# Luke Tainton (@luke.tainton.uk)

Profile: https://sifa.id/p/luke.tainton.uk
Headline: Site Reliability Engineer at Cisco IT Network Engineering

## About

I'm a networks-focussed site reliability engineer as part of the Network Engineering and Operations team in Cisco IT at Cisco Systems. I hold CCNP Enterprise and CCNP Automation (DevNet Professional) certifications, specialising in Enterprise Network Automation. I completed a sandwich placement at Cisco Systems during my degree, gaining experience in Networking, Python and Ansible Automation, and VMware vSphere.

## Experience

- **Site Reliability Engineer at Cisco** (2020 – present)
  Network SRE within Cisco IT's Network Engineering team, focussing on branch/campus network automation and hardware-based home VPN solutions. Experienced in Cisco Catalyst Center and Cisco Meraki for network management and orchestration.
- **Student Demonstrator at Birmingham City University** (2019 – 2020)
  Assisted lecturers during lab sessions for the Information Networks and Enterprise Network Systems modules. This involved answering questions from students and performing demonstrations before allowing students to attempt the lab on their own.
- **Network Engineer Intern at Cisco** (2018 – 2019)
  I worked in the Customer Experience Labs section as one of ~10 lab admins responsible for maintaining the labs in the UK.
  
  My day-to-day responsibilities included:
  \- Rack/Stack equipment
  \- Build out and tear down project testbeds
  \- Troubleshoot connectivity issues in testbeds and lab infrastructure  I also maintained much of the lab's infrastructure, including:
  \- Cisco Identity Services Engine
  \- DHCP & DNS
  \- VMware vCenter Appliance and ESXi hosts  I gained some exposure to Cisco ACI and Cisco UCS Manager.
- **Work Experience Apprentice at SFX Technology** (2013 – 2013)
  I spent a week in this Cardiff-based computer repair shop completing a variety of tasks. No two days were the same. As part of this, I was asked to build donated machines ready for sale, by installing Windows 7 onto RM One model PCs and installing antivirus, productivity software etc. I was also tasked with ‘ghosting’ hard drives, i.e. copying hard drives so that deployment of an OS wouldn’t take as long. I also salvaged working parts from non-working computers and placed them into working PCs with faulty hardware.
- **Student Mentor for First Year Innovation Project at Birmingham City University** (2017 – 2018)
  I acted as a project mentor for two teams of First Year students, guiding them through their Innovation Project as part of their course. These teams both utilised the LoRa LPWAN protocol, which allowed me to continue my learning about the technology alongside them, while also providing assistance to them, based on my experience from my Innovation Project from my first year.
- **IT Support Engineer at Zodiac Aerospace** (2016 – 2016)
  Zodiac Aerospace is now part of Safran.
  
  While transitioning from A-Level to University, I formed part of the first line of customer support, dealing directly with user queries. I used a newly-implemented LANDESK Management Suite to build new desktops, rebuild machines and deploy applications. I also took on the development of a LG SuperSign implementation. After doing research on the project and working with the business analysts, we managed to increase the size of the deployment from 3 screens to 12 in various areas of the business.
- **Produce Colleague at Asda** (2016 – 2018)
  Working in the Produce department, I was responsible for making sure that fruit and vegetables were readily available and kept fresh. Using Walmart's inventory control system, I transferred stock from the backroom to the shop floor and checked that stock numbers on the shop floor and in the backroom were accurate.

## Education

- **Birmingham City University** — Bachelor’s Degree (2016 – 2020)
- **St Teilo's Sixth Form** — AS and A Levels (2014 – 2016)
- **St Teilo's Church in Wales High School** — High School (2009 – 2014)

## Skills

- ITIL
- ITIL Certified
- Microsoft Excel
- LG SuperSign
- Windows 7
- IT Hardware Support
- Technical Support
- Operating Systems
- Computer Repair
- Antivirus
- Servers
- Network Administration
- Infrastructure
- Management
- Cisco Routers
- OS X
- System Administration
- Business Case Development
- Communication
- Writing
- Computer Networking
- Powershell
- Python (Programming Language)
- Cloud Administration
- Cloud Computing
- Microsoft Azure
- Linux
- Troubleshooting
- Active Directory
- Business Strategy
- Process Automation
- Windows Server
- Windows 10
- System Migration
- Windows
- Mac
- Home Automation
- Computer Hardware
- Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT)
- Cloud Applications
- Network Engineering

