Download Network Engineer (1994 – 1995)

Azeem Rao
PHONE: (703) 926-8955
E-MAIL: [email protected]
http://www.linkedin.com/in/azeemrao
Summary of Qualifications
Adept at overseeing all facets of project lifecycle, including initiation and planning; change, risk, and issue
management; and guiding QA teams. Proven technical management leadership experience in Development and
Integration of IP infrastructure within large Telecom and Enterprise environments. Extensive experience with
development, engineering, and deployment management of large scale infrastructure projects. Outstanding
communication skills. Able to successfully build strong working relationships with coworkers and clientele,
while ensuring cooperation among company departments. Excellent multitasker; able to efficiently plan and
prioritize projects.
Technical Proficiencies
Infrastructure: iDEN, and QCHAT PTT services
Routing Protocols: RIP, EIGRP, BGP4, and OSPF
Routed Protocols: TCP/IP
Network Hardware: Cisco Routers, and Cisco Switches
Technical Management / Project Management Skills:
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Managed and led a team of over 15+ permanent and contracted Deployment Engineers, to achieve over 99%
of successful deployment rate across the Sprint Nextel footprint.
o Implementation, deployment, and integration of IP network infrastructure across the US footprint.
Projected, Managed, and Optimized project budget for several flavours of Telecom intrastructure projects.
Delivery within Scope, Budget, Schedule, and Quality.
Management scope, effort / cost, schedule, and quality, while continuously identifying and mitigating
underlying risks.
Collaboration with stakeholders to elicit and review Requirements and Design.
Work History
Ericsson Services Inc.
(2009 – Present)
Solutions Architect
● Working as a SME for Sprint’s IP network that serves proprietary devices in iDEN PTT network.
● Supporting deployment of Network Vision, CVP, Byte Mobile solutions to Sprint’s nation wide network.
● Leading, guiding cross functional teams to manage implementation, troubleshooting, and testing issues.
● Oversaw Sprint’s international core network consists of GSR and CRS router in terms of hardware, software
and traffic capacity.
● Worked with local Sprint organizations in different countries to implement new solutions to alleviate traffic
and hardware capacity issues.
● Worked In India to allign Sprint’s netwok nodes to India’s strict Telecommunication laws, while still
preserving Sprint’s ownership.
● Managed Installation, integration, testing, and troubleshooting of new hardware into Sprint’s Core Network.
● Worked with several groups in Operations, Planning, and Development organizations to devise and
implement new solutions.
● Advised customer facing organization on prospective cost to sell a specific solution to a specific customer.
Sprint Nextel Corporation, Reston, VA
(1999 – 2009)
Following positions were held at Sprint Nextel.
Sr. Telecom Design Engineer (2005 – 2009)
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Creating network design, and network testing environment to support proprietary iDEN and QCHAT PTT
Services.
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Azeem Rao
PHONE: (703) 926-8955
E-MAIL: [email protected]
http://www.linkedin.com/in/azeemrao
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Testing and Certification of new Hardware, Software, patches and features for new functionality as well as
regression testing
Proven success in providing design solutions, project management, system analysis, pre-sale technical
support, implementation/deployment and post-implementation support and maintenance.
Effective communication relationship management skills with all levels of management, customers,
development team members, and vendors while working in a fast-paced environment, with an assertive,
productive, and self-starter attitude.
Demonstrated strong negotiation skills to secure organizational interests while hiring contracting and
consulting companies for several data networking projects.
Strong ability to deliver 100% success in handling several Mission Critical projects at the same time.
Performed Network Audits and Network Assessments, and Site Surveys.
Also performed road-shows to promote Networking organization and strengthen relationship internal
upstream and downstream customers.
Managed Consultants, Contractors, and Vendors to meet the project deadlines during most of Network
Engineering career.
Testing and Certification of new Hardware, Software, patches and features for new functionality as well as
regression testing.
Proven success in providing design solutions, project management, system analysis, pre-sale technical
support, implementation/deployment and post-implementation support and maintenance.
Supervised and performed device implantation and integration in Real-Time and Mission Critical networks
with 100% success rate.
Performed troubleshooting in Real-Time, and Mission Critical networks
Led a team to meet challenging timelines to support the company’s rapid growth.
