Skip to content

Brian Jarrett

Senior Backend & Platform Engineer

Professional Summary

Highly analytical engineering professional with a 30-year foundation in rigorous system validation, data integrity, and autonomous technology adaptation. Proven track record of entering unfamiliar technical ecosystems, rapidly mastering complex architectures, and becoming a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the organization's technology stack. Utilizes a strict practice of verifying data quality at the source to prevent the propagation of bad data and ensure the integrity of the final output, and architects robust ETL pipelines that merge disparate inputs into authoritative sources of truth. An objective, fact-based troubleshooter who translates intricate system data into actionable engineering workflows, applying this rigorous systems engineering foundation to solve complex operational challenges and deliver resilient enterprise solutions.


Technical Competencies & Evidence Matrix

Verified Milestone Evidence

Every technical competency is anchored directly to verified production deployments, infrastructure operations, and research milestones. Click any highlighted milestone link to jump directly to its detailed evidence.

Core Competency Verified Milestone Proof Points
Python (Pandas, NumPy, Flask, SQLAlchemy, XlsxWriter)
Large-scale data manipulation, automated reporting, ETL pipelines, and API integrations.
Cisco Systems (Aug 2019 – July 2026): DevSecOps & Compliance Automation, Data Platform Engineering, Inventory Analytics & Infrastructure Operations
Select Group @ Cisco (Feb 2016 – Jan 2017): Cloud QA & Orchestration
Australian Laboratory Services (Sep 2014 – Jan 2016): Database & Data Integrity
Garfield County School District 16 (Oct 2002 – Jun 2014): Systems Integration & Automation
The Innovation Lab (Personal R&D): Multi-Agent AI Orchestration & MLOps, Knowledge Retrieval & Vector Search, Graph Analytics & Entity Mapping, Statistical Research & Graph Clustering
FIRST Robotics Mentorship: Real-Time Embedded Systems & Controls, Methodical Diagnostic Methodology, Engineering Collaboration & Leadership
ETL Pipeline & Data Validation
Architecting high-integrity data pipelines, database migrations, and schema validation.
Cisco Systems (Aug 2019 – July 2026): Data Platform Engineering
Australian Laboratory Services (Sep 2014 – Jan 2016): Database & Data Integrity
Garfield County School District 16 (Oct 2002 – Jun 2014): Systems Integration & Automation, Enterprise Modernization & Development
The Innovation Lab (Personal R&D): Multi-Agent AI Orchestration & MLOps, Knowledge Retrieval & Vector Search, Graph Analytics & Entity Mapping, Statistical Research & Graph Clustering
Databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MSSQL, Redis, MongoDB)
Relational database operations, replication, schema migration, and performance query tuning.
Cisco Systems (Aug 2019 – July 2026): Data Platform Engineering
Australian Laboratory Services (Sep 2014 – Jan 2016): Distributed Storage & Virtualization, Database & Data Integrity
Garfield County School District 16 (Oct 2002 – Jun 2014): Systems Integration & Automation, Enterprise Modernization & Development
The Innovation Lab (Personal R&D): Multi-Agent AI Orchestration & MLOps, Knowledge Retrieval & Vector Search, Graph Analytics & Entity Mapping, Statistical Research & Graph Clustering
Validation & QA Testing
Rigorous test case design, orchestration testing, and end-to-end verification methodologies.
Select Group @ Cisco (Feb 2016 – Jan 2017): Cloud QA & Orchestration
Australian Laboratory Services (Sep 2014 – Jan 2016): Distributed Storage & Virtualization
