturing across diverse technologies like MPLS, IPSec tunnels, and software-defined networks, I resolved challenges and ensured uninterrupted productivity.• My expertise extended to implementing critical changes in layers 2 and 3 protocols, including OSPF, EIGRP, HSRP, STP, and LACP. These strategic enhancements were pivotal for user project deployments and the seamless expansion of ATS Automation's network infrastructure.• Conducted training sessions for remote office IT administrators, spanning diverse locations worldwide. These workshops enabled them to effectively resolve network and application challenges, driving innovation and skill development.• Serving as the company's main voice engineer, I embarked on a transformative journey, configuring SIP call agents, voice gateways, users, and endpoints. My strategic approach extended to defining and enforcing QoS standards, addressing call quality issues, and implementing a comprehensive solution for monitoring voice traffic.

Curitiba, Paraná, Br

• Spearheaded the design, construction, and upkeep of a state-of-the-art campus area network featuring cutting-edge Cisco Nexus infrastructure. This robust network infrastructure interconnected remote data centers, incorporating protocols like OSPF, Multiple Spanning Tree, LACP, and VRRP to ensure seamless data flow and exceptional maintainability and performance.• Orchestrated the architecture and continual management of data center networks, expertly connecting critical systems such as blade servers, wireless networks, and unified communications servers through a resilient Cisco Nexus framework. The result was an agile and efficient ecosystem that optimized resource utilization and bolstered overall operational efficiency.• Strategized and executed remote network deployments leveraging automation tools such as Ansible to establish a highly reliable MPLS cloud infrastructure.• Employed advanced Quality of Service (QoS) methodologies, including intelligent queueing, traffic policing, and shaping mechanisms, to fine-tune network traffic management, effectively prioritizing voice and data traffic and ensuring unparalleled user experiences.• Drove the implementation of a cutting-edge Internet autonomous system employing Juniper technology, which delivered unparalleled IPv4 and IPv6 connectivity leveraging BGP peering with different Internet service providers. This transformative solution offered enhanced availability and fault tolerance while optimizing traffic distribution across distinct Internet providers through a meticulously crafted load balancing method.• Pioneered the configuration and integration of monitoring tools, harnessing features like SNMP monitoring, Cisco IP SLA, and Netflow to provide comprehensive network insights, facilitating real-time performance analysis and proactive troubleshooting.

• Coordinated the seamless migration of network servers to virtual machines, unlocking the full potential of available resources while significantly reducing operational costs. This initiative streamlined IT infrastructure management and enhanced scalability, optimizing the company's technological landscape.• Championed the migration of the organization's critical data to a dedicated storage system, ensuring enhanced data availability and fault-tolerance. This strategic move fortified data integrity and accessibility, minimizing downtime and fortifying the organization's data-driven operations.• Orchestrated the migration of the e-mail server to a cutting-edge platform, revolutionizing the user experience through improved web interfaces. The novel integration of LDAP, Mailboxes, and File Servers empowered help desk attendants with streamlined administrative capabilities, driving operational efficiency and end-user satisfaction.• Led the end-to-end installation and configuration of robust network monitoring systems, including Nagios, Cacti, and MRTG. These state-of-the-art tools provided comprehensive visibility into network performance, empowering the IT team to proactively identify and address potential issues, thus ensuring uninterrupted service delivery.• Demonstrated expert proficiency in maintaining and administering Linux systems and mission-critical applications, such as DHCP, DNS, Web Proxy, and Firewall. Leveraging in-depth knowledge, I implemented robust security measures and refined performance optimization strategies, elevating the overall stability and reliability of the network infrastructure.• Innovatively developed and implemented automated scripts for DHCP and firewall administration, resulting in streamlined and error-free management processes. This automation not only reduced administrative overhead but also improved response times for critical network operations.

Curitiba, Paraná, Br

• Demonstrated proficiency in Java programming with a specialized focus on the Struts framework and Hibernate during an impactful internship. Key responsibilities involved crafting Java functions, SQL, and HQL queries to facilitate efficient data processing and retrieval. Additionally, I actively contributed to debugging and testing plans, leveraging JUnit to ensure the robustness and reliability of the developed applications.• Gained practical experience in deploying and managing web containers like JBoss and Tomcat.• Engaged with PostgreSQL databases, actively participating in the design and optimization of database schemas to enhance data integrity and efficiency.• Familiarized myself with essential design patterns such as Facade, Abstract Factory, and Factory Method, applying them to real-world scenarios.

Master'S Degree, Information Technology

Graduate Studies, Networks Management

Graduation, Information Technology