Virendra Sonawane

• Led administration and support of enterprise Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) platforms, Kubernetes clusters, and OpenShift environments supporting mission-critical production workloads.

• Executed end-to-end RHEL/CentOS migration projects, including assessment, planning, implementation, validation, and post-migration support.

• Designed, deployed, and managed Red Hat High Availability (PCS) clusters to ensure maximum uptime, resiliency, and business continuity.

• Provided technical leadership for PCS cluster migrations from RHEL 7 to RHEL 8, including compatibility analysis, upgrade execution, testing, and production cutover.

• Managed Linux platform lifecycle activities, including OS upgrades, patch management, vulnerability remediation, compliance enforcement, and standardization initiatives.

• Administered Red Hat Satellite for provisioning, patching, configuration management, content lifecycle management, compliance reporting, and enterprise-wide RHEL infrastructure governance.

• Evaluated emerging technologies and conducted Proof of Concepts (POCs), successfully transitioning validated solutions into production-ready environments.

• Implemented, managed, and supported Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform (OCP), including cluster deployment, troubleshooting, performance optimization, and operational support.

• Collaborated with DevOps and application teams to optimize and improve platform scalability and reliability.

• Automated infrastructure operations and routine administrative tasks using SaltStack, significantly reducing manual effort and improving operational efficiency.

• Led critical incident management activities, performed in-depth Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and implemented corrective actions to prevent recurring issues and improve platform stability.

• Delivered infrastructure modernization and automation initiatives while adhering to enterprise security, compliance, and operational best practices.

• Built and provisioned large numbers of Linux server VMs based on customer requirements and project specifications
• Supported application teams during cutover activities and executed go-live plans to ensure smooth production transitions.
• Managed change implementation across pre-production and production environments during deployment phases.
• Customized systems by installing, configuring, and deploying required applications, packages, and infrastructure components.
• Prepared production-ready environments including storage, filesystems, networking, and system hardening.
• Collaborated with customers and project teams to understand requirements and design build plans aligned with delivery timelines.
• Implemented changes across pre-production and production environments as part of delivery activities.

• Delivered advanced L2/L3 support for large-scale Linux infrastructure managing 4000+ production and pre-production servers in an ITIL-driven environment.
• Owned Incident, Change, and Problem Management processes, ensuring compliance with SLAs, governance standards, and operational procedures.
• Led deep technical troubleshooting of critical platform issues and produced detailed Root Cause Analysis (RCA) reports for customers and stakeholders.
• Executed OS deployments, system provisioning, patching, and configuration across enterprise server environments.
• Coordinated vendor escalation and support activities to resolve complex infrastructure and hardware-related incidents.
• Supported release, deployment, and installation activities while maintaining platform stability and minimizing service impact.
• Partnered with application, database, and engineering teams to drive issue resolution and improve overall system reliability.

• Administered and supported large-scale Linux infrastructure consisting of 1000+ servers including INFOR, Oracle, ERP, and BAAN application environments.
• Managed and supported high-volume Linux SMTP mail servers and SMTP gateway appliances, ensuring secure and reliable email operations.
• Provided end-to-end Linux platform administration including system monitoring, troubleshooting, performance tuning, and operational support.
• Coordinated vendor support activities and handled escalations to resolve complex infrastructure and application-related issues.
• Managed and maintained Symantec Antivirus appliances, ensuring system security and compliance with organizational policies.
• Performed administration and operational management of Microsoft Office 365, including user and service support.
• Ensured service availability and stability across enterprise environments through proactive system management and adherence to operational procedures.

• Assisted in managing Linux virtual machines and desktop-level OS virtualization under senior team guidance.
• Supported installation and basic configuration of wireless networking equipment to maintain user connectivity.
• Helped deploy and maintain network and security software, including firewall solutions.
• Performed first-level troubleshooting of network and connectivity issues for users and internal teams.
• Assisted in installation, configuration, and maintenance of L2/L3 switches such as Cisco, Nortel, and 3Com.

• Provided first-level desktop support to end users, assisting with hardware, software, and basic system issues.
• Supported LAN and WLAN connectivity by helping configure and troubleshoot network-related problems.
• Assisted with installation and configuration of desktop applications including Outlook Express, web browsers, and printer setups.
• Performed operating system installation, basic system configuration, and routine workstation maintenance.

• Worked on a State Government Police Department project, supporting the CIPA (Common Integrated Police Application) developed by NIC.
• Performed deployment and administration of Linux operating systems and database environments for project implementation.
• Troubleshot OS and database-related issues to ensure system stability and smooth application performance.
• Delivered training sessions and presentations to police officers, providing guidance on CIPA usage and operational workflows.