Tim Urban

Principal Network Engineer

LinkedIn

Accomplished and forward-thinking Principal Network Engineer with over twenty years of experience in designing, implementing, and managing large-scale, high-performance, and high-availability network infrastructures. I am passionate about data center modernization, including cloud and hybrid migration (AWS and Azure), network segmentation, and disaster recovery solutions. Additionally, I focus on campus networking, with a focus toward next-gen fabric and zero-trust architectures, as well as automation using tools like Ansible, Terraform, and Python to implement Infrastructure as Code.

I possess extensive knowledge in collaborating with cross-functional teams to align network architecture with business needs and regulatory compliance requirements. My goal is to deliver resilient, scalable, supportable, sustainable, and secure environments across enterprise, academic, and healthcare sectors.

Experience

Principal Network Engineer

University of Utah | December 2017 - Present

  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams on a major hybrid cloud initiative, designing Landing Zones in AWS and Azure. I led deployment of secure, scalable cloud network infrastructure by integrating firewall inspection VPCs/vNets, implementing Infoblox-based DNS infrastructure, and establishing MACsec-encrypted AWS Direct Connect circuits through diverse providers to ensure redundancy and meet compliance requirements. Additonally, I enabled seamless inter-cloud communication through native site-to-site VPN between AWS and Azure.
  • Managed and maintained a highly complex university MPLS campus network spanning 250+ buildings, 100+ departments, and over 140,000 network ports. Oversaw Core, Distribution, and Data Center Core Routers leveraging Nexus 7700 and Catalyst 9600 platforms, utilizing advanced routing protocols such as OSPF, BGP, and MPLS to ensure seamless connectivity and performance.
  • Led and participated in evaluating and selecting a network visibility tool during the RFP phase. I collaborated closely with cross-functional stakeholders to gather requirements and ensure the solution aligned with business objectives. Ultimately, I helped design and implement the chosen tool, significantly enhancing our network troubleshooting and event management capabilities.

Senior Network Engineer

University of Utah | July 1996 - December 2017

  • Led the design and implementation of the migration from a legacy data center environment to a Cisco ACI fabric-based network, integrating with VMware and leveraging automation for enhanced operational efficiency.
  • Designed and implemented a disaster recovery data center network, ensuring seamless business continuity and resiliency.
  • Designed and implemented secure and scalable campus-wide network solutions to support academic, administrative, and research initiatives.
  • Spearheaded the replacement of Cisco 6500 campus network infrastructure with Nexus 7000 switches, utilizing MPLS VPN for macro-segmentation to improve network segmentation and scalability.
  • Implemented and provided expert support for Cisco firewalls and load balancers, ensuring optimal performance and security of critical network services.