Experienced professional seeks a challenging, growth-oriented position within a dynamic organization that allows for effective utilization of my skills and experience.
Java Systems Administrator, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Tumwater, Washington, 11/16/2009 – Present
• Implemented J2EE/WebSphere infrastructure architecture with N-Tier architectures, high availability, scalability, and performance.
• Assisted in deployment of WebSphere Portal on WebSphere Application Server 7.0 while instrumenting JSR168 Portlet for Proof of Concept at LNI
• Installed and configured continuous integration build server which included Windows Server 2008, WebSphere Application Server, Cruise Control, CollabNet Subversion Edge, IIS, ANT, JDK, Modern Batch Framework, and WPS runtime binaries.
• Experience in deployment, configuration, and monitoring of Amberpoint’s AMS in a development, test, preproduction, and production service oriented environments.
• Installed, configured, and created quality installation guides for WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment Edition v7.0 for use in a distributed application server environment.
• Knowledge of installation, configuration, and use of WebSphere Service Registry and Repository as a system used for storing, accessing and managing service metadata using Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI).
• Installed, configured, deployed WebSphere Process Server mounted on WebSphere Application Server Network Edition v7.0 for short and long running business process applications.
• Understanding of SOA architecture and IBM methodology in an enterprise environment
• Installed and supported developers with the configuration of IBM WebSphere Integrated Developer and Rationale Application Developer on windows Operating Systems
• Executed end to end application performance tuning, monitoring, testing, and troubleshooting
• A pivotal player on a cross-functional team with a gift for figuring out how people who are different can work together productively.
• Understanding of installation, configuration, and administration of IBM Tivoli Security Policy Manager as a fine grain access control decision point within a composite application.
• Knowledge of installation, configuration, and deployment of IBM WebSphere ILOG JRules used to build and deploy rule-based applications that automate fine-grained, variable decisions used by business systems.
• Implements and maintains large distribute Internet/Intranet/Extranet JAVA application hosting environment, JAVA development and test environment using agency methods, processes and infrastructure: coordinates system, network, data, application, security and change administration to control and manage source code and testing environments, including environment configurations, operational configurations; primary contributor to agency software quality assurance techniques, analysis, best practices and standards, publications, access methods and standards
• Leads infrastructure development, which includes, but is not limited to building servers, server maintenance, building JAVA development desktop PC’s and maintaining an image of this configuration. Specifies the features of physical design; Configures (install, configures, optimizes) foundation technology infrastructure for each solution, for example networking support, client and server systems as defined by the design, load-balancing, clustering, operating systems, platform products; Estimates time and effort to complete each feature; Builds or supervises building of features; Prepares product for deployment; Sets operational criteria for release to production; Provides technology subject matter expertise to other teams as required.
• Engineer and deploy upgrades, patches, and fixes to the JAVA application hosting and development environment for workstations.
• Liaison to EAO and ensured SOA guidelines, standards, governance, and processes are adhered to during the course of the development of the web services that will support the ECS solution.
Software Systems Engineer I, United Services Automobile Association (USAA), San Antonio, Texas, 1/09/2006 - 5/08/2009
• Deploy E-commerce code and emergency fixes to Production cells.
• Continually works with testing center of excellence for quality assurance
• Coordinate concerns for release activities with change managers and interested parties
• Monitor dashboards and take necessary steps to resolve issues in high availability environment
• Process production outage tickets and handle walk ups for production and test runways
• Demonstrated attention to detail with modification and adaptation of operating software, and software configurations on the WebSphere platform
• Trusted adviser to clients and customers in the Bank and Investment companies to assess their needs with surveys, blogs, and open communication
• Provide information or assistance to customers even when faced with multiple tasks to resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations
• Knows about available products and services in WebSphere and across departments; is committed to providing quality products and services as a consultant
• Strives to meet customer's needs by understanding first.
• Takes personal responsibility in addressing concerns and showed high level of customer service by going above and beyond expectations.
• Expresses information to individuals or groups effectively when training select full time employees and third parties, taking into account the audience and nature of the information; makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Has aptitude to identify problems; determine relevant information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and make recommendations
• Developed implementation plan for security patches on WebSphere servers using Blade Logic
• Great team player and shares knowledge and lessons learned in support of meeting objectives and completing the mission
• Actively seeks and monitors systems for possible improvements and prevention of outages
• Worked on WebSphere 6.0 upgrade project to ensure quality of USAA products and services
• Helped document and define streamlined process for projects leveraging long running business process on WebSphere Process Server
• Experience with version control application to manage multiple branch revisions of e-commerce code
• Delivered best-in-class availability, performance, and life cycle support as systems administrator
• Served as Point of Contact for 7 WebSphere releases and performed return to service activities for 245 hours in Availability Command Center as primary executor and mentor in 2008
• Dedicated resource on mission critical projects such as Strengthen Member Online Authentication, WAS 6.0 migration, Strengthen Member Authentication in Portal
• Technical Skills - Configuration Management, Infra, StarTeam, Blade Logic, Impact Analysis, Change Impact Analysis & Deconflicting, Unix/Linux, Dev/test and prod level troubleshooting and problem resolution skills, MQ, db2, su, perl, ulimit, nmon, lsof, nohup, ls, HTTP Server, Automatic
WebSphere Configuration, auto Deploy, Auto Build, Auto Merge, Dashboard Monitoring, jvm control, issue view, EPMS, Change and Control Board, best practices, team standards for naming and configuration, Batch, Scheduling, interpret disparate datasources, self service console, EML, engaging offshore resources, project support, Windows remote desktop, task manager, file and folder navigation, xml, html, performance, capacity, security
IT Programmer Analyst, Kelly Services, San Antonio, Texas, 5/01/2005 - 7/01/2005
• Created Plugins for WebSphere Application Server using Eclipse. Produced and presented Capstone project to executive officers at USAA
• Learned core values of United Services Automobile Association, which are honesty, integrity, loyalty, and service
Sergeant, United States Army, Fort Hood, Texas, 6/04/1997 - 7/04/2001
• Planned and coordinated the installation, operation, and maintenance of Mobile Subscriber Equipment in Theater of Operations in Korea, Bosnia, California and Texas
• Supervises operations and assists team members in the installation and operation of multichannel line-of-site and tropospheric scatter communications systems
• Supervises, performs and assists team members in the performance of unit level maintenance on assigned communications equipment
• Requests logistical support
• Prepares input for statistical and other operational reports
• Developed leadership skills and attained core values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage
EDUCATION
Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, 5/30/2003 - 12/17/2005
Degree: BBA - Major: Computer Information Systems, GPA: 3.5 Semester Hours: 137
CERTIFICATIONS / AWARDS
• Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management (09/14/2006)- EXIN International examination Institute for Information Science ITIL Certificate
• Award - Texas State - Certificate of Achievement (08/01/2005)- Texas State University-San Marcos College of Business Administration awards this certificate of achievement for Scholarship to Joel Nicolas
• Positive Education - Golden Key International Honor Society (01/01/2005)- In recognition of outstanding scholastic achievement and excellence, has been granted membership in the Golden Key international Honor Society and is hereby granted all the rights, honors, and privileges pertaining to the Society at Texas State University-San Marcos
• Positive Education - Beta Gamma Sigma (10/26/2004)
• In recognition of high scholastic achievement Joel Nicolas has been selected for membership in Beta Gamma Sigma the honor society for collegiate schools of business.