Foundational Experience (1991 – 2002): Solutions Engineer/Software QA Lead (StorageSoft/Phoenix Tech), Airborne Radar Journeyman (U.S. Air Force), Sales Engineering & Systems Integration, Technical Services & Test Lab Management, Software QA & Testing Leadership, Training & Team Optimization, Airborne Radar & Electronics Engineering (U.S. Air Force)
FIRST Robotics Mentorship: Real-Time Embedded Systems & Controls, Methodical Diagnostic Methodology, Engineering Collaboration & Leadership
AI Orchestration, MLOps & RAG
Local multi-agent LLM orchestration (LiteLLM, Hermes), vector databases (Qdrant), and graph analytics.
The Innovation Lab (Personal R&D): Multi-Agent AI Orchestration & MLOps, Knowledge Retrieval & Vector Search, Graph Analytics & Entity Mapping, Statistical Research & Graph Clustering
Core Competency Verified Milestone Proof Points
Cisco UCS & Fabric Interconnect
Enterprise bare-metal compute and fabric interconnect administration.
Cisco Systems (Aug 2019 – July 2026): Inventory Analytics & Infrastructure Operations
Cisco Systems (Jan 2017 – Aug 2019): Virtualized Infrastructure Operations
OpenStack (Nova, Heat, Neutron, Glance)
Public/private cloud orchestration, scheduler tuning, and infrastructure verification.
Cisco Systems (Jan 2017 – Aug 2019): Enterprise Identity Architecture
Select Group @ Cisco (Feb 2016 – Jan 2017): Performance Optimization, Infrastructure-as-Code at Scale, Stability Engineering, Cloud QA & Orchestration
Virtualization (vSphere/ESXi, XenServer, Proxmox/KVM, VirtualBox)
High-density enterprise virtualization, clustering, and VM lifecycle automation.
Cisco Systems (Jan 2017 – Aug 2019): Virtualized Infrastructure Operations
Select Group @ Cisco (Feb 2016 – Jan 2017): Infrastructure-as-Code at Scale, Cloud Infrastructure Evaluation
Australian Laboratory Services (Sep 2014 – Jan 2016): Distributed Storage & Virtualization
Garfield County School District 16 (Oct 2002 – Jun 2014): Infrastructure & Systems Virtualization
Distributed Storage (Ceph RBD, iSCSI)
High-availability distributed storage clusters, snapshot management, and performance benchmarking.
Australian Laboratory Services (Sep 2014 – Jan 2016): Distributed Storage & Virtualization, Infrastructure Automation
High-Availability (HA) Clustering
Designing failover systems and fault-tolerant identity/compute clusters.
Cisco Systems (Jan 2017 – Aug 2019): Enterprise Identity Architecture
Linux Systems Administration (RHEL, CentOS, Ubuntu)
Kernel tuning, package management, lights-out management (LOM), and shell automation.
Cisco Systems (Aug 2019 – July 2026): Zero-Day Incident Response (Log4j)
Cisco Systems (Jan 2017 – Aug 2019): Enterprise Identity Architecture, Vulnerability Management
Select Group @ Cisco (Feb 2016 – Jan 2017): Infrastructure-as-Code at Scale, Cloud Infrastructure Evaluation
Australian Laboratory Services (Sep 2014 – Jan 2016): Infrastructure Automation
Garfield County School District 16 (Oct 2002 – Jun 2014): Infrastructure & Systems Virtualization
Foundational Experience (1991 – 2002): Technical Services & Test Lab Management
The Innovation Lab (Personal R&D): Multi-Agent AI Orchestration & MLOps, Knowledge Retrieval & Vector Search, Graph Analytics & Entity Mapping, Statistical Research & Graph Clustering
Core Competency Verified Milestone Proof Points
Ansible & SaltStack (IaC & Automation)
Automated configuration management, fleet audits, and rapid node provisioning.
Cisco Systems (Aug 2019 – July 2026): DevSecOps & Compliance Automation, Zero-Day Incident Response (Log4j)
Cisco Systems (Jan 2017 – Aug 2019): Enterprise Identity Architecture
Select Group @ Cisco (Feb 2016 – Jan 2017): Infrastructure-as-Code at Scale, Cloud QA & Orchestration
Australian Laboratory Services (Sep 2014 – Jan 2016): Infrastructure Automation
CI/CD & Version Control (GitHub Actions, Jenkins, Git, Gerrit)
