Jeffrey Williams
jeff@sailorfej.net | https://www.linkedin.com/in/sailorfej
Technology Executive with over 20 years of experience driving large-scale IT transformations and enterprise infrastructure strategy and modernization across Fortune 100 and high-growth organizations. Proven ability to align technology investments with business objectives, delivering measurable improvements in performance, cost efficiency, and resilience. Expert at building and leading high-performing global teams, developing AI and Cloud strategies, and guiding organizations through complex digital change. Recognized for strengthening cybersecurity, driving automation, and scaling technology platforms that enable innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth.
CORE COMPETENCIES
AI Cluster Infrastructure | Cloud Computing | Data Center Build and Operations
Enterprise Compute & Network Infrastructure | People Management | Vendor Management | Program & Project Management
Budget Management ($120+ Million) | Compliance regimens (SOX, SOC 2, CMMC, NIST CSF/RMF, ITAR, NERC CIP, PCI)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
INTEL CORPORATION – Hillsboro, OR September 2020 – July 2025
AI Data Center Engineering and Systems Operations Manager
Directed strategy and operations for global data center environments and High-Performance Computing (HPC) clusters supporting Intel’s Artificial Intelligence product portfolio. Led cross-functional teams and set enterprise standards for AI data center, infrastructure design, automation, and operational excellence.
Built and scaled a high-performing engineering organization supporting 14 concurrent HPC clusters across 4 global sites.
Spearheaded the design and build of advanced data center and cloud infrastructure, accelerating AI research and product development.
Established operational models for AI data centers and infrastructure blending Agile and ITIL frameworks, improving service delivery and reducing operational risks.
Implemented build management and logistics practices, and deployment automation solutions that cut data center build and AI cluster deployment cycles by 60%, enabling faster time-to-market for AI workloads.
Led the development and implementation of core infrastructure and observability solutions improving overall cluster stability and resulting in a 40% reduction in unplanned outage time.
Partnered with senior executives to align data center investments with corporate AI strategy, ensuring cost efficiency and scalability.
AMAZON – Troutdale, OR May 2018 - August 2020
IT Manager
Directed IT operations and infrastructure delivery for Amazon fulfillment centers across the Pacific Northwest and Northern California. Oversaw multiple engineering teams supporting advanced robotics, industrial automation, and large-scale distribution systems.
Led IT infrastructure deployment for 16 new fulfillment centers, including three facilities over 1M sq. ft. each, completed in under 14 months.
Delivered strategic program management across a portfolio of nationwide initiatives covering technology refresh, process automation, and cloud integration.
Scaled regional IT teams 4x during rapid business expansion, building a leadership pipeline that seeded experienced talent into new fulfillment centers and critical initiatives.
Designed and institutionalized an employee development and mentoring program that achieved 90th percentile engagement and performance scores across morale, technical skills, and team effectiveness.
Built high-performing teams with over 30% of employees promoted to senior engineering, architecture, and management roles, creating long-term organizational value for Amazon’s fulfillment operations.
TTM TECHNOLOGIES – Forest Grove, OR February 2017 - May 2018
Senior Manager, North America Data Center Services
Oversaw enterprise IT infrastructure strategy and operations for two North American data centers and 14 manufacturing facilities during a critical corporate transition. Directed infrastructure modernization to meet stringent security and compliance requirements while ensuring cost efficiency.
Developed and executed a new global enterprise infrastructure strategy encompassing both commercial operations and NIST 800-53–compliant defense environments.
Reconstituted and led the enterprise IT organization, establishing new operational standards and governance frameworks.
Delivered two new data centers and migrated five manufacturing facilities to modernized infrastructure in under six months, with more than 80% virtualization.
Balanced enhanced security controls with streamlined operational costs, ensuring long-term scalability and regulatory compliance.
INFOGROUP NW/SHARP LABS AMERICA – Camas, WA August 2016 - February 2017
Consulting Infrastructure Architect, Contract
Provided R&D Infrastructure engineering support for semi-autonomous rover project.
Designed, built, and managed a high performance resilient wireless mesh network infrastructure to support the command, control, and telemetry (including video), for a multi-vehicle semi-autonomous rover system.
Developed and documented processes and requirements for vehicle system infrastructure deployment and maintenance.
Collaborated with the QA teams in troubleshooting network- and platform-related issues with the vehicle onboard and command/control systems.
TRIPWIRE, INC. – Portland, OR May 2015 - August 2016
Senior System Administrator
Provided operational and architectural support for Tripwire’s research, development, and build infrastructure. The infrastructure was a dynamic multi-platform server environment that ranged from 5,000-12,000 servers, of which roughly 95% were virtualized.
Developed and documented standards, processes, and procedures for R&D infrastructure operations.