• Positive Education - Association Information Technology Professionals (10/01/2004)- Being duly qualified, has been elected to Membership in AITP, the Association of Information Technology Professionals, and is entitled to all its benefits and privileges for the duration of Membership.
• Certification - Basic Motorcycle Operator Training Course (12/21/2003) - Successfully completed Basic Motorcycle Operator Training Course conducted by Texas State University-San Marcos in cooperation with the Texas Department of Public Safety Motorcycle Safety Unit.
• Award - Army AAM (04/07/2001) - For meritorious achievement while assigned as a (v3) Team chief. SGT Nicolas' dedication to the mission and outstanding performance contributed immensely to the success of Bravo Company. His contributions reflect great credit upon him, the 13th Signal Battalion, and the United States Army
• Training - Primary Leadership Development Course (12/20/2000) - Successfully completed the Primary Leadership Development Course conducted by the US Army III Corps and for hood Noncommissioned Officers academy.
• Award - Certificate of Achievement (10/01/2000) - Joel Nicolas is recognized for distinguished service to the 249th Signal Battalion by scoring a perfect 300 on the Army Physical Fitness Test.
• Award - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (10/01/2000) - For direct support of Operation Joint Forge SFOR7 in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
• Award - NATO Medal for Service (09/30/2000) - Joel Nicolas has been awarded the NATO Medal for Service with NATO on Operations in Relation to the Former Yugoslavia.
• Award - Army Good Conduct Medal (06/04/2000) - For exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity in active federal military service.
• Award - Commander's Safety Award (02/25/2000) - For safe duty performance in support of Operation Joint Forge (SFOR-7), Bosnia-Herzegovina. You are commended for completing 6 months of accident free duty between 25 February and 29 September 2000.
• Award - Army AAM (02/01/2000) - For meritorious achievement while serving with the 249th Signal Battalion during Operation Joint Forge. His devotion to duty, selfless service, and tactical and technical expertise contributed to the task force's and this unit's ability to accomplish its mission. Specialist Nicolas' actions reflect great credit on himself, the 249th signal battalion, and the United States Army.
• Award - Army COA (10/01/1999) - For meritorious service from 23 Sep 99 to 9 Oct 99 while serving as a multi transmission radio operator, SPC Nicolas' technical expertise and devotion to duty led to minimal outages and enabled the 27th Main Support Battalion to communicate with subordinate units and deliver critical parts and supplies to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team and sustain its ability to fight, survive, and win. SPC Nicolas' actions bring credit upon himself, the 27th Main Support Battalion, 1st Calvary Division, and the United States Army
• Training - Field Sanitation Team (06/19/1998), 40 Hours- Successfully completed field sanitation team training course division preventive medicine
• Award - Army AAM (05/11/1998) - For meritorious service while assigned as a transmission systems operator/maintainer in Bravo Company 122D Signal Battalion. PFC Nicolas' exemplary performance and dedication to duty reflect great credit upon himself, the 122D Signal Battalion, The 2D Infantry Division, and the United States Army
• Training - Multi-Channel Transmission Systems Operator Course (11/06/1997), 492 Hours
To provide Active Army and Reserve Component personnel with the basic skills and knowledge that is required to become a Multichannel Transmission System Operator-Maintainer at Echelon Corps Below (ECB). In addition, the student will be provided with the skill, and knowledge necessary to install and operate Mobile Subscriber Equipment (MSE) Line-of-Sight (LOS) equipment; to troubleshoot and maintain the LOS shelters at unit level and install, operate, and troubleshoot a LOS link. The student will be given training needed to install MSE antenna/masts and will participate in the System Training Exercise (STX). Acquire skills and knowledge to become Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator-Maintainer at ECB or EAC, as well as, installation, operation, and maintenance of RAU. Installation, operation, troubleshooting and unit level maintenance of DGM Line-of-Sight equipment, shelters, links, antennas and to attend training at STX
• Training - Basic Combat Training (08/07/1997)- United States Army Training Center Fort Jackson, South Carolina 1st basic combat training brigade, company E, 2D Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment successful completion of basic combat training