Automated test execution, artifact generation, and deployment pipelines.
Foundation & Continuous Production Application
Identity Architecture (FreeIPA/LDAP, RBAC/HBAC)
Centralized authentication and role-based access control across thousands of heterogenous nodes.
Cisco Systems (Jan 2017 – Aug 2019): Enterprise Identity Architecture
Garfield County School District 16 (Oct 2002 – Jun 2014): Systems Integration & Automation, Unified Communications & End-User Compute
FedRAMP Moderate & STIG Compliance (XCCDF/XML)
Automated compliance-as-code extraction, auditing, and continuous security baseline enforcement.
Cisco Systems (Aug 2019 – July 2026): DevSecOps & Compliance Automation
Cisco Systems (Jan 2017 – Aug 2019): Virtualized Infrastructure Operations, Vulnerability Management
Qualys Security Intelligence & API
Automated vulnerability scanning, compliance metric extraction, and remediation tracking.
Cisco Systems (Aug 2019 – July 2026): DevSecOps & Compliance Automation, Data Platform Engineering, Zero-Day Incident Response (Log4j)
Cisco Systems (Jan 2017 – Aug 2019): Virtualized Infrastructure Operations, Vulnerability Management
Network & Perimeter Security (Firewalls, VPNs, Routing, VoIP)
Cisco routing/switching, IPsec VPNs, VLANs, Ruckus wireless bridges, and VoIP architecture.
Australian Laboratory Services (Sep 2014 – Jan 2016): System Stability & Monitoring, Network Hardware Engineering
Garfield County School District 16 (Oct 2002 – Jun 2014): Network Engineering, Unified Communications & End-User Compute
Foundational Experience (1991 – 2002)
Core Competency Verified Milestone Proof Points
Technical Leadership & Mentoring
Guiding multi-tier engineering teams, methodical troubleshooting, and stakeholder communication.
Cisco Systems (Aug 2019 – July 2026): Technical Guidance & Mentorship
Foundational Experience (1991 – 2002): Solutions Engineer/Software QA Lead (StorageSoft/Phoenix Tech), Sales Engineering & Systems Integration, Technical Services & Test Lab Management, Training & Team Optimization
FIRST Robotics Mentorship: Real-Time Embedded Systems & Controls, Methodical Diagnostic Methodology, Engineering Collaboration & Leadership
FIRST Robotics Mentorship & STEM Leadership
Mentoring student teams in real-time embedded systems, electrical wiring, mechanisms, and troubleshooting.
FIRST Robotics Mentorship: Real-Time Embedded Systems & Controls, Methodical Diagnostic Methodology, Engineering Collaboration & Leadership
Root-Cause Diagnostics & Telemetry (Observium, Nagios)
Low-level system diagnostics, proactive performance telemetry, and elimination of systemic issues.
Cisco Systems (Aug 2019 – July 2026): Zero-Day Incident Response (Log4j), Technical Guidance & Mentorship
Select Group @ Cisco (Feb 2016 – Jan 2017): Performance Optimization, Stability Engineering
Australian Laboratory Services (Sep 2014 – Jan 2016): System Stability & Monitoring, Network Hardware Engineering
Garfield County School District 16 (Oct 2002 – Jun 2014): Network Engineering
Foundational Experience (1991 – 2002): Solutions Engineer/Software QA Lead (StorageSoft/Phoenix Tech), Airborne Radar Journeyman (U.S. Air Force), Software QA & Testing Leadership, Hardware Assembly & Diagnostics, Airborne Radar & Electronics Engineering (U.S. Air Force)
FIRST Robotics Mentorship: Real-Time Embedded Systems & Controls, Methodical Diagnostic Methodology, Engineering Collaboration & Leadership
Rapid Technical Adaptation & SME Authority
Proven track record of mastering unfamiliar architectures quickly and becoming an organizational SME.
Cisco Systems (Aug 2019 – July 2026)
Select Group @ Cisco (Feb 2016 – Jan 2017)
Australian Laboratory Services (Sep 2014 – Jan 2016)
Foundational Experience (1991 – 2002)

