John Richard

Systems & Infrastructure Engineer

Professional Summary

Systems and infrastructure engineer with extensive experience supporting mission-critical platforms, enterprise environments, and long-term operational systems. Strong background in diagnosing complex technical issues across hardware, operating systems, networks, and applications. Known for learning unfamiliar systems quickly, working independently in remote roles, and restoring stable, reliable operation under pressure.

Core Competencies

• Systems design, deployment, and long-term operational support
• Troubleshooting across hardware, OS, network, and application layers
• Remote support for distributed teams and environments
• Infrastructure administration across Windows, Linux, and macOS
• Virtualization, platform migrations, and system transitions
• Real-time and multimedia system support (streaming, AV, latency-sensitive platforms)
  
• Documentation, user training, and technical communication

Work Experience

IT Consultant

Independent Consulting Practice
October 2014 – Present

• Provide ongoing systems design, administration, and technical support for small organizations and individuals.
• Support mixed-platform environments including Windows, Linux, and macOS desktops and servers.
• Design, deploy, and maintain cloud-based and on-premises infrastructure including identity, access, networking, storage, and application hosting.
• Administer hosted platforms and websites, including WordPress environments, with responsibility for maintenance, performance optimization, security hardening, and uptime.
• Build and maintain low-code business applications to support workflows, data management, and operational efficiency.
• Serve as a long-term technical partner to clients, providing documentation, training, and practical guidance for non-technical users.
  
• Work independently in remote and on-site contexts, managing priorities and resolving issues without unnecessary escalation.

System / Software Engineer

Global Technology Company
June 2000 – October 2014
Final four years in a fully remote role

• Supported enterprise customers and internal teams across virtualization, systems automation, and real-time multimedia platforms.
• Designed and implemented VMware-based infrastructure integrated with server, networking, and storage systems.
• Served in escalation and end-of-line support roles for complex system, network, and streaming media issues.
• Supported latency-sensitive multimedia platforms and partner integrations.
• Developed automation and recovery tooling for firmware, BIOS, storage provisioning, networking, and OS deployment.
• Created technical documentation, labs, and training materials for engineering, sales, and field teams.
• Coordinated with globally distributed teams while maintaining system reliability and service quality.

System / Network Administrator

Broadcast & Telecommunications Environment
June 1999 – June 2000

• Implemented early internet streaming pipelines using Windows Media and RealMedia technologies.
• Migrated linear video workflows to non-linear systems and established Video on Demand capabilities.
• Deployed and supported remote encoding systems at broadcast facilities.
• Designed and implemented wide-area network connectivity using Cisco routing and switching equipment.
• Administered core internet services on Linux including web, mail, and DNS.
• Supported Windows Server environments including IIS and SQL-based applications.
  
• Developed custom web applications supporting content access and management workflows.

Information Systems Analyst

Federal Government Environment
July 1996 – July 1998

• Led system migration from legacy platforms to Unix-based infrastructure with integrated database and custom applications.
• Served as primary problem-solver for system failures and operational issues.
• Designed internal databases for work order tracking, troubleshooting documentation, and reporting.
• Managed full lifecycle hardware and software troubleshooting, backup, recovery, and upgrades.
• Implemented and maintained a wireless RF network supporting handheld scanning devices for operational workflows.

Certifications

• Fiber Broadband Association – OpTIC Path Certification Focused on fiber safety, connectorization, signal testing, fault isolation, and physical-layer troubleshooting.
• VMware Certified Professional – Data Center Virtualization (VCP-DCV) Hands-on certification validating deployment and support of VMware-based production environments.

Technical Skills

• Systems and network administration
• Windows and Linux environments
• Virtualization and server infrastructure
• Networking fundamentals (routing, switching, connectivity)
• Backup and recovery planning
• Security hardening and access control
• Hardware diagnostics and lifecycle support
• Documentation and operational process improvement