Cloud Engineer | AWS Certified | Cost & Security Optimization Specialist | Elite 4-Certification Track
"Building cloud engineering expertise through systematic certification strategy and practical project development."
Cloud Engineer building expertise through Elite 4-Certification strategy, combining systematic technical development with business understanding from entrepreneurial background. Focused on cost optimization and security specialization within cloud infrastructure.
Founded and operated an MSP serving enterprise clients, providing practical understanding of infrastructure management and business requirements. Now applying this foundation with programming skills (Ruby, Python, SQL) and AWS certification track to build cloud engineering career through hands-on projects and systematic skill development.
🎯 Elite 4-Certification Development Track
- ☁️ AWS Solutions Architect Associate (completed) → Professional (Year 2)
- 🤖 AWS Machine Learning Specialty (Year 3) - AI cost optimization focus
- 📊 AWS Data Analytics Specialty (Year 3) - Cost intelligence and reporting
- 🔒 CISSP (Year 3) - Executive security leadership credential
- 💻 Building portfolio projects demonstrating practical cloud skills
- 💼 MSP Founder: Built and operated managed services provider with enterprise client base
- ☁️ Cloud Engineering Focus: Developing expertise in AWS infrastructure and cost optimization
- 🎯 Leadership Experience: 20+ years managing teams and technical operations
- 📊 Cost Optimization: Practical experience with infrastructure economics and efficiency
- 🏢 Business Understanding: P&L experience from running technology services company
Cloud & Infrastructure:
- AWS Services: EC2, S3, VPC, Lambda, RDS, CloudFormation, Cost Explorer
- Cost Optimization: Resource rightsizing, Reserved Instances, cost monitoring and alerts
- Infrastructure as Code: Terraform, CloudFormation for repeatable deployments
- Security: IAM, Security Groups, encryption, compliance frameworks
- Monitoring: CloudWatch, logging, alerting, performance optimization
Development & Automation:
- Programming: Python, Ruby, SQL, Bash scripting for automation
- Databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, database design and optimization
- Containerization: Docker, basic Kubernetes understanding
- Version Control: Git, GitHub workflows, collaborative development
- Testing: Automated testing frameworks, quality assurance practices
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Multi-Cloud Cost Dashboard
- Real-time cost tracking and monitoring across AWS services
- Automated anomaly detection and budget alerts
- Python/Flask backend with React frontend
- Focus: Infrastructure cost visibility and optimization
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Security Automation Platform
- Automated compliance scanning and remediation workflows
- Integration with AWS Security Hub and CloudTrail
- Lambda-based event-driven architecture
- Focus: Security compliance and operational efficiency
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Serverless CI/CD Pipeline
- Complete deployment automation with GitHub Actions
- Blue-green deployments with automatic rollback
- Infrastructure as Code with Terraform
- Focus: Development workflow optimization and reliability
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Infrastructure Monitoring Solution
- Custom CloudWatch metrics and Grafana dashboards
- Predictive scaling based on application metrics
- Cost optimization recommendations engine
- Focus: Operational excellence and cost efficiency
- Built production-ready cloud infrastructure projects
- Implemented cost optimization strategies reducing waste
- Automated security compliance workflows
- Demonstrated practical application of cloud engineering principles
1999-2020: Pastoral Leadership
20+ years organizational leadership, team management, and public communication experience
2020-2023: MSP Founder & Operator
Built and operated managed services provider serving enterprise infrastructure needs
2023-2024: Technical Foundation
Completed intensive programming education (Ruby, Python, SQL, databases, OOP)
2024-Present: Cloud Engineering Track
Building cloud engineering expertise through Elite 4-Certification strategy and practical projects
Business-Minded Technical Approach
- Not just following tutorials - building production-ready solutions with business impact
- Understand infrastructure costs and optimization from MSP operational experience
- Focus on practical cloud engineering skills that solve real business problems
Leadership Experience Applied to Technology
- 20+ years of leadership translates to strong communication and project management
- Entrepreneurial background provides understanding of business requirements and ROI
- Ability to work independently and manage complex technical projects
Systematic Skill Development
- Elite 4-Certification strategy creates rare and valuable credential combination
- Consistent daily practice through hands-on projects and automation scripts
- Documentation and professional presentation of technical work
- 🌐 Portfolio: joshuamichaelhall.com
- 💼 LinkedIn: Joshua Michael Hall
- 🐙 GitHub: joshuamichaelhall
- 📧 Email: cloud@joshuamichaelhall.com
- 📍 Location: Arkansas (100% Remote)
Seeking cloud engineering roles where I can apply systematic technical development with business understanding to deliver practical infrastructure solutions. Particularly interested in positions involving cost optimization, security, and infrastructure automation.
Target Environment:
- Cloud engineering or infrastructure role with growth potential
- Cost optimization and security specialization opportunities
- Organization valuing both technical skills and business understanding
- Team-oriented environment with mentorship and learning opportunities
- Company building scalable, efficient cloud infrastructure
Target Companies: Technology companies with strong cloud infrastructure needs, cloud-native startups, established enterprises modernizing infrastructure, and organizations prioritizing cost efficiency and security.
"Combining entrepreneurial business experience with systematic technical development to build cloud engineering expertise focused on cost optimization and practical infrastructure solutions."