Professional Experience

Cisco Systems | Cloud Engineering Technical Leader

Aug 2019 – July 2026 (Remote)

Managed FedRAMP Moderate operations, backend data systems, and critical infrastructure for the Webex for Government platform, before transitioning in 2024 to SecOps providing vulnerability management, automated tooling, and technical leadership across corporate Webex systems.

  • DevSecOps & Compliance Automation: Developed automated reporting tools using the Qualys API to extract compliance metrics. Engineered Python scripts to parse raw STIG XCCDF (XML) data and map it to compliance results, enabling the automated generation of audit-ready STIG checklists. This compliance-as-code bridge eliminated hundreds of manual audit hours. Qualys Security Intelligence FedRAMP & STIG Compliance Python (Pandas, SQLAlchemy) Ansible, SaltStack ↑ Evidence Matrix
  • Data Platform Engineering: Designed, deployed, and operated a vulnerability management platform using Python (Pandas, SQLAlchemy) and PostgreSQL. Built custom ETL pipelines to ingest and synchronize data from the Jira API, providing teams with high-fidelity dashboards for severity tracking and SLA compliance. Integrated data with Tableau to enable executive-level visibility into remediation progress. Python (Pandas, SQLAlchemy) ETL Pipelines PostgreSQL, MySQL Qualys Security Intelligence ↑ Evidence Matrix
  • Inventory Analytics & Infrastructure Operations: Leveraged Pandas for large-scale data manipulation, merging disparate inventory reports and datasets into actionable operational insights across Cisco UCS bare-metal hardware and cloud compute. Transformed manual Excel-based tracking into automated trend analysis for monthly executive reporting. Python (Pandas, SQLAlchemy) Cisco UCS Hardware ↑ Evidence Matrix
  • Zero-Day Incident Response (Log4j): Engineered and executed enterprise-wide Ansible playbooks during the 2021 Log4j vulnerability to perform deep filesystem audits across all running server fleets. Located dormant instances embedded in nested packages and non-standard directories that bypassed standard Qualys scans, auditing 100% remediation across the platform. Ansible, SaltStack Qualys Security Intelligence Linux (RHEL/Ubuntu) Advanced Diagnostics & Monitoring ↑ Evidence Matrix
  • Technical Guidance & Mentorship: Served as infrastructure team lead, providing technical direction across the Webex for Government environment. Mentored engineering teams in methodical troubleshooting and supported the analysis and resolution of complex vulnerability and compliance remediation issues, ensuring continuous service stability under strict SLAs. Technical Mentorship Advanced Diagnostics & Monitoring ↑ Evidence Matrix

  • Skills: Python (Pandas, SQLAlchemy), PostgreSQL, Jira API, Qualys API, STIG Compliance (XCCDF/XML), ETL Pipelines, Tableau, Ansible, RHEL/Ubuntu, Cisco UCS, FedRAMP Moderate.

Cisco Systems | Cloud Systems Engineer

Jan 2017 – Aug 2019 (Remote)

Managed and optimized mission-critical compute infrastructure for Webex Commercial and FedRAMP environments. Collaborated with Networking and Storage teams to ensure zero-downtime availability, robust identity access control, and high security across US data centers.

Select Group @ Cisco | Cloud DevOps/QA Engineer (Contract)

Feb 2016 – Jan 2017 (Remote)

Provided specialized DevOps and QA engineering support for Cisco's OpenStack-based Public Cloud (InterCloud Services). Focused on performance optimization, automated configuration management, and stability engineering for large-scale cloud deployments.