## Certifications

- Using Python for Automation — LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/learning/certificates/0b4ca1a9467e947a787469539f3bc78832222881653e2f16863588073ed6e251?trk=backfilled_certificate)
- PowerShell: Scripting for Advanced Automation — LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/learning/certificates/5754c4956c14fa01a20f814263c8df50e2b7f48bcc7ab54e7d68ef90ce55944e?trk=backfilled_certificate)
- Learning Cloud Computing: Core Concepts — LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/learning/certificates/18695369d63bb4963304f0994b6770cd7f1666a91264167d2330ea16882121b6?trk=backfilled_certificate)
- MTA: Networking Fundamentals — Microsoft (https://www.youracclaim.com/badges/2b74d75c-2237-41d8-b4d6-30f1fbf38e69)
- Introduction to Cloud Computing for IT Pros (2018) — LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/learning/certificates/69cb418ed392002779f0692193c121e6ee911f5ea24051c0b6a5d1ac6114056c?trk=backfilled_certificate)
- Exam Prep: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) — LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/learning/certificates/cb97f1be7f508ce872eacacf8b1408368c32721e4722184be975297bc0db5cdc?trk=backfilled_certificate)
- Microsoft Office Specialist Access 2013 — Microsoft (https://www.youracclaim.com/badges/f6c4716e-2ca5-45ce-b3c3-73d07487999a/linked_in_profile)
- MTA: Windows Operating System Fundamentals — Microsoft (https://www.youracclaim.com/badges/691ea5e5-4ff4-468a-9f38-c15931fd74f0)
- Learning Azure Management Tools — LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/learning/certificates/04c04209e14403aeac32ae209c175adcd465c28c777397f24542a132396906eb?trk=backfilled_certificate)
- Azure Administration: Deploy and Manage Virtual Machines — LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/learning/certificates/438c30752f53a23c93251ab9fd0d16b9134e406983dcc157157d1cd1255fae64?trk=backfilled_certificate)
- MTA: Windows Server Administration Fundamentals — Microsoft (https://www.youracclaim.com/badges/30983b9d-81db-4da0-a20d-6698fbfd8956)
- Windows Server 2012 R2: Configure and Manage Active Directory — Lynda.com (http://www.lynda.com/Server-tutorials/Windows-Server-2012-R2-Configure-Manage-Active-Directory/450908-2.html)
- Learning IPv6 — Lynda.com (http://www.lynda.com/iP-tutorials/Getting-Know-IPv6/184149-2.html)
- CCNP Routing (300-101) Cert Prep: Network Principles — LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/learning/certificates/d3c3cdbfd92642bab553839d9a0ec36e07ea5d678f0a22c6b4cd6a171af2112e?trk=backfilled_certificate)
- Understanding of Cisco Network Devices — Cisco (https://www.youracclaim.com/badges/beeef845-2ecb-4c1f-952b-7976ecf1141f/linked_in_profile)
- macOS for IT Administrators — LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/learning/certificates/04f6f23e5bdd07b337ca1454bb9dc41b5b8d9417f28f752042c0fbef5ba4e1c2?trk=backfilled_certificate)
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) — Cisco (https://www.youracclaim.com/badges/59299a80-e3ab-4c59-b5c8-aa39962bf13d/linked_in_profile)
- Writing a Business Case — LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/learning/certificates/b1e342f36c27fe8ea5adbd30e54aac7f04c0da913657cd73f0bb1bb116317ff1?trk=backfilled_certificate)
- Certified SAFe® 5 Practitioner — Scaled Agile, Inc. (https://www.youracclaim.com/badges/74f51b4d-c8ce-43db-8eb4-41a27d1458aa?source=linked_in_profile)
- ITIL® Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management — AXELOS Global Best Practice (https://luke.tainton.uk/files/itil4-foundation.pdf)
- Cisco Certified DevNet Associate — Cisco (https://www.credly.com/badges/849da2ad-6ee9-454a-ab50-8082e141382b?source=linked_in_profile)
- Cisco Certified Specialist - Enterprise Core — Cisco (https://www.credly.com/badges/b4943f57-7f7f-4b5b-82df-79a3f43e3c2d/linked_in_profile)
- Cisco Certified Network Professional Enterprise (CCNP Enterprise) — Cisco (https://www.credly.com/badges/f942f82d-4586-49bc-8825-a363b8180a8b/linked_in_profile)
- ITIL® 4 Specialist: Monitor, Support and Fulfil — PeopleCert (https://luke.tainton.uk/files/itil4-msf.pdf)
- Cisco Certified Network Professional Automation (CCNP Automation) — Cisco (https://www.credly.com/badges/02ec382a-1368-4237-891b-c9650130e0b4/linked_in_profile)
- Windows Server 2016: Active Directory Enterprise Infrastructure — LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/learning/certificates/428683090fd0d1e8f5fa53822ddd66bebc01c531aecf960e4c8025047ef68e64?trk=backfilled_certificate)
- Microsoft Office Specialist PowerPoint 2013 — Microsoft (https://www.youracclaim.com/badges/d626a04c-5a4c-4c58-a361-f9a798c81015/linked_in_profile)
- Microsoft Office Specialist Excel 2013 — Microsoft (https://www.youracclaim.com/badges/2d8f31b6-2d18-4f26-acfc-0346c087dfd9/linked_in_profile)
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals — Microsoft (https://www.youracclaim.com/badges/bc21d220-1268-4a80-98bb-cbabc4c0dd6f/linked_in_profile)
- Cisco Network Services Orchestrator — Network to Code

## Projects

- **LG SuperSign Extension**
  Extended the use of LG SuperSign from marketing purposes in main reception. Screens were installed in stores and other various locations around the factory and dashboards were created using Visual Studio Lightswitch to allow end-users to track the location of parts cages.

## Volunteering

- Cashier at Sue Ryder
- Chief Technology Officer at Hackathon and Computing Society

## Honors and awards

- Duke of Edinburgh's Award - Bronze
- President's Badge
- Queen's Badge
- Activity First Aid Qualification

## Languages

- English (native)
- German (elementary)

## Other profiles

- linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luketainton