The first computer I ever touched was a Macintosh, I think I was in 4th or 5th grade (?).
Later in grade school I began to learn BASIC.
I studied computer science in the mid 1990’s.
In 1997 I began receiving a paycheck while working in the field of computing.
Started out doing web development, which turned into system administration of Linux, Windows and HP-UX.
Time in the web development and systems administration space lead me to into the VAR/systems integration space as a systems engineer.
As a systems engineer I was given the opportunity to design, support and work on wide area networks routing IP and IPX – everything from TDM over fractional T1s to ISDN.
From the VAR/systems integration space I moved into the ISP space for a small ILEC.
Working for an ISP I was given the opportunity to learn broadband access technology, ATM technology on ForeSystems ASX line (200 and 1000), Metro-E Internet terminations, CALEA processes and implementations, Broadband terminations using access protocols PPPoE and DHCP, IP administration and reporting with ARIN, providing BGP transit peering along with a host of other items I’m not remembering right now. I had the pleasure to operate in production Juniper, Brocade (Foundry), and Cisco gear. Remembering how to do one thing three different ways can be a challenge unto it’s own.
Initially, I spent many years conceiving and programing operational support systems (OSS) to help drive subscriber processes and methods. As the team grew much of the programming was handed off to talented individuals.
I was given the opportunity to manage the group overseeing all aspects of the IP Internet services. Another group handled the transport and my group handled all Internet terminations over Metro-E, T1, xDSL, CALEA processes, BGP peering, IP Internet routing, all ARIN matters, DNS hosting, Email hosting, Anti spam/virus email filtering, acceptable use tracking and enforcement.
Moving on from the service provider space I was given an opportunity to work with multiple service providers throughout the United States as a Pre-Sales Engineer with an expanding national company (Reseller). My focus was on service provider data communications. When appropriate, I would support colleagues in on the commercial team.
In August of 2012 I was given an opportunity to work for a manufacture of high performance networking products, Juniper Networks. My role was a pre-sales Systems Engineer working in the Service Provider space.
In December of 2015 I was given an opportunity to work for a national service provider, Frontier Communications. I joined the Strategic Planning team as a Network Architect Engineer.
In January of 2017 I transitioned to Frontier’s Network Architecture team as a Network Architect. Primary focus is on Software Defined X (SDx) and NFV.
In July 2022 I joined Tempur+Sealy, Global Network Infrastructure, as an IT Architect.
In April 2023 I joined United States Postal Service, Network & Compute Technology, Infrastructure Engineering, as a Network Architect IV.
You can find my LinkedIn profile here, http://www.linkedin.com/in/jneufferjr
I’m driven by the pursuit of a clear understanding; not just being a user, designer or implementer, but knowing the building blocks that make up a protocol and what problem the protocol is solving. Ultimately, protocols solve business problems.
The opinions expressed on the blog are my own and do not necessarily represent those of current or past employers.