● Most amazing accomplishment was when completed successful deployment of Cisco Home Agent
Routers for Mobile IP growth in 3 different cities within 4 days. This was accomplished while managing
acquisition and shipment of the hardware, and also managing the travel of the deployment team
members to all 3 cities.
Projected, Managed, and Optimized project budget for several types of data networking projects.
Supported, mentored and trained new engineers.
Produced detailed documents for numerous projects during development, testing, engineering, and
implementation stages.
Produced detailed documents for numerous projects during development, testing, engineering, and
implementation stages.
Manager Network Deployment (Data) (2003 – 2005)
● Managed and led a team of over 20 permanent and contracted Deployment Engineers.
● Managed the team to achieve over 99% of successful deployment rate across the Sprint Nextel footprint.
● Led the team to meet challenging timelines to support the company’s rapid growth.
● Successfully deployed Cisco Home Agent routers for mobile IP growth in 3 different cities within 4
days. This was accomplished while managing acquisition and shipment of the hardware, and also
managing the travel of the deployment team members to all 3 cities.
● Repeated the same exercise successfully within two month timeframe.
● Managed annual objectives, quarterly and annual reviews, personal and professional development, and
awards and recognitions for all direct report employees.
● Projected, Managed, and Optimized project budget for several types of data networking projects.
● Supported, mentored and trained new engineers.
● Perrformed road-shows to promote Networking organization and strengthen relationship internal upstream
and downstream customers.
Sr. Deployment Engineer (Data) (1999 – 2003)
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Azeem Rao
PHONE: (703) 926-8955
E-MAIL: [email protected]
http://www.linkedin.com/in/azeemrao
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Broad knowledge and experience in TCP/IP, Networking Devices, Rotueed and Routing Protocols, and
LAN/WAN/MAN technologies.
Effective communication relationship management skills with all levels of management, customers,
development team members, and vendors while working in a fast-paced environment, with an assertive,
productive, and self-starter attitude.
Demonstrated strong negotiation skills to secure organizational interests while hiring contracting and
consulting companies for several data networking projects.
Strong ability to deliver 100% success in handling several Mission Critical projects at the same time.
Performed Network Audits and Network Assessments, and Site Surveys.
Managed Consultants, Contractors, and Vendors to meet the project deadlines during most of Network
Engineering career.
Supervised and performed device implantation and integration in Real-Time and Mission Critical networks
with 100% success rate.
Led a team to meet challenging timelines to support the company’s rapid growth.
● Most amazing accomplishment was when successfully deployed Cisco Home Agent Routers for Mobile
IP growth in 3 different cities within 4 days. This was accomplished while managing acquisition and
shipment of the hardware, and also managing the travel of the deployment team members to all 3 cities.
Projected, Managed, and Optimized project budget for several types of data networking projects.
Supported, mentored and trained new engineers.
Additional Responsibilities
Voice Network Deployment Engineer
Managed additional responsibility of Voice Network Deployment, besides the primary data responsibilities.
(1998 – 1999)
Lead Engineer WAN implementation Team
Sprint e-Solutions, Vienna, VA
@ Lucent Technologies Int’l, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
As a consultant traveled to Saudi Arabia and worked with a team of consultants to re-design and
deploy/implement a nation-wide data network for Saudi Arabian Telecommunication Company.
(1997 – 1998)
Network Engineer, LAN / WAN Design / Deployment
Anixter Inc., Reston, VA
As a Network Engineer performed Pre-Sales, Implementation/Deployment, or Post-Sales support of customer
networks in variety of industries, E.g. Health Care, Manufacturing, ISP, and Enterprise etc.
Network Engineer, WAN Design / Deployment
(1995 - 1997)
EDS Corporation, Washington, DC @ US Department of Justice (DOJ)
As a Network Engineer Re-designed and implemented a 600+ site Global WAN for the USDOJ.
(1994 – 1995)
Network Engineer
Panacea Consulting Inc. Department of Labor Project, Washington, DC
Hardware / Network Technician
(May 94 - December 94)
US Generating Company, Bethesda, MD
Education / Certifications
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Diploma Computer Information Systems, National Computing Center UK.
B.S. General Sciences, University of Sindh, Pakistan.
CCNA (Active)
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