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Aja Burns
Network Engineer

Aja Burns

My passion for computers and technology began around the time one could hear a PC connect to the internet. Over time, that passion manifested into skill acquition and growth.

Today, I work for a leading mortgage company as a Network Engineer II taking on some of the most challenging projects of my career. I take pride in playing a key role in the design, implementation, and support of multiple highly resilient networks.

Take a deeper look into my world by using the hamburger menu or the navigation arrows to your bottom right.

My resume can be downloaded as a .pdf using the link below.

Download Resume

Work History

July 2024 - Present
United Wholesale Mortgage

Network Engineer II

Cisco | Palo Alto

  • Created CML models to mirror production network topologies for testing and verifying new topology ideas and designs
  • Collaborated on a project to create a new ip addressing scheme  to support multiple VRFs
  • Implemented iBGP mesh across multiple routing domains using firewalls to route between VRFs 
  • Introduced BGP to the InfoSec team and helped implement  dynamic routing on Palo Alto firewalls.
  • Implemented VRFs and dot1q encapsulation to support multiple routing domains  across core and edge devices utilizing EIGRP as an underlay 
  • Support connectivity to third party cloud services via MegaPort
December 2021 - July 2024
United Wholesale Mortgage

Network Engineer I

Cisco | Palo Alto | Noction IRP

  • Collaborate with peer engineers and architects to strategize, design, implement, and support complex network infrastructures. 
  • Support network connectivity throughout main campus and co-lo facilities
  • Lead engineer for project to create building independence and establish  multi-building internet redundancy 
  • Lead engineer for project to implement Noction for WAN optimization across DIA circuits.
  • Led project to replace rack to rack MPO fiber, shelves, and cartridgtes while using Netbox to label and track layer 1 end to end. 
July 2019 - December 2021
Motherson / PKC Group

Network Security Engineer

Cisco | Fortinet | Aruba

  • Designed and maintained network connectivity among multiple sites within the United States and Mexico 
  • Traveled to refresh network and firewall infrastructure across all PKC Group plants and offices
  • Digested threat intel feeds using Tenable Security Center to keep the organization free from vulnerabilities. 
  • Lead engineer for a project to implement FortiManager for policy management and compliance across all firewalls
  • Lead engineer for a project to implement layer 2 transit switches for firewall and internet redundancy
January 2018 - April 2019
Koch Business Solutions

Network Engineer

Cisco | Viptella | F5

  • Collaborated with the Koch Business Solutions network operations team to facilitate the Koch acquisition of Guardian Industries
  • Integrated SRG Global's international network into the KBS network by migrating the business to a non overlapping IP address scheme
  • Worked with KBS to implement Viptella SD-WAN across all SRG Global sites utilizing MPLS and public internet
October 2016 - January 2018
SRG Global / Guardian Industries

Network Engineer

Cisco | Zscaler

  • Lead engineer for SRG's global network spanning 27 sites across the world.
  • Traveled to refresh infrastructure or implement networks at new facilities
  • Planned and executed the migration of the datacenter to a new HQ building
  • Managed all network, unified communications,  and firewall devices
April 2013 - October 2016
AE&E Corporation

Network Administrator

Cisco | HP |  Open-E | Server 2012 R2 | Exchange 2013

  • Provided network and server support for multiple businesses in the Metro Detroit Area. 
  • Led project to create a redundant SAN infrastructure along with Windows Server Cluster Manger, Hyper-V, and a multi-tenant Exchange 2013 environment to host email for customers.
  • Contracted as the IT Manager for Detroit Chassis to provide on site support for servers, network devices, and users
November 2011 - April 2013
Barracuda Networks

Technical Support Specialist

Barracuda Spam & Virus FW | Barracuda SSL/VPN | Linux

  • Provided remote backend linux support for Barracuda devices
  • Assisted new customers with initial setups which include troubleshooting email server  and firewall configurations

Education

Postgraduate Degree

2017 - 2023
Wayne State University

MBA | Information Systems Management

Mike Ilitch School of Business | 3.3 GPA

  • Acquired additional skillsets to understand how businesses operate and survive in their respective markets
  • Took a dive into the art of entrepreneurship with a focus on understanding the importance of business modeling and startup financing through venture capital and angel investors
  • Completed capstone project which consisted of creating and presenting a marketing plan for a Detroit business with less than 200 employees. (Third Man Records)

Undergraduate Degree

2008 - 2012
Eastern Michigan University

Bachelor of Science | Networking & Information Systems Administration

School of Information Security and Applied Computing | 3.6 GPA

  • Explored new technologies of interest such as Windows Server 2008, Exchange Server 2003, Ethical Hacking with Backtrack, and Linux
  • Strengthen newly acquired networking skills while also assisting and mentoring peers along the way

Skill Enrichment

2006 - 2008
Focus:Hope

Cisco Networking Academy

Information Technologies Center

  • Completed Cisco Networking Academy and obtained CCNA
  • Completed Focus:Hope Technology Program and obtained A+

High School

1999 - 2003
Cass Technical High School

High School Diploma | Computer Programming

  • Completed college preparatory courses and graduated with diploma
  • Student of the Detroit Academy of Environmental Science (DAES)

 

Certifications