About

Jose Baez

Jose Baez — Sr. Cloud Support Engineer based in New York, NY

Hi, I’m Jose! I’m an IT professional with over 13 years of experience working across financial institutions and government agencies — environments where reliability isn’t optional and downtime is measured in dollars per second. My work spans cloud computing, systems administration, infrastructure, networking, and electronics. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Rafael Nuñez University, a technical degree in Electronics, and multiple industry certifications.

But beyond the resume: I’m the kind of person who genuinely gets excited about a well-designed system, a clean infrastructure diagram, or a tricky problem that finally gives way after hours of careful, methodical debugging.

What I Do

I design, manage, and optimize cloud environments across AWS, Azure, and hybrid infrastructures. My background includes High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems and banking data processing platforms — giving me a deep understanding of the performance, availability, and compliance requirements that high-stakes environments demand.

I have successfully participated in the migration and optimization of trading and market data pipelines to AWS, collaborating closely with stakeholders to enhance system performance and ensure operational continuity.

How I Approach Problems

I never charge in. My process is deliberate: first, truly understand the issue — get familiar with it, before trying fixes. Then I make small, intentional changes one layer at a time, so I never reach the point of no return. The goal is always to improve the situation without making it unrecoverable.

Think of it as surgery, not demolition.

Skills & Expertise

  • Cloud Platforms: AWS, Azure, Hybrid Cloud
  • Operating Systems: Linux (RHCE), Windows Server
  • Infrastructure: System Administration, Database Management, HPC
  • DevOps & IaC: Terraform, CI/CD Pipelines
  • Data Engineering: Snowflake, Data Pipeline Optimization
  • Networking: Linux Network Configuration, AWS Networking
  • AI in Practice: Applying LLMs and AI tooling to real infrastructure and DevOps problems
  • Computer Hardware: Disassembling and reassembling devices — the rule is simple: no leftover pieces at the end
  • Troubleshooting: Multi-level technical support across Linux, Windows, and macOS systems and applications

What I’m Currently Exploring

  • AI applied to infrastructure — not just reading about it, but building with it (this blog is part of that journey)
  • High-Performance Computing & High-Frequency Trading systems — the engineering behind these environments is fascinating, and a space I’m actively working toward professionally

Life Outside the Terminal

When I close the laptop, I try to move. Hiking trails, ski slopes, kayaking on open water, or wandering into a New York City neighborhood I’ve never explored — I’m drawn to places that make me feel small in a good way.

Back home, I’m equally content fixing something that’s broken (a habit that transfers well from IT to, say, a leaky faucet or a wobbly chair), or losing a few hours to a great documentary, TV series, or film.

Other things that keep me busy:

  • Woodworking — there is something deeply satisfying about building something tangible with your hands
  • Cooking — always experimenting, rarely following the recipe exactly
  • Indoor plants — multiple plants, zero casualties so far (knock on wood)
  • New York City restaurants — working my way through every cuisine the city has to offer, one neighborhood at a time

Education & Certifications

  • B.S. in Computer Science – Rafael Nuñez University, Cartagena, Colombia, 2005
  • Technical Degree in Electronics
  • AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional (Active: July 2023 – July 2026)
  • AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (Expired: July 2018 – July 2021)
  • Training: Linux Utilities & Automation Tools (DevOps, Ansible, Terraform, CloudFormation)
  • Training: Networking and Cybersecurity, Docker & Kubernetes, and Apache Kafka
  • Training: High Performance Computing (HPC) and High Frequency Trading (HFT), Control-M

Languages

  • English — Full professional proficiency
  • Spanish — Native / Bilingual

Community

Beyond my professional work, I volunteered as a System Administrator at Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center, supporting their IT infrastructure for nearly six years (2013–2019).

Let’s Connect

I’m always open to discussing cloud infrastructure, DevOps practices, AI applications, or potential opportunities. Feel free to reach out on LinkedIn or check out my work on GitHub.