Matthew Lindsey

matthew.lindsey@gmail.com 631-873-5303 Levittown, NY

download my resume as a pdf file

Skills

  • Linux - proficient with deploying, configuring and maintaining Linux Servers, notably RedHat family and Debian family.
  • Automation - constantly looking for ways to automate repetitive tasks with scripting or configuration management.
  • Problem solving - innovative problem solving and resolution skills, I enjoy a challenge and learning new things.
  • Documentation - I have learned the importance of documentation by being dropped into new undocumented IT environments.

Education

University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
Graduated 2007
  • B.S. Computer Engineering
  • Thesis: Temperature Aware Circuits

Homelab

  • Setup and maintain homelab using two dedicated proxmox hypervisors in different locations hosting multiple VMs/containers for various tasks including self hosting websites, password manager, status pages, photo hosting, backup systems, home automation, inventory management, recipe management.
  • Also used as a test environment for deploying new and interesting projects I come across.
  • pfSense router/firewall with IDS/IPS using Snort, caching using Squid, and implemented QoS and segregated home network into multiple VLANs for DMZ, guest network, main network.

Hobbies

  • Long Island Linux User Group Member
  • Triathlons - completed Ironman France and competed at Duathlon World Championships. Regularly train and compete in triathlons, running, swimming and cycling races.
  • Computer Refurbishing - volunteer with RSVP to refurbish and install computers for the underprivileged and seniors.
  • Ultimate Frisbee - captain of various teams.
  • Cooking - see my blog. which I don't update often enough.

Work Experience

Systems Engineer II - Cold Spring Harbor Labs, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
March 2019 - Present
  • Deploy, configure and maintain virtual and physical CentOS, Rocky, RedHat 7, 8 and 9 servers across two physical data centers and a cloud site.
  • Automated server configuration and management with ansible playbooks/roles – including SSH, network, firewall and security configuration, joining to Active Directory, monitoring agent installation, Apache/nginx and other common application installations and configurations.
  • Scheduled and automated monthly patching using ansible and rundeck along with matching infrastructure to fetch packages from local RPM repository mirror and Red Hat Satellite.
  • Replaced aging infrastructure including deploying new DNS name servers, HA proxy load balancers, Zabbix monitoring and alerting, Grafana for visualization, clustered database servers, application servers, containerized applications with docker, internal documentation system using wikijs, infrastructure management database using netbox.
  • Oversaw and performed migration from CentOS to Rocky and from Rocky to Red Hat based on changing business needs and vendor support.
  • Deployed external monitoring solution for disaster scenarios.
  • Setup and administer HPC cluster and parallel file system, including deploying new generation of HPC cluster and new GPFS storage cluster along with data migration.
  • Automated repetitive tasks and data parsing using bash/python scripting, such as automated central SSL certificate renewal using certbot and deployment to required servers.
  • Troubleshoot issues related to IT operations including server, application, network problems.
  • Work with vendors to quote and purchase new systems as well as opened support tickets when necessary to resolve incidents.
IT Technician - Wheelhouse IT, Wantagh, NY
May 2018 - March 2019
  • Configured firewalls, routers, switches, APs, servers and workstations for specific client needs including customization, data migration and program installations.
  • Reduced new computer configuration time by setting up and maintaining a WDS server for windows image deployment with custom images.
  • Continually developed Powershell/batch scripts to automate repetitive tasks such as installing printers, gathering system information for migrations, and setting up client specific configurations
  • Introduced and configured USMT (Microsoft’s free User State Migration Tool) to provide more automation and consistency during user migration to preserve data and application settings
  • Gathered information and pictures during re-onboarding projects for clients who lacked documentation of their network infrastructure, servers, applications and documented findings on internal KB (knowledge base) including network diagrams, pictures and notes.
  • Documented new and existing processes on internal KB.
  • Troubleshoot tickets that required an onsite presence including network connectivity issues such as DHCP and DNS configuration.
  • Remotely assisted users to resolve tickets involving Active Directory user management, service interruptions, application installations/upgrades/error fixing, driver installations, etc. using Connectwise Automate.
  • Scheduled and traveled by car or train to sites as required, including multiple sites per day.
IT Technical Support - Tier I - Inmotionhosting, Denver, CO
2017 - 2018
  • Communicated with clients via phone, chat, tickets and email to solve issues with their websites, cPanel, email and FTP accounts.
  • Used ssh access to diagnose and troubleshoot customer problems by checking various server logs including Apache logs and mail/exim logs.
  • Quickly determined customer problem and resolved the problem or escalated to a higher tier when necessary.
  • Maintained all quality and performance metrics.
Patent Examiner - Networking, Information Security and Cryptography - United States Patent And Trademark Office, Alexandria, VA
2007 - 2016
  • Investigated computer network, information security and cryptography patent applications to ascertain the described invention and determine claimed legal coverage and compliance with laws and regulations.
  • Communicated findings to applicants in a formal written report and responded to applicants’ remarks and arguments of the formal written report.
  • Performed interviews with applicants and discussed the invention, claimed legal coverage, the written reports and arguments presented.
  • Networking patent applications included distributed data processing, client/server and peer to peer architectures, messaging, master/slave controlling including master election, computer to computer direct memory accessing, shared memory, remote data accessing, network configuration, management and monitoring, network access regulating, resource allocation, session/connection establishing, data streaming, data transfer regulating, congestion avoidance, QoS, load balancing, VLANs, frame tagging, data routing, distributing routing data updates, and interconnecting networks.
  • Information security patent applications included policy management, access control and authentication, authorization, credential management, tokens, tickets, certificates, firewalls, proxy servers, gateways, packet filtering, packet inspection, security protocols, VPNs, network scanning including attack prevention, intrusion detection, virus detection, vulnerability assessment, prevention of unauthorized use of data (including prevention of piracy, privacy violations and unauthorized data modification).
  • Cryptography patent applications included communication using cryptography at specific protocol layers, central trusted authority providing authentication, generating/issuing/revoking certificates, hierarchical certificates, token based authentication, mutual authentication, key exchange, asymmetric/symmetric cryptography, digital signatures, message digests, block/data stream encryption, user identification by cryptography including biometrics.
  • Maintained 112% production, 121% docket management and was rated outstanding (5/5) on most recent rating of record.
IT Intern - Mercedes Homes, Melbourne, FL
2006 (Summer Internship)
  • Performed updates to company website including SEO and maintained sales and marketing statistics for monthly report to management.