Mentored and coached the R&D Infrastructure System Administrators team.
Developed a long-term strategy for refreshing and sustaining continued growth of the R&D infrastructure, and scaling support operations to match growth.
Provided Systems Engineering and SaaS operations support for Tripwire’s customer-facing, private cloud-hosted security solutions for both private and government customers.
Performed hands-on systems administration of infrastructure and servers, including legacy compute systems consisting of at least the last 5 generations of every major commercial operating system/hardware platform.
ENERGY CONNECT, INC. – Acquired by Johnson Controls, Inc. – Portland, OR February 2008 - February 2015
IT Manager, Senior Systems/Network Architect, and SaaS Operations Manager
Directed IT strategy, infrastructure, and SaaS operations for Energy Connect, a high-growth energy-sector startup, through its acquisition by Johnson Controls. Oversaw enterprise IT, private cloud infrastructure, and customer-facing SaaS platforms while building and leading a multi-disciplinary IT organization.
Designed and implemented enterprise IT architecture from the ground up, including ERP, messaging, and private cloud environments that enabled Energy Connect’s rapid market expansion.
Built and led a high-performing IT organization responsible for systems engineering, operations, vendor management, and compliance across SOX and FERC regulatory requirements.
Guided the integration of Energy Connect into Johnson Controls’ enterprise systems while retaining direct accountability for SaaS product infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted customer service.
Migrated and expanded the SaaS product suite into a hybrid cloud model, significantly increasing capacity and capabilities while maintaining enterprise-grade security and availability.
Delivered scalable infrastructure and operational processes that supported business growth from startup phase through acquisition, positioning the product portfolio for long-term success within Johnson Controls.
EARLIER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
STEALTH PROGRAMMING, INC., IT Infrastructure Consultant/President
UNISYS CORPORATION, GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES, Solution Architect
CAP GEMINI AMERICA/CAP GEMINI ERNST & YOUNG, Principal Consultant
XEROX INC., XEROX TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, Senior Consultant
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TECHNICAL SERVICES, Senior Consultant
UTILITY PARTNERS, Project Technical Lead
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Cloud Platform Architecture: Service Oriented Architecture (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS); Public, Private, and Hybrid Models.
Cloud Platforms: AWS, Azure, VMware, OpenStack, and on-premise
Operating systems: Windows Server, Unix (Linux, FreeBSD, HP-UX, Solaris, AIX, Tru64); Apple Mac/OS, and OpenVMS
Virtualization: VMware, Hyper-V, KVM, Xen, Kubernetes, and Docker.
Network Technologies/Protocols: Hardware (Cisco, Juniper, Dell, HP, Rajant, and Arista); SDN (LAN, WAN, Cloud, and Data Center); Cluster topologies (HPC, Multi-tenant cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud); TCP/IP (including IPSec, L3 switching, and IP routing); Wireless Mesh.
Network Services: Directory services (DNS/Bind, Active Directory, LDAP); Firewalls (Palo Alto, Cisco, Checkpoint, Raptor, IPFW/IP filter); Kerberos, PKI, RADIUS, SNMP, VPNs (Palo Alto, Cisco, Checkpoint, IPSec)
Solutions: Hyperconverged Platforms (VMware, Nutanix, Cisco UCS); Automation (Ansible, Salt Stack, Puppet, Terraform, CfEngine); Messaging (MS Exchange, Sendmail, Postfix); Monitoring and SEIM (Splunk, ManageEngine, Crowdstrike, Sophos, Zabbix, Graylog, LibreNMS, Nagios, PRTG); VoIP (Cisco, Nortel, Asterisk); Database (DB2, Oracle, Sybase, MS SQL Server, PostgresSQL, MySQL/MariaDB); Web Services (Apache, IIS); Storage (Network Appliance, Weka, Pure, Nimble, Tintri, Dell, DDN); Backup and Recovery (Cohesity, VEEAM, ComVault, Dell, Net Backup, Tivoli)
Enterprise Systems: ERP (Peoplesoft, Oracle, SAP); Manufacturing (Engineering Decision Support, MRP, SPC, RTC); Industrial Control Systems (SCADA, DCS, PLC, HMI, DAC, robotics)
Scripting & Development Languages: C++, Perl, HTML, PHP, JavaScript, SQL, Shell, BASH, and Python
EDUCATION
Oregon State University January 1986 – January 1988
Major: Nuclear Engineering
MILITARY EXPERIENCE
UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVES, Honorably discharged 1994
Active-duty (Gulf War I), December 1990 – June 1991
Previously held “Secret” security clearance
MEMBERSHIP AFFILIATIONS
IEEE - Professional Member #41432349, including membership in the Standards Association, Computer Society, Robotics and Automation Society, and Information Theory Society