Flavio A. Castro

CONTACT ADDRESS

PROFILE

Senior Network Automation Engineer with 10+ years of progressive expertise in high-performance computing and enterprise networking. Specializing in Ansible automation, DevOps methodologies, and Python-based Software Engineering. Proven track record delivering large-scale infrastructure projects that reduced operational costs while improving scalability and reliability. Collaborative technical leader skilled in mentoring teams, communicating complex technical concepts, and building consensus around innovative solutions.

CORE COMPETENCIES

  • Network Automation & Orchestration
  • Python Software Engineering & API Development
  • Infrastructure-as-Code (Ansible, Docker, CI/CD)
  • High-Performance Computing & Data Streaming
  • Linux Systems Architecture & Security
  • Technical Leadership & Cross-functional Collaboration

TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE

Research Software Developer
Argonne National Laboratory
12/2022 - Current

  • Led development of SciStream, a secure framework enabling 100+ Gbps data streaming between scientific instruments and HPCs.
  • Designed modular architecture with multiple proxy implementations, Globus Auth integration, and CLI tools.
  • Implemented Docker/Ansible deployment pipeline, reducing installation time by 80% across test/production environments.
  • Delivered project from concept to production with comprehensive testing and multi-facility documentation.

Senior Network Automation Engineer
Johnson & Johnson - Remote
05/2022 - 06/2023

  • Supported Itential Automation platform deployments.
  • Established CI/CD pipeline using Jenkins enhancing software quality.
  • Developed Ansible tests using Molecule and Docker.

Network Automation Engineer
Hudson River Trading - Remote
03/2021 - 02/2022

  • Extended Napalm library to support business specific compliance checks.
  • Amplified existing telemetry service supporting multi-vendor network.
  • Improved Prometheus exporters in python.
  • Developed Sensu checks and alerts.

Network Automation Engineer
Cargill - Remote
03/2020 - 03/2021

  • Championed certification of Cumulus and Pica8 network devices.
  • Supervised compliance enforcement of +10000 devices.
  • Mentored junior engineers in adopting NetDevOps practices, fostering a culture of automation and continuous improvement.

Network Automation Engineer
Paypal - Remote
04/2018 - 03/2020

  • Oversaw the deployment and maintenance 100+ racks.
  • Guided network engineers to adopt Infrastructure as Code practices.
  • Developed a configuration generation system for VXLAN-EBGP fabric.
  • Assisted development of API for automation of networking operations.

DevOps Engineer Network Automation
Verizon Telematics, Atlanta, GA
01/2017 - 04/2018

  • Automated network provisioning of fully open source BGP fabric via Ansible enabling seamless network operations.
  • Implemented continuous deployment of few datacenter sites.
  • Designed and tested configuration management Ansible playbooks.

Research & Development Intern
Open Networking Lab, Menlo Park, California
05/2015 - 08/2016

  • Developed automated tests for OpenFlow (OF) switches ensuring conformance and high availability of Segment Routing ONOS application.
  • Executed hardware evaluation of Openflow switches.
  • Implemented southbound ONOS OF drivers to handle OFDPA specificities.

Systems Engineer Intern
Cisco Systems, Brazil
09/2013 - 06/2014

  • Developed Python scripts using Scapy to test performance and demonstrate Cisco Security solutions, supporting sales.
  • Maintained Lab infrastructure for technical demonstrations of Cisco products.

Undergraduate Research Assistant
University of Brasilia
02/2011 - 12/2011

  • Developed Model-Order Selection software using JAVA, MATLAB, PHP and JavaScript.

CERTIFICATION

Certification Date
OCSA ONF Certified SDN Associate 07/2016
CCNA Cisco Certified Networking Associate - R&S 02/2014

HONOR

Honor Institution Date
BSMP/Fullbright Scholarship Georgia Institute of Technology 08/2014-07/2016
BSMP/Fullbright Scholarship University of Minnesota 08/2012-08/2013
Capes Scholarship - REUNI University of Brasília 01/2011-07/2011

EDUCATION

M.S. in Computer Science — Focus: Networking & Systems
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
05/2016

B.S.E in Communication Networks Engineering — Cum Laude
University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
07/2014

Summer Specialization, Computer Science
Stanford University, Stanford, California
08/2013

Communications Engineering Exchange Program
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
05/2013

Product Management Bootcamp
General Assembly
08/2019

CONFERENCES & TECHNICAL EVENTS

  • Conference Speaker/Presenter: SuperComputing 24 (Atlanta, 2024), Globus World Conference (Chicago, 2024)
  • Hackathons & Competitions: NANOG 73 Hackathon 2nd place (Denver, 2018), NANOG 72 Hackathon (Atlanta, 2018)
  • Industry Events: Atlanta Blockchain Conference (2019), AnsibleFest (Austin, 2018), ONS (LA, 2018), Networking @Scale (2017)
  • Technical Community: CORD Summit (2016), Open Networking Summit (2015-2016), OpenDaylight Summit (2015)

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Director and IT Consultant
EngNet Junior Enterprise
04/2008 - 08/2012

  • Led a dynamic team of 20 students.
  • Coordinated recruiting process, designed comprehensive training programs and organized various workshops.
  • Orchestrated a robust backup strategy for the company’s IT infrastructure.
  • Developed and tested prototypes systems for small businesses in C#, PHP, JS, C++, providing practical IT solutions.

Event Organizer
Churedes
06/2011 - 06/2012

  • Planned and managed an open bar party with a $20,000+ budget, attended by 2,000+ people.
  • Oversaw vendor relationships, logistics, event promotion achieving high attendance and positive attendee feedback.