Australian Laboratory Services | Senior Systems & Storage Administrator

Sep 2014 – Jan 2016 (Grand Junction, CO)

Managed, modernized, and optimized enterprise storage, virtualization, database, and network infrastructure. Engineered high-availability distributed storage clusters, automated server provisioning, and implemented comprehensive monitoring to ensure maximum uptime, data integrity, and network performance.

Garfield County School District 16 | Senior Systems/Network Administrator

Oct 2002 – Jun 2014 (Parachute, CO)

Managed and modernized the district-wide enterprise network, systems, and core educational platform infrastructure. Led high-impact IT modernization projects, automated administrative processes, and engineered cost-effective systems that dramatically reduced operational costs and IT support overhead.

  • Systems Integration & Automation: Developed a custom Flask (SQLAlchemy) web application that synchronized the centralized Student Information System (SIS) with Active Directory and Google Apps. Built self-service password reset and status tools for teachers, resulting in a 97% reduction in recurring support calls to the helpdesk. Python (Pandas, SQLAlchemy) PostgreSQL, MySQL FreeIPA, RBAC/HBAC ETL Pipelines ↑ Evidence Matrix
  • Enterprise Modernization & Development: Spearheaded the replacement of a legacy, fragmented student information system with a web-based, centralized platform, eliminating manual data syncing between schools. Streamlined state compliance reporting by developing custom PHP generation scripts interfacing with the PostgreSQL database. PostgreSQL, MySQL ETL Pipelines ↑ Evidence Matrix
  • Infrastructure & Systems Virtualization: Designed and administered virtualized host environments using Citrix XenServer and VirtualBox to run critical Windows Server 2008 and Ubuntu Linux servers. Supervised low-voltage cabling and hardware installation contractors for new facilities to ensure strict specification compliance. vSphere / ESXi / Proxmox Linux (RHEL/Ubuntu) ↑ Evidence Matrix
  • Network Engineering: Engineered a high-speed WAN connection between district buildings using Ruckus wireless bridges, increasing bandwidth by 6,500% (1.5Mbps to 100+ Mbps) with zero ongoing monthly service costs. Managed core networking infrastructure including Cisco Routers, Switches, PIX Firewalls, and Smoothwall web filters. Network Engineering & Firewalls Advanced Diagnostics & Monitoring ↑ Evidence Matrix
  • Unified Communications & End-User Compute: Deployed Cisco CallManager and Cisco Unity voice systems district-wide. Architected a centralized desktop computing solution using Windows Terminal Servers and HP Thin Clients for 6 computer labs, saving the district over $60,000 in capital expenditure and simplifying end-user support. Network Engineering & Firewalls FreeIPA, RBAC/HBAC ↑ Evidence Matrix

  • Skills: Python, Flask, SQLAlchemy, PHP, PostgreSQL, Ubuntu, Windows Terminal Server, Windows AD, Citrix XenServer, VirtualBox, Cisco CallManager/Unity, Cisco Routers & Switches, PIX, Ruckus Wireless Bridges/APs, HP Thin Clients, Google Apps, Smoothwall, Active Directory.

Foundational Experience | Systems Engineering, Software QA & Avionics Foundations

1991 – 2002 (Various)

Established a lifelong technical foundation by translating a low-level understanding of hardware, networking, and software into rigorous testing and validation methodologies. This ground-up engineering approach ensures comprehensive diagnostics and root-cause analysis at every layer of the stack.

