Ashish Gawandi
TechOPS Lead
Pune
Summary
Experienced Cloud and Infrastructure Operations Manager with 15+ years of success in managing Unix/Linux systems, data center operations, and enterprise production environments. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage hybrid cloud infrastructure to ensure high availability, performance, and business continuity. Strong track record of implementing automation strategies to improve operational efficiency, reduce manual efforts, and eliminate downtime. Skilled in delivering scalable cloud solutions across Azure and AWS, with expertise in capacity planning, incident resolution, and process optimization. Recognized for driving continuous improvement, supporting audit readiness (HIPAA, SOC, HITRUST), and fostering collaboration across global teams.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
3
3
Certifications
Work History
TechOPS-Lead (Team Size 12)
HealthEdge Technologies India Pvt. Ltd
09.2021 - Current
- Lead end-to-end IT infrastructure operations, including cloud platforms, virtualization, data center, and enterprise network environments, ensuring availability, performance, and security.
- Lead cross-functional project teams to deliver infrastructure projects and cloud transformation initiatives, consistently achieving 100% on-time and on-budget delivery.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders and third-party vendors for effective project execution, service delivery, and issue resolution.
- Align infrastructure goals with business objectives by driving service improvements, establishing KPIs, and maintaining high customer satisfaction
- Managed hybrid cloud infrastructure on Azure and AWS platforms, overseeing compute, storage, IAM, and monitoring services to ensure scalable and secure operations
- Directed and implemented OS upgrade for CentOS to RHEL8 and migration initiatives across multiple environments for 5000+ servers with minimal downtime, enhancing system performance and stability.
- Spearheaded vulnerability remediation across 7000+ endpoints, reducing critical security findings by 65% and improving audit compliance posture.
- Streamlined patch management process, reducing planned downtime by 60% and ensuring 100% SLA adherence during critical update cycles.
- Integrated RedHat Satellite and capsule server to Tanium tool which helped and reduced manual intervention of patching process
- Developed and maintained infrastructure SOPs, runbooks, Vendor & Stakeholder Management Crisis Management Solutions and knowledge base articles to enhance team efficiency, support onboarding, and ensure consistent operations.
- Manage critical incidents and problems following ITIL best practices, ensuring swift resolution and thorough root cause analysis.
- Developed and implemented Ansible playbooks for VM snapshot automation Linux server patching, server administration, patch report, reducing manual intervention by 90%, cutting ticket volume by 30%, and minimizing cross-team dependency.
- Integrated Jenkins-based CI/CD pipelines to support infrastructure-as-code practices, accelerating deployment frequency by 50% and reducing configuration errors
- Used GitHub for version control and configuration management, promoting collaborative development and streamlined automation workflows.
- Drive automation and process improvements across infrastructure using Shell scripting and Ansible, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing human error.
- Oversee Linux/Unix system administration and Kubernetes-based container orchestration for scalable and resilient environments.
- Established clear team goals, delegated responsibilities effectively, and provided strategic direction to ensure alignment with organizational objectives
- Conducted regular performance reviews, provided constructive feedback, and implemented personalized development plans to enhance individual and team capabilities
- Mentored junior engineers and team leads, fostering technical growth and preparing them for future leadership roles within the organization.
- Promoted a culture of transparency and continuous improvement by encouraging open communication, idea-sharing, and peer recognition.
- Played a key role in talent acquisition, onboarding, and employee retention by creating an inclusive environment focused on learning, collaboration, and career progression.
Associate Operations Manager -Linux (Team Size 22)
Cognizant Technology Solutions
07.2017 - Current
- Carried successful transition of Customer's critical Linux environment from the US (Jessup, United states of America)
- Configure various services like DNS, DHCP, NFS, Apache Web Server, Samba and SSH
- Configure new servers for the environment
- Install, configure, troubleshoot and perform patch Management of Linux server through RHN/SAM Server
- Implement firewall security IPTABLES
- Perform Patch Management through SAM
- Install and configure Ansible for configuration and patch management
- Build and created Satellite server for patching environment
- Worked on JBoss platform to update data source
- Troubleshoot issues on JBoss for SSL and other application related issues
Technical Lead - Linux/L1.5 Team
Cognizant Technology Solutions
05.2015 - 09.2017
- Lead L1.5 team for Apps and Infra synergy
- Work with sys admins, network, security and storage to create and configure new servers for the environment
- Linux server build for different upcoming projects
- Configure DNS, NFS, Apache Web Server, Samba and SSH
- Install, configure, troubleshoot and perform patch management of Linux server through RHN operations
- Lead Apps support team: Involved in manual testing of Enhancement in FI Applications
- Participate in Change Advisory Board for Go/No Go of RFCs
- Involved in Quality, Delivery, Audit and SLA meetings
Program Analyst - Release & Deployment Lead - Linux/L1.5 Team
Cognizant Technology Solutions
09.2009 - 01.2010
- Administration of websphere application server for release and deployment
- Responsible for release and deployment of ST/SIT/UAT/PROD environment (Onshore)
- Coordinate the ST/SIT/ UAT environment needs and liaised with business while being at customer location at London
- Responsible for building new test environments as per requirement and feasibility
System Engineer
Wipro Technologies
07.2007 - 10.2009
- User and Group administration on windows 2000/2003 and Citrix forms & access provisioning
- Monitoring Antivirus servers and updating virus definitions
- Installation and reconfiguration of software from the remote using the LANDesk
Technical Support Executive
VCUSTOMER
05.2006 - 05.2007
- Investigate and resolve various networking related issues involving Wireless Routers, Adapters, Print Server, Remotely Managed Servers and Networks Components
- Troubleshoot of the Linksys wired as well as wireless routers such as WRT54g, WRT 54gs, Wrt54gx (which basically work with SRX technology)
- Configuration of VPN (Virtual Private Network) routers
- Upgrade firmware of different wireless routers
Education
BE - electronics
Pune University
01.2014 - 01.2016
Diploma - undefined
Pune University
01.2001 - 01.2003
HSC - undefined
SKP Walawalkar
Skills
Management of IT Infrastructure
Certification
RHCE Red Hat Certified Engineer
Personal Information
- Date of Birth: 01/23/85
- Marital Status: Married
Visa
H1B Holder, True, B1, 09/30/28
Timeline
TechOPS-Lead (Team Size 12)
HealthEdge Technologies India Pvt. Ltd
09.2021 - Current
Associate Operations Manager -Linux (Team Size 22)
Cognizant Technology Solutions
07.2017 - Current
Technical Lead - Linux/L1.5 Team
Cognizant Technology Solutions
05.2015 - 09.2017
BE - electronics
Pune University
01.2014 - 01.2016
Program Analyst - Release & Deployment Lead - Linux/L1.5 Team
Cognizant Technology Solutions
09.2009 - 01.2010
System Engineer
Wipro Technologies
07.2007 - 10.2009
Technical Support Executive
VCUSTOMER
05.2006 - 05.2007
Diploma - undefined
Pune University
01.2001 - 01.2003
HSC - undefined
SKP Walawalkar
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