  • Sales Engineering & Systems Integration: Tested ImageCast software integrations with systems management suites including SMS, CA Unicenter, and Desktop DNA. Defined customer software requirements, submitted feature change requests, and conducted technical product demonstrations and training for enterprise clients such as HP, Target, and NEC. Helped answer technical questions at trade shows. Validation & QA Testing Technical Mentorship ↑ Evidence Matrix
  • Technical Services & Test Lab Management: Merged and managed QA testing with the technical support department. Designed test cases, executed testing plans, and managed the lab's Windows and Linux servers and test networks. Redesigned, built out, and managed the company's network, labs, and server infrastructure following a corporate split. Validation & QA Testing Linux (RHEL/Ubuntu) Technical Mentorship ↑ Evidence Matrix
  • Software QA & Testing Leadership: Promoted from contractor to QA Lead, managing all testing operations for ImageCast and DrivePro products. Structured software testing workflows by implementing the company's first bug-tracking system, drafting comprehensive test plans, and maintaining lab hardware and network infrastructure. Validation & QA Testing Advanced Diagnostics & Monitoring ↑ Evidence Matrix
  • Training & Team Optimization: Boosted support staff effectiveness and QA productivity by rotating tech support personnel through active lab testing scenarios. Trained technicians on networking topologies, testing methodologies, and product architecture to improve time-to-resolution for support issues. Technical Mentorship Validation & QA Testing ↑ Evidence Matrix
  • Hardware Assembly & Diagnostics: Built custom computers, performed component-level hardware and peripheral repairs, and conducted software troubleshooting. Developed quotes for client builds and mastered motherboard/component compatibility. Advanced Diagnostics & Monitoring ↑ Evidence Matrix
  • Airborne Radar & Electronics Engineering (U.S. Air Force): Served as an Airborne Warning and Control Radar Journeyman (AWACS), repairing high-power microwave systems, high-voltage circuits, and analog/digital electronics. Advanced Diagnostics & Monitoring Validation & QA Testing ↑ Evidence Matrix

  • Skills: Analog & Digital Electronics, Circuit Analysis, System Diagnostics (Binary/Hex), PC Architecture, Disk Cloning (ImageCast, DrivePro), Software QA & Test Automation, Bug-Tracking Systems, Network Design, Windows/Linux Lab Administration, Technical Training, Requirements Engineering, Systems Management (SMS, CA Unicenter, Desktop DNA).


Innovation Lab & Community Leadership

The Innovation Lab (Personal R&D)

Continuous hands-on research and prototyping environment focusing on sovereign AI orchestration, vector retrieval architectures, graph analytics, and data pipeline engineering on dedicated workstation infrastructure.

FIRST Robotics Mentorship

Role: Lead Technical Systems Mentor | Timeline: Ongoing

Mentoring high school engineering students in mechanical/electrical design, real-time embedded programming, and competitive robotics systems. Instilling rigorous diagnostic and troubleshooting methodologies under high-pressure tournament conditions.


Education & Certifications

  • Linux Academy / A Cloud Guru: AWS & Red Hat Enterprise Linux Curriculum
  • Regis University: C Programming & Unix Systems Courses
  • Lincoln Christian University: Music Theory & Composition
  • Colorado School of Mines: 2 Years – Electrical Engineering & Applied Physics
  • Community College of the Air Force: Avionics/Electronics Technician – RADAR Specialist (AWACS)
  • On the Job Training – Tinker AFB, OK: AWACS RADAR and IFF Systems Journeyman – Awarded Senior Airman Below-the-Zone
  • Air Force Technical Training School – Keesler AFB, MS: Electronics and AWACS RADAR Courses – Honor Graduate (99% Academic Test Average)
For a list of legacy certifications, see linkedin.com/in/bjarrett/details/certifications/

Strategic Core Competencies

System Validation & Data Integrity, ETL Pipeline Engineering & Data Validation, Root Cause Analysis & Diagnostics, FedRAMP Moderate & STIG Compliance, Zero-Day Remediation (Log4j), Infrastructure-as-Code (Ansible, SaltStack), High Availability (HA) Clustering, Multi-Agent AI Orchestration & RAG Pipelines, Graph Analytics & Leiden Clustering, Linux Systems (RHEL, Ubuntu, CentOS), Enterprise Identity (FreeIPA, RBAC/HBAC), Distributed Storage (Ceph RBD, iSCSI), FIRST Robotics Technical Mentorship